The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-08-23

the mouths of the eastern branch and
the Canocochcague." This act was
doubtless framed to make it possible
to locate the capital at Williamsport.
Md, which had been named, and the
location there would have permitted
the three States to participate in the
cession of territory. The sentiment of
Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Lee
and other Nirginians; Charles and
Daniel Carroll, Governor johnson,
Daniel Jenifer of Thomas, Samuel
Chase, Urah Forrest and other Mary
landers forced a site on navigable
water, and were cognizant of the fact
that here was "that point in the United
States to which large vessels could be
navigated into the interior. They also
knew that the geographical center of
the country was in this vicinity. Mr..
Madison favored location which
would take IN Alexandria, and sug-
gested Shutters Hill, west of the town,
as location for the capital. Mr.. JEFF
ferson spoke Of Shutters Hill as afford
ing a fine prospect. aN1 a tin" roadway
from that place To Mount Vernon was
in the minds Of some.
1t is said that Washington and his
friends saw, upon reflection, that if Mr..
Madison suggestion should be adopt
ed, it would lead to a suspicion of per-
sonal motives in tie selection. The
act last mentioned was amended by
one authorizing the President "to make
any part of the territory below said
limit and above the mouth of Hunting
Greek part of said district" so as to
include convenient part of the East
ern branch; and in compliance with
this act the present site was selected.
While the lower (Alexandria) site
was few miles nearer, the Potomac,
as high up as Georgetown, and the
Eastern branch possessed such gen
erous depth of water that early IN the
century a naval officer wrote that it
evinced "the wisdom and foresight of
him whose advice thus located the
capital OF the empire he founded" >"
In addition to the promising COM
mercial outlook there were advantages
in geographical point of view, it being
near the center Of the infant republic
from north to south and about midway
between the ocean and the Ohio river,
then the far West, and the healthful-
ness and beauty Of the site and sur
roundings; the fertility of the soil, with
the rivers tceming with fish and water
fowl and woods full OF game, as added
attractions. In The American Geogra-
ply, the standard work Of Rev. Jude
diah Morse, which our grandfathers
swore by, tho territory is described i'll
the 1900 edition as exceeded ''in point
of convenience, Salubrity and beauty
by none in America. The situation OF
the metropolis is upon the great post
road equal distant from the northel n
and southern eXtrcmities of the Union
and nearly so from the Atlantic to
Pittsburg, upon tie best navi cation
and in the midst OF commercial terri
tory probably the richest and com
manding tie most extensive internal
resources of any in America"
Before the Revolution Jacob Funk
had made a settlement near the old OBJ,
servatory site, which afterward,in Ill,
became Hamburger, and on the point
at the junction of James Creek and the
Eastern branch was Carrollsburg
started in 177O. In each some of the
leading men of the country were inter
ested and, anticipating commerce,
wharves were built at both places.
The recognition of the commercial
advantages is to be seen in the number
of wEarves laid down in the maps OF
l. Enfant and EIlicott, which reach
from the mouth of Rock Creek to East
Capitol street The depth of the water
at the latter point was Is feet-the
same as at Georgetown-and for the
purposes Of navigation the Eastern
branch was equal to the main river,
and, doubtless, the government or CON-
missioncrs in laying off the city and
setting apart The present site for the
navy yard, regarded its advantages as
superior This was, in the language
of Mr. Stoddcrt, the first Secretary of
the Navy, designed to be 'an extensive
building and dock yard" That it fully
met with the requirements, and that
there was suflicicncy Of water there
has been demonstrated in the fact that
some Of our largest vessels of war were
built and launched therc-thc Colum-
bus. of Il guns, in 1919; Potomac, Al
guns, in 1921; Brandywinc, A guns,
in 1923. At times there have been aS
many as halfa dezeE of our largest
vessels at anchor Oft the yard.
As late as The ffties one of our
largest ships was launche1 at the yard.
Thus has been Justified by the expert
ence in the first half Of the nineteenth
century of our navy the wisdom of
locating the seat of government at
that point in the United States to
which the largest vessels can be navi-
gated into the interior" The time