The suburban citizen., 1901-01-05
ABOUT WASHINGTON, D. G
FACTS SUGGESTED BY THE cENTEN
NAL OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.


White House Once Partially Destroyed
by the British.
On wednesday, December u, 100
years had passed since the United
States Government took formal posses
sion of Washington as the. national
capital. Apropos Of the centnnial the
New York Sun published the following
facts:
Washington had population Of 5000
in 1900, S20S in 1910, 13,474 in 1920;
the census just completed showed it to
have a population Of 2S6,O00 in 1900.
In the first decade Of the clty's his
tory the Government officials num-
bered fewer than 100. Now there are
nearly $4,000, including the clerks in
the various departments.
Washington is now five miles long
by three miles wide. The District Of
Columbia contains about sixty square
miles, and all of this territory is now
being laid out with magnificent ave-
nues to comprise greater Washington.
Georgetown, now a part of Wash
ington, was laid out in 1761. 1t is
across Rock Creek from Washington
proper
Georgetown University, the first ed
ucational institution Of the capital,
was founded by Bishop Carroll in 1893.
The cornerstone of the White House
was laid on October 13, 1902. Had
Congress appropriated the money
asked for last winter the cornerstone
Of the new White House addition
would have been laid.
Work on the Capitol was begun on
September IS, 1893. It's centennial
was celebrated seven years ago.
The Capitol Is the hub of Washing
ton, from which most of the avenues
radiate like spokes from n wheel.
After the destruction of the Capitol
in 1914, the Thirteenth Congress held
sessions in the Union Pacific Hotel,
which was built in 1898 and burned in
1886.
1t was expected that the best part
Of Washington would be built on Capt.
tol Hill. Hence the Goddess Of Lib
erty on the Capitol dome faces east
ward. But the most fashionable part
Of the city is in the opposite direction,
in the northwest.
The terraces of the Capitol were
completed only in 1891, the total cost
of the building footing up to $14,455,-
900.
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Reading. Germantown, Alexandria,
Georgetown, Harrisburg, Lancaster,
Carlisle, Trenton and other towns
wanted to be selected as the capital.
But George Washington chose the
present site on the Potomac.
Washington had n municipal gov
ernment from 1902 to 1871, then Ter.
rltorial government until 1874, since
which time it has been controlled by
Congress through three District Com
mlssioners.
The Government temporarily aban-
doned Washington in 1914. when the
British captured the city, partially de-
stroyed the Capitol and the White
House, end blew up the arsenal at
Greenleaf's Point.
Pierre Charles L'Enfant, n French
army officer and engineer. laid out the
plan Of Washington. 1t is proposed to
erect a monument to him, since he re-
ceived no money for his work. His
grave is an unmarked one, on the out
skirts Of Washington, where he died.
The dome alone of the Capitol cost
S1,25O,000. The Crawford bronze door
at the Senate wing weighs l40O0
pounds and cost nearly $57 900.
The hall of the House of Represen-
tatives is the largest legislative as
sembly room in the world.
The columns Of the eastern portico
Of the Capitol are solid blocks Of sand
stone, each thirty feet high.
The Congress of the United States
has met annually in Washington since
November, 1900.
The Rogers bronze doors at the main
entrance to the Capitol tell the story
OF Columbus, and cost $4,000.
The Capitol rotunda is ninety-fye
feet six inches in diameter, and from
floor to canopy is 1873 feet three inches.
Washington started in business with
a capital of nearly $50000OO derived
from the sale of real estate exclusive
of that decided to the Government for
Government purposes.
More than half the area of Washing
ton Is now devoted to the public use.
The Capitol grounds and the Mall con-
stitute a magnificent and finely kept
park.
The Long Bridge across the Potomac
to Virginia was built in 1896. 1t is
soon to be replaced by the magnificent
stone memorial bridge to commemor-
ate the new union between the North
and the South.
Alexandria, Va, where Washington
attended church, was founded in 174S,
and was once prosperous port.
Pennsylvania avenue, connecting the
White House with the CanttoI Ia sofd