Evening star., 1914-10-04
Theme of Address by Fred L.
Fishback Before the Uni
versity Club. 4
FAMOUS OLD BUILDINGS
AND NOTED LANDMARKS
Description Given Of the Develop.
ment Of Washington, Aided BY
Numerous Illustrations,

Facts concerning the history and the
structures of the National Capital
many Of which were undoubtedly un-
familiar not only to residents of only q
rev years, but also to those who have
spent their lives in the federal city.
were brought out in the illustrated
lecture on Washington. Past and
Present" delivered last night by Fred
L. Fishback before the members of
the University Club and their Ruests.
Mr. Ftshback. in leading up to the
Capital city in the territory set apart
Capital city In the territory set apart
TOT the purpose. showed the pressing
need OF new and permanent seat OF
government by touching on tho sur
prfsingly numerous and varied towns
and buildings used by the continental
and succeeding congresses In its ses-
sions from l776 to 1901. Not only did
these bodies, he said, sit on three dif.
ferent occasions in Philadelphia, but
held their sessions for periods vary
Ing from one day upward In seven
other towns in various Atlantic s.ttn.
History and Development.
The lecture was profusely illustrated
with views In connection with the his
tory and present development Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia and its surrounding
territory, and among them were pictures
OF Slodgett's Hotel. on e street north
west. and g-oup Of buildings on Capitol
Hin. later the Capitol prison, both OF
which were used by Congress after the
removal OF the seat Of government to
washington. In one case the change was
n To-,
by the burning OF the first Capitol build
ing by the British troops in the war Of
1872.
Scenes showing the Davy Burns cot.
the arst building erected in what il
now Washington proper; the old Van
Ness mansion. in the same vicinity:
the house originally built as q resi-
dence for Gen. Washington: the grand
review in April. 1866, at the close OF
the civil war; public buildings no long
er IN existence. and the develoDment
OF the public buildings with which the
modern Washingtonian is familiar,
were mingled with pictures Of the
modern piles that house the depart-
ments OF the government, and me-
MORALS to Its servants In peace aad
war.
Nearly all the slides were artistsca,-
rapid-fire resume of facts and descrtp-
ton. From the old lighthouse On
Jones point, just south Of Alsxandria.
from which. as q starting point, the
lines embracing the original District
were laid at right angles. to the yet
uncompleted Lincoln memorial, hardly
point Of interest was overlooked.
and Mr: Ftshback was the recipient oi
rising vote OF thanks by his audisnoo.
On Burns Cottage Site.
Among the multitude of interesting
matters brought to his hearers' atten-
ton. the speaker commented on the fact
that the building Of the Pan-Americsn
Union. whose object 10 the closer bind.
ing together of all the American re-
publics, stands not only on the spot Of
the Burns cottage. the nrst building.
but stands also almost exactly At the
intersection Of the diagonals OF the
original rectangular grant given By
Maryland and Virginia
1t has perhaps been the opinion OF
many Washingtonianis. including him.
self, said Mr. Fishback, that the curves
or logs" in F and G streets north-
west at their intersection with 9Th
street had been made in order to ac-
comodate the big stone building of the
patent office. and that the streets az
originally laid out had been straight.
This opinion is, however. not correct,
for the speaker stated that he came
across a map showing those identical
departures from a straight line. which
is dated 1881, or before the erection of
the public building that now occupies
that block. No reason. he said, can be
given for their presence.
The large number of intimate per-
sonal touches connected with the local.
ities, public buildings and private habi-
tations of the National Capital from
it's earliest history, given by Mr.. FISH
back, made evident the truth of his
own phrase. washington is filled with
living places"