Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-03


ton OF the tidal fats and the elevation
above the river of Potomac Park. but the
vessels are there-vessels that make
daily trips to and from Washington, and
which are SO large as by comparison to
dwarf the greatest ships OF Morses time
to the dimensions Of q canal boat.
Morse had some well defined views con-
corning the "Patomak" as a commercial
highway, although the Great Falls offered
a serious and annoying obstacle. He
proposed, however. to remove the falls by
blowing up the rocks in the river. and
thus making q smooth, though swift,
passage. by which boats might glide In
safety to the smooth water below.
An Eligible Site.
Further describing the site Of the new
city, Morse says:
The situation Of this metropolis is upon
the great post road equi-distant from the
northern and southern extremities OF the
Union. and nearly so from the Atlantic
and Pittsburg' he didn't spell with
a final h-"upon the best navigation and
in the midst of a commercial territory
probably the richest and commanding
the most extensive internal resources Of
any in America. 1t has, therefore, many
advantages to recommend 1t as an eligible
place for the permanent seat Of govern
ment, and, as it Is likely to be speedily
built and otherwise improved by the pub
lic-spirited enterprise Of the people OF the
United States, and even by foreigners. 1t
may be expected to grow up with degree
of rapidity unparalleled in the annals Of
Cities
After describing the sites chosen for the
Presidents house and the Capitol and
presenting a vivid picture of the city, with
its transverse avenues and intersecting
streets, its reservations for parks and
other public uses, Morse writes: I'm or
der to execute this plan Mr.. Ellicott
drew a true meridian line by celestial OBJ
servatiOn, which passes through the area
intended for the Capitol. This line he
crossed by another running due east and
west, which passes through the same
area. These lines were accurately mea-
sured and made the bases on which the
whole plan was executed. He ran all the
lines by a transit instrument, and deter
mined the acute angles by actual measure
ment, leaving nothing to the uncertainty
of the compass"
Washington Of Today.
Thus was Washington planned, and
this was the Washington known to Geog-
rapher Morse in 1870. Contrast the pic
ture with an appreciation of the Wash
ington of today, written by NJ. Make
peace George, who signs himself-or her.
self-"A Visitor from Other Lands:
Surely one of the brightest gems in
Americas crown of fair cities. A city
of dazzling white and beauteous green.
Long, nobly-planned avenues Of
magnificent trees, in all their verdant
green, shaded the thoroughfares. and not
alone the principal shopping and residen-
tial streets, but even the less pretentious
All alike have their wealth Of shady
relief from the heat of a midsummer
sun; so that in my heart have named
Washington the beautiful city Of trees
I'm many respects Washington remind
ed me wildly Of another fair but old
world city-Paris. The same clean
Wilderness of the buildings; the same
luXuriance of green, so noticeable in the
miniature gardens and circles scattered
about the city, as we'll as the same
taneous gayety of the people. One of the
first things to attract my attention was
the tall, white column of the Monument,
landmark standing high above all other
buildings, overlooking the grand expanse
of the Potomac river. and commanding
adjacent states. Then the stately dome
of the Capitol catches the eye, standing
out in all it's glory of white and gold
against sky that is Italian in its vivid
blue
The Library Of Congress comes in for
it's shade of praise from this visitor
from other lands" who says that its
beauty and magnificence is far too great
for him to attempt to do 1t justice on
paper. The visitor" tells of stroll
through the White House grounds on the
occasion of the celebration of President
and Mrs. Taft's silver wedding anniver-
sary, describing the White House and the
grounds in terms of unqualified admira-
ton. Concluding. moonlight trip on
the Potomac is described, the letter
closing with Eau revoir" rather than
"adieu,'' and the whole standing in
strong contrast to the description, writ
ten a century and a quarter ago, by the
geographer of old Charles Town, of the
new capital city of a new nation, just
building.