Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-09
AS 1T USED TO BE
What Washington Looked Like Over
a Century Ago
LITTLE BETTER THAN A WILDERNESS
Plans That Have Been Developed
Into Noble City.
SOME EARLY VISITORS

Written for The Evening star by T. Lee Phillips.
The people of Washington will in a
sht ri time celebrate with becoming pride
ard dignity one hundred years of exist
er,e The founders were not false proph-
Ct a. 10 the city's future greatness. a.
study of the original plan made by L En-
f. MT III 1Igl magnificent in detail. would
b a safe guide for the visitor of 1900.
Why l. Enfant's reputation should be d.
nijuished by writers Of the present day is
hard - understand, when We examine the
r,curiS nf the past and compare his plan
OF th.- city with the one made by Ellicott.
! viii non express an opinion here as to
whether l. Eufant or Ellcott planned the
cry Of Washington. for this paper is in
tended only for few descriptions of Wash
jrsion at the beginning, made by contem-
l"rstneous writers; but if the so-called pa
Ter map of L Enfant is compared with the
n9ap made by Elicott, which was repro
Guced many times separately, and in books
Jhs impartial student cannot fail to give
al The credit to L Enfant
The first published description of the
city which | have been able to discover is
f"uui in The Maryland Journal Friday.
september "a, 1871. signed "A Spectator"
This article was republished in the New
York Magazine for November. 1871, pages
.G-'i-t;1S. ] will not give the article in whole,
hit q1oie what is said about l.. Enfant.
High Praise for L'Enfant.
The plan of this city agreeaby to the
direction of the President of the United
atrs. was designed and drawn by the cele-
brated Major L'Enfaut; and is an iucou-
CeiEable improvement upon all other cities
IL the world. combining not only conven-
ieuce. regularity, elegance of prospect and
Il free circulation of air. but everything
grand Iud beautiful that can possibly be
Introduced into q city.
Among the many fortunate crcum-
Stances which have attended this country
Gur-in" the present admins traton in govern
IHrnJ. the residence of Major L'Enfant in
America at this time may be considered as
,oue Of the most material The plan he has
now produced. and which is happily adopt
ed. exhibits such striking proofs of an ex-
a'fsd genius, elegance Of taste. extensive
imagination and comprehension, as will not
emily produce amaZemenr in Europe but
meet the admiration of all future ages: hav-
ine therein happily combined the beau
ties ~ situation with general convenience,
and AT the same time efectuaIly guarded
against those inconvenience which arise
in other great cities"
Let state here that a plan of the
city Of Washington. Tiebout. engraver" is
FOUND in the June, 1872, number of the
sam" magazine, and on the back of the title
l@Se the following statement is made: THE
i3cader = requested to turn to the New York
Magazine for November 1871, for de-
scriptiou of the city of Washington. We
place that would serve as an explanation
o. the plate which accompanies this months
magazine. but what is there contained in
substance, ana We judged it inexpedient
10 repubhsh either the whole any part
o. what had been so recently Inserted
Some Early Plans.
The Massachusetts Magazine for MAY.
1872 has plan. entitled plan of the CITY
of Washington. S. Hail. Boston," which is
not accompanied by any description. and Is
evidently from the Eilicott map While no.
ticing these maps of Washington, the read
o. may be interested to examine the one l.,
the Universal Magazine for July, 1885
London. and the curious little plan in a
more curious volume of the Gotha Almanac
for 1894. in the Library of Congress Rus
sell an American atlas. published in Lon
d'n- IN j. ss'. has also a plan of Washington,
"a has also Reds American atlas to Win
I.rnoin2ms history. the first atlas pub
h~fed in America. 1876.
One of the earliest descriptions of the
city, with plan, published in book form, is
by E.llahan Winchester. and is found only
IL The second edition of his "Oration on
The Discovery OF America. delivered in Lon
don, October the 18th. 1872" and published
there The Grafton must have had consid-
cradle interest. for two editions out
The same year The description was pub
liShed as an appendix, and. being short aud
unique. l quote in full:
Winchester's Description.
The city of Washington stands at the
junction Of the rivers Pawtonack and the
Etst-rn-branch. extending nearly four
miles up each. and including a tract Of ter
ritDry exceeded, in point Of convenience ss-
lubriIy and beauty by none in America
For. although the land in general appears
level Vet. by gentle and gradual swellings
variety OF elegant prospects are produced
and "a sufficient descent formed for convey
Ing on the water occasioned by rain. Within
the limits OF the city are a great number
of excellent springs: and. by digging wells
water OF the best quality may readily be
b" had. Besides. the never-failinS streams
thai now run drought that territory NAV
also be collected for the use Of the civ
The waters of Reedy branch and Of Tiber
creek may be conveyed to the Presidents
h1us"- The source Of Tfber creek Is eIe-
Waited about 2S6 feet above the level of the
tide OF said creek. The perpendicular
height of the ground which the Capitol
Is To stand Is seventy-eight feet above the
OF Tiber creek may. therefore. be conveyed
To the Capitol, and after watering that part
or the city. may be destined to other Use
ful purposes
River and Harborr
The Eastern-branch Is one Of the safest
and most commodious harbors I'm America
being sufficiently deep for the largest sbi,s
for about four miles above its mouth while
the channel lies close along the bank sa
/ joining the city. and affords a large and
convenient harbor. The Pawtomack AL
though only navigable for small craft for a
considerable distance from its hanks next
TO the city excepting about a mile ahovs
the junction of the rivers) will neyertha
less. AFFORD capacieus summer harbor,r
as an immense number Of ships may ride in
the city.
THE situation of this metropolis is upon