The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-26
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Iz1-ksA FAINT who laid
out the ma
tional capital, was dedicated in the
National Cemetery at Arlington. The
beauty OF Washington, which is among
the best lain out cities In the world,
is due to the genius OF LEnfant. He
came to this country from France in
1777 and took part in the struggle for
American Independence After the
war, when congress decided to select
the site of a national capital and
chose the spot on thu Potomac river,
L'Enfant was asked to lay out the
model city. His genius enabled him
to look ahead and plan for nation
OF the tremendous growth and power
Of today rather than for the strug-
Cling Is colonies which mad Just
emerged into independent life. After
ward he was discharged from the
government service and had a claim
against 1t when he died. In his old
age he was penniless and was main
tanned by two wealthy men living near
Washington. After his death, In
1925, his body was buried in a coun-
try cemetery at Green Hill, In Prince
Georges county, Maryland. Two
years ago congress made an appro-
prtation for the removal Of the re-
mains to Arlington and now the fur
Their and long-delayed honor OF erect
ing suitable monument over his
ashes has been carried out
Moi p9nTrsS Tho r
cd in America In 1777, soon after the
Revolutionary war broke out. Though
but lad of 90. he had beensa soldier In
France, from which country he came.
His family was aristocratic, his dispo-
sition was veETtnresome, his nature
artistic. Major L'Enfant served his
country well for an entire decade His
blood was spilled on number OF bat
tie fields, he was taken prisoner and
transferred, he planned Notifications,
built defenses. Fort Washington It.
self is O monument of his skill. In
the end he settled down to live out a
quiet life in the land of his adoption.
When congress, assembled In Phila-
delphia, decided that another site
should be selected as the Nations per
manent capital, and when, under the
advice Of Washington and those leg
islators who wanted to remove II from
the influence of the financial centers,
the site on the Potomac was chosen.
L'Enfant was asked to lay out the
model city.
These were the days Of the Nations
great good fortune, for two geniuses
appeared in that emergency and left
the imprint Of their hands on the ma
ton forever. The greater Of these
was the Frenchman, LEnfant, and
the second was DIR. William Thornton.
"a West Indian. who designed the Capt.
toll. The work of each stands IN this
day of many critics with no man to
dispute it's mastery.
LEnfant went into the wilderness
and laid out the capital of the future.
He chose the spot ON which Congress
House" the Capitol. was to stand. He
chose site for the Presidents Pal
ace" the White House of today. with
the Capitol as the ctty's center he
! crossed broad streets that ran with
the compass. Then he added diagon-
ais that were TO be known as avenues
and to be named after the states. This
gave sixteen streets that led to the
Capitol. For miles down any of these
streets the dome OF the Capitol has
been visible ever since IFS erection.
The grandeur Of it's architecture aris-
ing from It's hilltop and visible above
surrounding objects impresses all who
cross one OF these sixteen streets and
glance toward 'sthe HILL" This view
OF the Capitol Is the best known pic
ture in America It deserves its re-
noWn.