Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18
WHEN CITY WAS YOUNG
Oddities of Nomenclature Sixty
Years Ago.
PUBLIC PARKS AND SPACES
"Front of Presidents House" Now
Lafayette Square.
TRIANGLES USED FOR TRAVEL
Selection Of Mall as Site for Smithson-
ian Institution and the Monu-
ment Prompted improvements.
TRIANGLEs USED FOR TRAVEL

Sixty years ago, when the city OF WASH
fngton could boast OF permanent popu-
lation of but thirty odd thousand. there
were but few who had an Idea OF "har
the unique plan OF L'Enfant for the devei-
opment of the city contemplated. Outsloe
of official circles there were but few VINO
had ever heard Of the name. much less nav
ing paid attention to his plans. excepting
when no was laying of lines. The many
places left vacant at the intersections OF
streets and avenues were regarded as use
less waste ground, and in some instances
were used as dumping grounds. What are
now handsome circular OF triangular parks
were not dreamed OF,
Little had been done by the government
with the public grounds of larger dimen-
sions. The Capitol. White House. city hall
grounds and the Mall only had received at
tention and that only In limited way.
The naval observatory had been erected
at Camp HILL. the south end Of 23d street:
as University Square, but the name OF
Observatory Hill figured with "F'unks-
town. as the title Of that nefghborhood.
Lafayette Square was marked on the maps
as presidents Square" but front of the
Presidents house designated the space,
which was improved only by simple wood
en- fence and q few trees and In whose grass
four or five well-worn foot paths afforded
way.
South Grounds Of the President" with
the exception Of the portion inciosed within
a wall some 200 yards south OF the build
ings, was a wild waste. on which the Fourth
Of July fireworks exhibitions were given.
and had not yet been inclosed by board
fence, which, being whitewashed, gave to
the grounds the title OF White Lot"
The Mall had received some attention by
the planting OF trees and erecting fences
which cost few thousand dollars. The
trees had grown with the grass. but the
fence was down, and aside from Its utility
as a playground for boys. that part near 7th
and B streets north. was sometimes useo
by shows and circuses; and near the site OF
the Smithsonian there were occasional MILL
tary encampmentS.
1.-THE CITY Hall Lot was the name for
Judiciary Square. where the present court
house and pension building now stand.
There were no improvements of the grounds
on which were the city hall. where were
the corporation of1ces and the courts; the
Washington Inhrmary, originally Duflt TOT
q jail and new jail called the Blue jug
A stream ran through the northern portloh'
from 5th and G. streets to 4th and K streets.
and no attempt had been made at grazing
the grounds, which were level only about
the west end of the city hall. 1t was not
an inviting place.
Col. Peter Forces company. were kept tn
the northwest corner Of the city hail, and
near the west end OF the building the sa-
luting was done on holfdays ana othef &C
caSionS.
Capitol Grounds Improved First.
The grounds about the Capitol had been
improved, as the congressman of that time
believed that charity begins at home"
Few Of the triangular or other spaces
made by the lines OF avenues and streets
were put to other uses than for travel. and
where LEnfant left space for a square or
O(a a