Evening star., 1917-11-04
The Rambler Writes More Of Old Washingt>

I'm the "ramble" last Sunday relat-
ing to the Washington canal.
which connected the Potomac and
q the Eastern branch. and which
for most Of its length was filled in
under the direction Of the board Of
public works Of the territorial govern
ment of 1S71-74. the narrative pro-
ceeded only as far as the authorize
Of a company for the construction Of
the canal. There were also many
matters relating directly and indirect-
ly to the canal project which the
Rambler did not touch on.
Thomas Jefferson. at Philadelphia.
March 6, 1892. wrote to the commission
ers having direct supervision over the
laying out and construction Of the new
federal city a historic letter. One Of
the sentsnces in that letter was this:
at having been found impraeticable to
employ Maj. L'Enfant about the fed
eral city in that degree of subordina-
tion which was lawful and proper, he
has been notified that his services are
at an end" Farther along in the
what will be your funds. you will be
able to decide which of the following
works had better be undertaken for
the present year: The cellars Of both
houses (white House and capitoD: the
foundations Of one or both bridges
over Rock creek and tn post road
over it; the canal or the wharves."
The Maryland legislature. on Decem-
ber "a, 1875, enacted a law authorizing
two lotteries in Washington in promotion
Of the building of the canal. That act
follows:
whereas. the opening and completing the canal
already begun in the City of Washington in the
Territory of Columbia and making the same
aavisable is measure of great public utility.
Be it enacted By the General Assembly = Of
Motley Young. Daniel Carroll of puddinston,
Lewis De Blois. George Walker. William NJ.
Duncanson, Thomas Law and James Barry, or q
majority Of them, to propose any scheme
schemes Of two annual lotteries for raising the
sum of S., 500 and to sell and dispose Of tickets
therein. provided the said Motley Young, Daniel
Carroll of DuddinKton. Lewis De Blois. George
Walker. VIM. NJ. Duncanson, Thomas Law and
fore the sale or disposal Of any hcke. or
tickets in either Of said lotteries, give bond to
the Commissioners Of the City Of Washington for.
ditioned that they will well and truly apply the
monies arising therefrom, within two months
after the drawing thereof. to the payment of the
prizes drawn by the fortunate adventures in
said lotteries and the necessary expenses in
Cured in the management thereof. and the res
fdue 10 the opening ana completing the canal In
the City of Washington and rendering the same
nevgable under the direction and superintend-
euce Of the said Commissioners and their sue
cessors.
The reference to the canal already be-
gum is to cut that was begun in the
fall Of 1892, designed to connect the tide
waters Of Tiber creek and st. James
creek. That ditch long remained one Of
the unpleasant features of the old city.
Mr.. Bryan. in his history Of the Ma
tional Capital. says that the straitened
state Of the finances Of the city led to
the abandonment in the year 1895 of the
undertaking to connect by a canal the
Tiber and ST. James creeks. Some 81 900
cubic yards of earth had been removed at
q cost Of $5.170. and then the trench was
left unfinished"
The lotteries authorized by the Mary