Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-12
ALIEN SOIL AT CAPITAL.

A Washington correspondent of th,
Philadelphia Record ssys: Foreign gov
ernmen,s are preparing to annex still
more of the territory of the District o
Columbia. France is negotiating fol
40 acre in the swell West Eod of Wash
iogtop, and it is rumored that Italy anC
China are on the lookout for land. Al
soon as sucn oego otistions are completed
the spoexed properly becomes foreign
soil. frances new acre, for instance
will be exempt from taxation. Tht
French fig wi fl)at ov.r it. II one
FreDchWsn chooses to murder another
within its bounds i. will be none OF I'm
Gle Sans business.
France intends to build the most pre-
tentions embassy of the new world
upon this acre. L. will be a perfecl
model OF modern French architecture,
and will comprise luxurious dwelling
for lsll future ambassadors. Offices for
secretaries and attaches, stables and
coach houses The buildings and
ground will cost 1910 900, and as coon
as the oficiul architect of the French
Ministry of Foreign Affairs can res CD
here from Pekin the plans will be com
pleted Undtr the supervision OF Am
rssssdor Canbon.
The site is upon Sheridan circle,
isttly laid cut at the intersection OF
Masse chusstts avenue and Twenty
third street. Il is just four squares be.
gond Stewart Castle and the Westing-
1ouse refidence. 1t 10 about block
past the new Townsend mansion, the
walls OF which have recently been built
about aU old house whose destruction
was forbidden by spirit medium. The
new embassy windows will overlook
Rock Greek and the Rlistening monu-
msnts of Oak Hill Cemetery, where
Blaine lies hurled.
Que of Wsshington's most historic
houses will bs open to new tenant
when Am AMBASSADOR Csmbon removes to
this new embassy. II shades OF the de.
parted ever return to scenes OF terres
trial pleasure many illustrious spirits
haunt the present French Embassy, at
No. ITO II street, few doors beyond
the metropolitan Club.
This mansion was built Just seventy
five years ago by Richard Rush, states
man and diplomatist.
King Edward we'll rememb bers the
present French Embassy. A dinner
was given there in his honor the
second night of bis visit to Presi-
dent Buchanan at the White
House. Lord Lyons was then
BIitannia's Minister TO Uncle Sans
court. He was an old bachelor, and
thereby hangs tale. One day as be
sat 10 his Office In the Rush mansion be
received from Queen Victoria an auto
graph letter announcing to President
LiDcoln the marriage of the present
King Edward to Queen Alexandra.
Lord Lyoi proceeded to the White
House and forthwith, bowing and
;crsping much, delivered to President
Lincoln both the letter and the care.
fully studied announcement. Lincoln
took all the dignity out of the occasion
by replying. in his droll manner:
Lord Lyons, 60 thou and do like
wise."
In 1894, when NJ. Jules Patenotre,
former French ambassador, married
Miss Elverson, Of Philadelphia, France
first leased the property for an en-
b. say.
That OF France will be the seventh
patch OF foreign soil acquired within the
bounds of Washington. The first was
the acre of ground at Connecticut ave.
que and n street, bought by Sir Ed
ward Thornton, British minister, about
25 years ago, and the present Briiis
EN- mbsssy was built at cost of 1925 900
Sir Edward paid Is cents foot for the
ground, now valued at s. foot.
The Germans were next to purchase
legation property-a house on Fifteenth
street, within the square just below the
Seven years ago they sold
it at profit and bought the present
on Highland terrace.
About 10 years ago, the Japanese
bought General Cspron's house, at No.
1910 N street. and have occupied 1t
since. Two years later Mexico built q
s6O, COO mansion on land purchased on
street, be ween Fourteenth and Fiji
teenth. About the same time Corea
bought her present legation at Thir.
teenth street and Iowa Circle, just op.
posite the new Logan statue. Finally
the Austrian government, through
Baron Hengelmuller Won Hengervar,
the present minister, purchased 10 1895,
$50, 900, the mansion OF former Senator
Yuie, Of Florida. The Is other foreign
represented in Washing