Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17
PRESIDENTS SQUARE
Early History of Park Fronting
White House.
LONG MUCH NEGLECTED.
Land Values of Fifty Years Ago in
Northwest.
OLD HOMES AND RESIDENTS
Davidson's Stubborn and Prolonged
Contest for Title-Great Jump In
Prices Of Real Estate.
DID HOMES AND RESIDENTS

What In the early part of the last cen
fury was known as the Presidents Square,
was then, and for many years afterward,
common. with a graveyard on a small
portion, which, during the thirties. after
the visit of Lafayette, became known and
| recognized by his name
1t was for some years a bone of conten-
ton. The ground was, on the laying out of
the city in 1871, included in the Samuel
Davidson tract, and In the map of Major
Charles L'Enfant what are now 10th street
and Vermont and Connecticut avenues
were detected south of H street This was
| according to LEnfant, and four squares
would have resulted had not there been a
change of plan.
Differences having arisen concerning
Major L'Enfant's plans, in January, 1892,
he was dismissed, and his assistant Major
Ellicott. directed to proceed with the work.
Major Eilicott, with the assistance of his
brothers, proceeded with the work and by
March following had finished it, and there
were some few alterations. including the
making of this square, and copies were
placed In the hands Of engravers for pub
Hcation.
The Davidson Purchase.
Sales of ground had been made in other
parts OF the city before, and in October
1892 Mr.. Davidson divided the adjacent
squares with the commissioners and bought
the square east. He, however, claimed
that he was entitled to a moiety of the
squares which would have resulted by ad
herring to l. Enfant's plan, and for several
years asserted his claim, raising a ques-
ton as to the power of the Commissioners
and the President to make alterations of
l. Enfant's plan. Mr.. Davidson memorial
ICED the commissioners on the subject, and
cot 20
the square being public reservation.
The commissioners had made a donation
to the Queen of Portugal, which had been
ratified by the President. In 1893, when
the Attorney General, Charles Lee, gave an
opinion that without an act of Congress
this donation passed no title. and should be
Cancelled. This gave color to Mr.. David
sons contention, and through Presidents
Adams and jefferson continued to urge his
case, and memorialfzed President Adams
for the preparation Of a complete and &C
curate plan, properly authenticated and es-
tablished. Attorney General Lee advised
the President that such a plan had already
been established, having received the for
NAL and solemn appreciation of the Presi-
dent, and 1t was not supposed to be In
complete in any respect except as to rights
appurtenant to water lots and 1t was ir-
revocable, never to be altered.
He further advised that a parcel, and held
by the United States for its use, may be
converted to another party, and pur-
chaser of adjacent, property does not buy
under promise that It will not be con-
verted to another use. 1t would be no
breach of the public faith If the President
did not dwell on Presidents Square or
that Congress did not hold It's sessions IN
Capitol Square The President has ex-
pended his power when he approved the
plan and II was binding on his successors
and Congress itself.
During Mr.. Jefferson's regime the dis
position of this square was undetermined
indeed there was a question whether 1t
should be square a circle, continu-
alton of the half circle on the Presidents
portico.
Persistence of Davidson.
Mr.. Davidson renewed his claim that the
land should be subject to division and sale.
and John Breckenridge, Jefferson's Attor-
ney General, passed upon 1t in 1906. lie
decided that the plan of LEnfant, so far
as 1t affects the lots claim, was never es-
tablished, and were struck out on the plan
of Mr. Ellicott, which was declared to be
the plan of the city and which Washington