Evening star., 1914-05-16
FRANKLIN SQUARE ONCE
WATER SUPPLY SOURCE
Piped to White House, Public Build.
ings and Elsewhere in
the City.

What is now known as Franklin Park
was once n building square. laid OF into
thirty building lots. When this city was
laid out the ground was included In the
farm Of Gen. John Davidson or Annapo
lis. and on the division between the com
missioners and the original proprietors
this entire square was apportioned TO the
mted States and the lots were after
ward sold TO private parties.
About the year 1916, when springs ver.
sought after by the corporation os Wash
ington. an act was passed authorizing the
mayor TO purchase twp for the use of tha
citizens OF the second ward There was a
fine spring short distance northeas. n,
the intersection OF 18th and X streets
known as Dav.dson.s sprInp b,,. bo.o-s
negotiations therefor a spring was dI,
covered on the west sid. of l3,b s,-a.,
south of K street. and later water va.
run therefrom in wooden pines dow, g.
f street
Water for White House.
The general government was arso ,oop
ing Tor a supply of water for the Presi.
dents house In lieu of that f,,p;sbea y,
pump. and in 1919 AN appropriation wa.
A
nishing a more copious supply was found
~ souare 2fo. not far from the site OF the
statue. and at an expense of more
man "''"oV water was conducted there
''oii 10 the Executive Mansion and sub
sequently to the War Department.
IN lSs' TO obtain full control OF H..
spring. the entire square was purchas,
OF tne owners for $1,000 but there va
40 Improvement in the matter of in
Gsosins the ground or filling It up until
1901 and 1852. At that time n Main rail
ing fence was erected and tha sron,j,
We're hiled up. Prior thereto the ground
iay low and was marshy-fully fifteen feet
lower than the established grade at the
.isos.heast .s corner and a few feet above
that or street. The overflow from this
spring ran toward the southeast of the
square where it was augmented by the
seream from the corporation spring.
knoWn as Sluice run. which flowed down
! ioth street TO II. along II street, thence
crossing 10th street Mt + street ana
thence east to the canal
mere We're some dry spots which at
times We're utilized. and In 1895 one of
t smese WAS scene OF great war dane.
by visiting delegation OF Winnebago
Indians. who We're stopping at the famous
notei at the corner of 13is and f streets
Ihese dry spots were great Fairgrounds
1or The children of that day. and on on.
occasion when the grass had become dry
some school children set il afire so thar
tney could witness a great military pa
rade.
Wartime Barracks Site.
In 1861 the quartermaster's department
erected barracks here for the troops. and
the first to occupy them was the 18th
New York State Militia, then under com
mand of Col Daniel Butterfield This
was one OF the largest regiments which
responded to the call for troops, and the
dress parades We're attended each after
noon by hundreds OF citizens. They re
manned there until the night of MAY 2l.
when they went to Virginia The barracks
continued TO be occupied by other or
ganizations. regulars, militia and yo,nn-
| teers. until late IN the war After thu
war the grounds were further improved.
an iron fence being erected about 1870
and trees and shrubbery being planted