Evening star., 1912-11-24
.aH4 ksl

INK HOTtn-SOuIn anu tdSl-"tStr -
more than flush with the heavy turf IN
that part of the Monument lot. 1t IS
about twenty-five feet east from the edge
Of the west drive around the Monument
and the sIanting shadows of two young
NAPLES fall it. At the west side OF
the stone turf and earth have been dug
away. exposing an inscription, when
reads:
Position Of jefferson Pier.
Erected December IL. lS'4-
Recovered and Ee-erected
December >. 1889.
District of Columbia.
The fifth line of the inscription has been
obliterated. apparently not in spirit or
mischief or vandalism, but though, as an
afterthought, ii has been concluded TO
cfface this part of the inscription.
Here is the center of the District OF
Columbi when it was ten-mile SQUARE
that is. before the retrocession to Virgin
ia of the trans-Potomac section
The merdional center line of the Dis
trCt of Columbia from the corner stone
at Jones point to the intersection of the
diagonal lines at the north point. ran
through the White House. along he CEN
ter of 18th street; over Peters hill, which
came to be called Meridian hill, and on
To the northern extremity of the District
at place one mile due west from Silver
Spring The line from the east to the
west corner of the District crossed the
meridional center line near where later
was built the Washington Monument.
It is set forth in Crews Centennial
History of Washington" that at the cross
ing of these lines near the Monument
should be found the center of the Dis
trict and at this intersection was placed
in 1902 d stone to mark the spot. 1t was
called the Jefferson stone. That history
SAYS that its position is not now GSg2)
visible, but il was about $50 yards north
west from the Washington Monument and
on the bank of the old Tiber creek. 1t
had d bluestone foundation. The stone
which was about five feet tall, was COW
cred with sandstone cap about five feet
square and eight inches thick. This cap
stone and part of the foundation were re-
moved in 1872 through an error as to the
history and significance of the marker,
and what remained was covered with
earth several feet deep.
Some of the statements relating to this
stone as set forth in the centennial his
tory are faulty. The Star man asked
Col. Spencer Cosby, L. S. A, in charge
of the office of public buildings and
grounds, for the facts about this stone
and Col. Cosby said:
This stone is al the intersection of the
center line of 10th street extended due
south and a due west line from the CEN
ter of the Capitol. 1t is 2,649 feet due
south from the outer side of the sill of
the basement door on the south side of
the executive mansion. This point was
first fixed in 1893 by wooden post and
permanently fixed in 1904 by the building
of a stone pier five by five by six feet.
According to tradition, the President
and Mrs. jefferson were present when the
foundation of the pier was being laid, so
that the pier was afterward known as the
Jefferson pier.
1t was used as the original bench
mark for the Washington Monument. but
was neg. .ected for many years and in time
destroyed. with the exception of the foun-
dation. 1t was re-esta blished by the Of
flee of public buildings and grounds in
1889
There is a full history and description
of this stone to be found on pages 3610
and 3611 of the Annual Report of the
Chief Of Engineers, L. S. A. for 1895. -