New-York tribune., 1900-12-02

future glory of his country's seat of empire. he
could only see that he was called upon to give
up his land, which he was unwilling to do. even
II alternate lots in prOspectively great city
were given TO him in exchange for territory
in the wilderness. Mr.. Burns was for long
time blind 10 the first principles of modern real
estate business, and even taUnted Washington
TO his face with having risen from nothing
through the acquisition Of the Widow Custis
and her niggers." But patient persuasion and
the example Of others at last Overcame the
obstinacy of Mr.. Burns, and on March 80. 1871,
nineteen proprietors of the soil signed an agree
nent conveying their property in trust to the
Chief Executive. to be laid of Federal city.
Four days earlier than this date Major Len
FAINT the engineer appointed to draw the plans,
hEd presented his report to the President The
name Of Peter Charles L'Enfant indicates a
French origin which is no less evident in the
following extract from his official report: ION
that part terminating in ridge to Jenkins Hill
and running in a parallel with and at half-mile
of from the river PotOwmack, separated by a
low ground intersected by three grand streams
many Of the most desirable position offer
for 10 erect the publiques edifces thereon
From these height every grand building
would rear with a majestick aspect over the
country all round" Major LEnfant was one
OF lEe fItlGu t4-l1tIS u 10 Lldu dNNoAilpSAAAit
Lafayette when that hero came TO aid the Colo
nies in their struggle for independence.
CLASHES IN THE PLANS.
If David Burns represented the obstacle OF
provincial narrowness and lack of imagination,
L'Enfant stood on the opposite side of the con-
lict between GaIlic imaginativeness and the too
sober tendencies of an Anglo-Saxon people
able TO realize the greatness of its own destiny.
money for erecting the public buildings by sell
ing lots to private purchasers. L'Enfant refused
TO surrender his plans Of the future city for use
in these transactions. declaring that the choice
OF building lots by any purchaser must be made
subordinate 10 his schemes for the beautifying
Of the city. His idea Of what the Federal capt.
tai should be was much more like what it has
now become than the mOnOtonOus rectangular
block arrangement which seemed good to
Thomas jefferson and other Americans of that
day Moreover, with the characteristic high
handed Gallic Latin. habit OF forcing private
interests to give way to national. he set his
men to demolish house which Carroll of Dud-
dington. a Maryland lord of the SOIL build
ing in a position inconsistent with LEnfant's
plans At last the French engineer was asked to
resign his Office. and his place taken by
Andrew ETcott, OF Pennsylvania. II is worth
noting that Elicott, who completed the work. so
far as it was completed in that generation. had
as his assistant engineer one Benjamin Bancker,
the first colored American who ever came into
prominence in any intellectual capacity.
The cornerstone Of the Federal District was
laid at Hunters Point on April 10. 1871, and
site was chosen for the Capitol OF the United
States on Germ Ably Manor. the lord OF which
manor was Daniel Carroll To obtain the best
design for the building itself a prize OF a city
lot and $500 was offered for open competition.
The plans were 10 be sent in before July 10,
1892 Here again the essential Anglo-SaXOn
character Of the young nation asserted itself.
and with perhaps fortunate results, as against
the French artistic temperament The prize
was too small TO excite the effort Of many
competent architects, or else there were few