Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-16
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the business and finally Congress. wor-
ried by the delay and the pickering.
placed the matter in Washington
hands. with three commissioners to act
under him.
Human nature was the same then as
il is today, and it was recognized that
as soon as II was known that particu-
lar site had been selected. the owners or
the lands would be likely to put up the
price on the government. and hold them
up for sum far beyond their value.
Quite wide latitude was, therefore, given
the President in selecting q site, by the
act Of July is, 1890, accepting the grants
Of ten miles square from the states OF
Maryland and Virginia
Lines Of Experiment.
washington went about the work with
his usual care and began by laying down
lines of experiment. beginning at the
courthouse in Alexandria in Virginia,
and following courses which he himself
determined.
Fortunately for the country. the men
who were to have most to do with the
planning Of the federal city were men
Of large ideas. Washington. Jefferson
and Madison saw the future of this coun-
try with eyes in which it doomed large
I'm laying out the city 1t was decided
to do SO on a large plan, with view to
the future greatness Of the capital of the
nation. Washington himself believed as
he wrote his friend, Mr.. Fairfax. that In
century. should the country keep
united. it would produce a city, though
not as large as London, yet with a mag,
nitude inferior to few others in Europe
Next to him In the work of planning
came his Secretary Of State. Jefferson,
also q man Of large ideas and OF famlil-
arity with tho capitals of Europe. some
Of which he had viewed with eyes al
ready holding the vision of the new cap
'tal in all Its magnificence.
Engineers Engaged.
I'm the actual work Of planning end
surveying the city they secured the serv-
ices of two able engineers and survey
ors The first of these was Maj. Andrew
Ellicott, an American engineer officer OF
much distinction and experience, who in
1884 had run the boundary line between
Virginia and Pennsylvania, and who.
after the federal city was laid out, was
commissioned by the President to settle
by survey tho boundary dispute between
the states Of New York and Pennsylvania
and to decide In which state lay the town
Of Erie.
The other surveyor was the young and
talented French engineer officer who had
left the French army to come to America
in l771, It the age OF twenty-five, and
take service in the revolutionary war.
and had been commissioned captain OF
engineers. His name was Pierre Charles
l. Enfant. He was one Of the most pic
turesque characters evolved in this pic
turesQue period. He was indebted to JEFF
ferson for his employment in the service
which has given him his distinction and
| on which forever will rest his fame.
such Is the fickleness Of fortune that
| for the best part of O century he lay in
an unmarked grave in a country grave
yard, his name almost forgotten; and
then suddenly the light OF fame was
turned upon him, and to him has been
given the credit OF being the almost sole
author Of the splendid plan on which the
National Capita, is laid out.
Not Entitled to Sole Credit.
THAT he was a man OF grand ideas and
| Of extraordinary gifts Is certainly true,
| but 1t is far from true that to him alone
is due the magnifcence OF the plan of the
capital Of the United States. Much of
this great conception was due to WASH
| ington: much. especially in those matters
| of grand detail, which makes Washing
| ton city unique among the cities OF the
country, II not Of the world. Is due to
the universal genius OF Thomas Jefferson.
To the first commissioners and 10 An
drew E.llicott was owing the soundness