Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-27
THE OLD-TIME MALL
Big Area Of Low Lying I'm
improved Marsh.
COURSE OF THE CANAL
GROUNDS IMPROVED BY DIREC-
TON OF CONGRESS.
Portions Of It Occupied by Handsome
Buildings+Site Of Wash
ington Monument.
COURSE OF THE CANAL

The attention of an old citizen was called
to the statement that the vista from the
west front of the Capitol Is in danger OF
detriment by the encroachment of pro-
posed new building for the Department Of
Agriculture on the mall, and he said:
I'VE didn't use the term vista when
was a boy and we enjoyed the view or
sight when scene from the west front was
the designation. Say, take the early thir-
ties as the time. AS you may imagine,
there were few visitors to the Capitol
then. for travel by rail was not in vogue
and on water 1t was mostly by sailing
vessels-packets, we called them. OF
course, visitors made for the Capitol as
the main point of interest, whether Con-
gress was was not in session. The four
paintings of revolutionary scenes by
Trumbun in the rotunda were then the
principal attraction. besides the ascent to
the old dome
The view from the latter was in every
d1rection-a fine one, as 1T is now. and
few missed opportunity to enjoy it.
The vista from the west front, over the
then public grounds, which on the map
bore the name of Public Mall was a fea-
ture OF visits to the Capitol. Then there
had been little improvement of the mall.
and people wondered why so large a
space. over mile in length, had been SO
marked on the plan OF the city, ana l
have heard it called "a crazy idea of some
F'renchman. The name of L'Enfant you
may well guess, was then but little
known.
When one suggested that when the
city was built up the mall would become
a breathing spot he would be laughed at
for we little thought that even all of
pennsylvania avenue would be built up.
1t long remained an enigma to me. Len
FAINT, shown by his maps contem-
plated that some buildings for some pub
lie offictals-for example, the homes of for
eign ministers and United States senator's
should be erected on the mall, and though
the plan has not been followed there are
! imposing public buildings located on it.
| 1t IS supposed by many that the mall
| was always OF its present size, from Sd
| street ID the river and Missouri avenue and
| north Il street to Maine avenue and south
| Is street. but it extended originally west
| from the Capitol grounds. and east of 9th
| street, horth to Pennsylvania avenue and
| south TO Maine avenue.
About the time of my birth. there was
! a change made and the corporation was
| ground. Much of tn mall from east of
7th street nearly to 1st street, consisted of
| low, marshy ground. and through an act
| Of Congress the corporation author
| lied TO treat with the CaEal company and
| have the course of tie canal changed
! as to Drain and dry those low grounds
Grounds Reclaimed.
| passed in 1872 the grounds We're reclaimed.
| the reservation north of Pennsylvania ave
| nue., south of c street between I'd street and
what is Tow John Marshall place, Az street.
| went into possession of the corporation, and
| four squares were laid of on the re-
claimed land. All this land has been subdi
| vided into lOts,s sold and built upon. Missouri
| avenue was located north and Maine avenue
| south OF the canal and by AZ street inter-
| secting four squares were made. l have
| heard more than one person speak of hav-
| Ing picked berries along the avenue on these
| squares. Those squares facing PennSylya-
| MIA avenue from late in tie thirtes to the
| civil war constituted a bon ton neighbor-
| hood, which was the scene of not few
| society events. Some of our leading men,
| members of Congress and others, lived
| there.
| That portion of the mall between Penn
| sylvania and Maryland avenues. west of
| the Capitol grounds and east of Sd street
| Is now the Botanical Garden. But littl. of
! 1t was, however, in practical use tten
| In addition to much of it being low and
marshy, the old Tiber creek. which mean
| dered from north OF the Soldiers Home
| taking in other streams crossed the ave
nue. at I'd street into the gardens. and
| turning westward to the canal into which
| it flowed interfercd with it's improvement
| Il never knew of the origin af this gar
| den. but have heard 1t said that some
| time about 1920 Mr.. Foy came here from
| Kentucky, at the instance of Henry Clay,
| a
| he lived near, on the avenue between LIST
| and I'd streets. where he conducted the An
| drew Jackson House. which wrecked
| by the overfioWing of the Tiber late In the
| thfrtieS, l believe he was the first to Use
| the Botanical Garden.
| Under the act referred to the corpora
| ton was authorized to inclose any part of
| the mall east Of 9th street, and improve
the same out Of the proceeds of the sales
| OF lots. This gave the mall, in popular par
I laTce, less territory. And the canal TAX
ing turn southwark at b street north a
| short distance from 9th street, the latter
| was regarded by many the east line
| of the mall With the canal its north
| line and street south its southern bound
| airy, extending west to the Pint, it was
| no beauty spot. When l first knew it,
which was many years ago, some improve
| ment had been attempted by fencing, seed
| ing to grass. etc. and as I recall. some
| fine crops were made on the arabic por-
! lions between It'll and 18th streets for a
few years.
Bird Shooting on the Mall
Previous to this time much OF it was in
| q primeval state and some hunting was en-
| joyed. Col. John C. Rives was noted shot
| in his day. as was also Col. W. w. Seaton,
| and have heard of both Of them bagging
| few rabbits and birds On the mall. West Of
the site Of the monument. and about the
| mouth OF the old canal, was, however.
reckoned better shooting ground.
Some parts of the mall. the northeastern
| larry. were used by shows and circuses.
| and about 1870 near where the Smithsonian
| is the Washington Light Infantry held a
| very enjoyable encampment which was WIS.,