Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-20
THor1AS JEFFER ooh5HorE
1O47JEFFERo 0T5T GEoRGLToWr

quantities of grain and tobacco. The
prosperity of the southern plantation own
ers, the rich merchants and the wealthy
millers of the place enabled the town TO
extend its hospitality to many strangers
as we'll afford ample means for social
pleasures in keeping with the eXtravaga1t
old Maryland regime Many beautiful
homes were even at that time the boast
Of the ever-prOud Georgetown.
AT Sutors, when the transfer of prop
erty was arranged. the commissioners
were given authority to lay out the city
as they pleased. They then proceeded to
select such ground as they thought neces
sary for public buildings and divided tine
rest into square lots to be held in equal
numbers by the government and the land
prOprietors, each choosing alternate lots
The land used for streets and alleys was
to he contributed by the landowners, but
that used for buildings and reservations
was 20 be paid for at the rate of $66. 65
an acre. In September the commission
ers decided to call the new city the city
of Washington in the Territory of Column
bia,. but Washington always spoke of
his project as the federal city.
Among the richest of the landhoders
was Daniel Carroll, man of culture and
refinement and with social standing in
keeping with the wealthy planter of his
time. He was the brother of Ri Rev. j.
Carroll, the first Roman Catholic priest
of Baltimore and the founder of the
Jesuit College at Georgetown. Daniel
Carroll, living at the beautiful colonial
mansion called Duddington, overlooking
the Eastern branch. situated south of
where the Congress Hall Hotel now
stands. was the most lavish entertainer
Of all Of the original landholders of the
city He and his gracious wife enter
tot
for with them money for time was plen-
tiful and labor easily obtained from the
slaves. Dressing in the style of his age,
this man of wealth wore powdered wig
knee breeches, buff waistcoat. rufIled shirt
and cooked hat as he doubtless dictated
the duties To his many slaves.
The mistake of Carrolis life was that
of holding on to much of his land, sup
posing that the city would build east in
would be paid him for ground near the
Capitol. At that time the Importance of
the Eastern branch, then shipping cen
ter. was greatly Overestimated by specu-
lators and even by George Washington
himself. The location of the White House,
as well as the position of the river front.
decided the direction Of growth of the
new city TO the west. despite the energies
of the landhoders to build cast. At one
time Carroll held his land at such fabu-
lous price that he refused to sell a part
of his plantation 10 Stephen Girard for
100000 The comparatively small pieces
of property which Carroll sold were al
ways to his great profit but to the loss
of the spectators who bought from him.
The declining years of his life We're spent
in poverty. despite the financial oppor-
tunities which had presented themselves
to him in earlier life.
To the southwest of the White House
a little back from the river. where the
bureau of American republics has lately
been built, there was the rustic cottage
of David Burns. Sheltered by aspens
and whispering naples 1t had the proper
setting for the home of landed pro-
prietor. The large open fireplace was the
solace of the red-faced hardy Scotchman,
who delighted on winters nights to sit
rfes of the loohs and highlands in his ma
tive land. 1t is said such men as the
Calverts. the CAROLS. Young, Hamilton,
Jefferson and Washington himself We're
among Burns frequent guests. Just off
of the large room on the ground floor
there was a smaller room. used as a
guests chamber. Lockwood. a popular
writer on the nations capital. suggests
that In this room the famous Tom Moore
probably wrote his lines on America:
Infancy beneath the twilight gloom
Come let me lead thee DER this modern Rome;
Where tribunes rule, where dusky Davi bow.
Aud what was Goose Creek once is Tiber now.
This famed metropolis where Fancy
Squares In morasses, obelisks in trees
Which travelling fools and gazeteers adorn
With shrines unbuilt and heroes yet unborn.
Though nought but wood and-they
Where streets should run and sages ought 10 be"
When Burns became wealthy by the
sale of part of his lands he made very
little change in his manner Of living.