The Cairo bulletin., 1908-09-09

an -. eccentric ..l and
age LEnfant came to America with
Lafayette, entered the American army
| and shortly became a captain OF en-
| gineers, reaching, before the conclu-
| sion Of the war the rank Of major. To
| him is given the credit of devising
| the magnificent plan OF the city of
Washington. The plan, ii has been
said was suggested by that OF the
ancient city of Annapolis, which is
dominated by the state house, as that
of Washington Is by the capitol The
original plan Of the capitol was de
signed by DR., Thornton and although
1t was pronounced by Mr. Latrobe to
be one of the first designs of modern
times, 1t proved so faulty and imprac-
ticable in detail that committee of
congress called upon Mr.. BENJAMIN II
Latrobe to help to straighten things
out. Mr. Latrohe had been appointed
surveyor of the public buildings in
Washington and experienced such diff
ficulty in dealing with Dr. Thornton
that he resigned But the president
would not accept his resignation, and
he received authority to complete the
capitol About this time. namely. in
1906. Latrobe wrote in his journal as
follows
Daily through the city stalks the
picture of famine, LFnlant and his
dog The plan Of the city is probably
his, though others claim il. This sin
gnlar man, of whom ii is not known
whether he was ever educated to his
profession or not. has the courage TO {
undertake any public work that might
be offered to him. He has not sue. t
ceeded in any but was always honest (
and is now miserably poor. He is too /
proud TO receive any assistance. aud F
it is very doubtful in what manner he !
subsis,s'
Before this time L'Entant had been /
employed by Robert Morris 10 design
and supervise the erection OF a dwell /
ing in Philadelphia The design OIL
this house was a monstrosity, and tho
attempt to build ii ruined both Nor
ris and the architect The house VIZ
120 feet long by 90 deep and Latrobg
spoke Of it as a complicated and IN
Ineligible mass
After Latrobe saw LEnfant In
Washington looking like a picture Of
famine. LEnfant was offered the place
of professor of engineering at West +
Point Military academy hat declined
it. He was frequent visitor at Chill
lum Manor in Prince George county,
and there he was cared for in his
last illness He was buried there in
the family graveyard
Latrobe seemed 10 have no doubt
that the plan OF the city OF Washing
ton was made by LEnfant. and in this
day it is accepted as a historical fact
That plan establishes the genius OF
LEnfant 1t seems beyond belief thar
in the very infancy Of the republic q
man could have looked forward with
prophetic eye and designed city
which can be suitable only as the
capital Of a great and opulsnt c0uu-
try. II was designed for just such "a
ttAs az 10 unr %NNNH AN ~. nduFINs 4
city OF residences and public build.
ings. For a business or commercial
city the streets are too wide and the
design unsuitable But as "A capital
city, and a residence city with the re-
sources Of the whole country 10 help
IT, il is difficult; 10 see how the design
could be improved For the first half
century Of its life the plan OF Wash
ington was greatly ridiculed as map
propriate 10 a town Of its Insignificant ]
size. Its broad streets We're unpaved
and were alternately storms Of blind
ing dust or deep in mud. II was
called in derision the city OF maCnif-
cent distances" But Washington has
now grown up 10 its plan and justified
the designer II is entirely fitting that
the ashes Of the man whose genius
accomplished so much should repose /
in the CITY he created