The Washington herald., 1913-05-18
George Baber Declares Honor
for City Beautiful" Be-
longs to Georgetown Citi-
zen, Not to Maj. L'Enfant.

10 the Editor: The real author
ship of the plan on which washington
is built is again a topic OF interesuns
discussion. The beauty of the plan itseit
constantly appeals TO the patriotic prioe
with which the Capital is regarded, ana
stimulates the desire to honor the mem
DRY of the man who is believed TO have
DESIGNATED it. An impartial inquiry into
the history of the city warrants a dill
terent conclusion on the subject from
that which sustains the current opinion
which seems to be lacking in the essen
tials Of truth.
A renewal of the discussion now Is
prompted by the report of recent
meeting of the Columbia Historical So
ciety, at which Mr. Thomas Nelson Page
read a paper entitled Certain Fallacies
Touching the Laying Out and the De-
yelopment of Washington" on which &C.
casion Dr. James Dudley Morgan. also,
presented his views by way partly of
support and criticism of Mr.. Pages
paper. Not having the pleasure OF at
tending the meeting, l shall not assume
to recount all the "Fallaeies" indicated
by Mr. Page: but the press report says
that he considered the principal fallacy
to be in regard to the part played by
Maj. TEnfant in the conception and de-
velopment of the plan of the Capital"
PnSe 6uOteu.
The part played" by Mai. rEnfant
was then portrayed by Mr.. Page. who al
lowed that the plan was worked out by
Washington, Jefferson and rEnfant in
conjunction, Washington furnishing the
insight and breadth of views, Jefferson
the intelligent shaping of details. and
rEnfant the taste and the harmonious
grandeur of the complete plan" 1t may
be suggested here, that, II Mr.. Page
has correctly explained the alleged "Fal-
lacy" Washington and Jefferson left
precious little for Maj. rEnfant to do
In the premises. The major was evident
ly consigned to the simple use of his
Imagination! But DR.. Morgan. press.
dent of the society. seeing. perhaps, Mr..
Pages literary blunder, rallied to his
support as If to straighten it out by
word of emphasis. Snatching a leaflet
from the brows of Washington and JEFF
ferson, which generously had been put
there by Mr.. Page, and. ignoring the
alleged conjunction of Washington
Jefferson. the doctor declared that Ito
Maj rEnfant was due the honor for
he conception, and designing of the
.ity."
ID. A. n. Enters ControS ersy
Probably led by these distinguished ut
terances, that brilliant assemblages OF
American women-the Daughters of the
American Revolution-just before the
final adjournment, April 1s, of their great
congress in this city, received with in
dulgent courtesy a proposition TO donate
the insignificant sum of $40 as the
nucleus of fund to be raised for the
erection of a monument to lEnfant, the
Frenchman, who laid out the National
Capital"
Now let us turn the pages of history
@NHNaf NJ fhGal
real authorship of the plan on which
Washington City is built.
In 1891 George Washington was Presi- !
dent of the United States and Thomas
Jefferson was Secretary of State Presi- |
dent Washington had long cherished the
idea of establishing a survey of the ten
miles SQUARE of land constituting the |
District of Columbia, and designated |
Maj Andrew Ellicott, of Georgetown, a |
fine gentleman. personal friend, and an |
accomplished engineer, to perform the !
taG.. Maj. Ellicot entered promptly upon !
the work to which the President had as /
signed him and, meantime, the President ,
also appointed a Mai. IEnfant of thI |
army. an engineer. to mark out and de-
fine the metes and bounds of streets, |
circles, &C. of a proposed plan" Of the /
National Capital
In conformity with this idea. in the |
spring of 1871, President Washington. !
with Ellcott and rEnfant. rode over |
the ground upon which the city now |
stands. 1t is quite probable that the |
contemplated plan was a subject oil |
conversation among the gentlemen COM !
posing this party. After the ride. Sec |
reary Jefferson. with the approval of the |
President. addressed Mai rEnfant note |
in the following words, viz:
You are directed to proceed to George
town. where you will find Mr.. Ellicott
employed in making -urvey and map
of the Federal territory
1t is obvious that the survey and the !
map Of the Federal territory" did not |
mean the plan of the city Of Wash
ington and Jefferson's note was intend
ed to authorize cooperation, if need be. |
between rEnfant and Ellicott. The
.'plan of the city was first committed ,
to rEnfant. not to Mai. Ellicott. En-
FAINT had received from the President
specific instructions to that effect. and
as to the service he was to render in
LAYING out the plan of the city, in con-
xSadistinction 20 the Survey of the |
Federal territory" to which he had as
signed Mai Ellicott.
Plan Sent Congress-.
In accordance with instructions con-
viewed to him by the President rEnfant
proceeded, and, in time, answering a call
from Congress, submitted to the Presi-
dent and TO Secretary Jefferson an incom-
plete plan of the city, which the President