Evening star., 1902-01-07
PLAN OF THE CAPITAL CITY
DESIGN OF L'ENFANT SUBJECT OF
TWO PAPERS.
Discussion of WashiBgtOn's Develop
ment and Progress on Lines-Of
Original Draft.

L. En1ant, the designer OI lIe pidu VI
the capital city and his work were the
themes of the papers read at the meeting
of the Columbia. Historical Society last
evening at the Shoreham- Mr.. Ainsworth
R. Spofford presided, and before entering
upon the program of the evening he an
nounced that the board of managers of the
society had decided, in response to what
seemed to be general demand. to change
the date for the monthly meetings from the
first to the second Monday in each month.
He also announced that the next meeting
would be held the second Monday in Feb,
ruary. Resolutions relative to the death
of President Mckinley were adopted.
The first paper read was by Mr.. Glenn
Brown. 1t proved to be an interesting
well as instructive study of the probable
sources of the plan as prepared by l. En-
fant. He was of the opinion that the
grandeur of the scale of the plan clearly
indicated the confidence of the projectors
in the future of this country. During the
first fifty years of the citys history this
greatness of scale. he said, was a constant
cause of rldicule with the t1oughtless..
President Washington, continued Mr..
Brown. was fortunate in securing Peter
Charles l. Enfant, with whose skill he was
well acquainted, to design the map for
the new city.
Conferred With Washington.
With L'Enfant, Washington made a care
full study of the ground and located the site
for the principal edifces and focal points.
The first or tentative draft was made and
submitted to Washington, and after modi-
fications, the final map was drawn, as we
have it today
The speaker tnen in discussing the
sources of L'Enfants Inspiration, said the
latter asked Jefferson, April 4, 1791, for
maps OF various European cities, and that
Mr. Jefferson sent him from his personal
collections maps OF Frankfort-on-the-M Main
Amsterdam, Strasburg, Paris, Orleans, Bor-
deauX, Lyons, Montpelier, Marseiles and
Milan. A comparison of the maps of the
cities mentioned, the principal ones being
displayed on screen as Mr.. Brown talked
SHOWS, In his opinion. that they supplied
l. Enfant with only isolated suggestions for
the treatment which was adopted. He
called attention 20 the fact that the feature
OF focal points of the plan of Paris was
completed his work
The most unique and distinctive feature
OF Washington, said the speaker, it's
numerous focal points of interest and beau
ty from which radate the principal streets
and avenues. was not suggested by any city
of Europe. In providing the mall, in Mr..
Browns opinion, L'Enfant was influenced
by the Champs Elysee and of the more
From the plan of Annapolis. with its single
focal point and that of Williamsburg, with
Its mall, tract of green toward which the
principal streets converge L'Enfant may
have derived some suggestions
In calling attention to the material to
which L'Enfant had access, Mr.. Brown
explained that he did not mean to detract
from his fame. He regarded it as truly re-
markable and as proving L'Enfant to have
been genius.
Mr.. MOOre's Paper.
The next paper was read by Mr.. Charles
Moore. and proved to be a discrimina ting
discussion. betraying much historical re-
search, of the origin of the plan of the
city. He referred to it's modern develop
ment and gave a summary of the concep-
ton of the park commission, which is that
for the future all public edifices are to be
designed and park spaces are to be created
in harmony with the plan Of l. LEnfant. The
decision reached by the park commission
to recommend that L'Enfant's design be
carried out was referred to, and the effect
was pointed out of the restoration of the
mall to its original purpose of supplying a
garden approach to the Capitol and of con-
meeting that building with the monument
through vista of natural beauty. This
stretch of lawn, bordered on each side
with double row of elms and closed at
each end with the impressive pile of the
Capitol and the stately beauty Of the monu-
ment, was described as likely to prove to
be one of the most impressive features of
the Washington of the future. The advan-
tageS of a return to LEnfant's plan the
speaker said had appealed to the president
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and
to those who have to do with the location
ard designing of public buildings now in
contemplation. AS result, the mall was
to be freed from railroad tracks, and dis
position was displayed on the part of public
officials to have the future improvements
in harmony with the development of Len
fant's plan.
Mr.. Moore's description of the CITY as de-
veloped according to a harmonious and we'll
conceived design, was charmingly presented
The closing words of his paper aroused the
greatest interest and were greeted with ap-
plause by the audience.
DR.. ]. Dudley Morgan. who is familiar
with the life and work of L'Enfant, added
some words of appreciation of the genius
displayed by the French engineer.
Annual Election.
The annual meeting of the society was
then held, and the reports of the officers
were read. Officers were elected as fol-
lows: President John A. Kasson; first vice
president. A. R. Spofford; second vice presi-
dent. II. b. Hagner; treasurer, William A
Mearns; recording secretary, Mrs. Mary
Stevens Beall corresponding secretary, NJ.
l. Weller; curator, James F. Hood; chron-
icier, w. B. Bryan; managers for four years,
Marcus Baker and w. j. MCGEE.
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and nothing but vanilla extract.-Advt.
Suspected of Larceny.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest