Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01
EXPANSION OF D. c.
SHOWNIN EXHIBIT
Models and Historic Papers
Showing History to Be
Placed at SesqUi.

The history of the establishment of
the seat of government in Washing
ton. and Its growth and Identification
to the present stage, will be depicted
In an interesting exhibit of pictures
and facsimiies of old records for the
Sesquicentennial exhibition at Phila-
delptia by the office of public build
ings and public parks of the National
Capital The exhibit is the result of
many weeks Of work on the part Of
Frederick D. Owen, an engineer in the
office, thoroughly familiar with the
history of this branch of the Govern
ment through 80 years of service.
The material for the exhibit will be
sent to Philadelphia tomorrow by
motor truck, and ii is to be followed
later by model of the United States
Capitol. now en- route from the West
coast on transport. 1t has been
there since the Panama.Pacific Elk
position. AS soon as the material ar
rives it will be set In place in the
Transportation Building by a corps of
workers under Mr.. Owen. The ex-
PLANTATION given for the delay in plac-
ing the exhibit is that the public build
off the original schedule, and obtained
the space now allotted after some
other Government department had in
dicated that IL would not need It.
Tells Who Owned Ground.
BY maps and charts the history of
the city's growth will be traced across
the walls of the exhibit building in
chronological order. Many old prints
have been framed to show the ap-
pearance of the city when the Govern
ment first moved here, as compared
with the city today. One of the most
interesting features will be map of
the original territory, showing the
owners OF the land at the time that it
! was established as the Federal City.
This reveals that the ground on which
| the Capitol Is located was originally
owned by Daniel Carroll, and that on
| which the White House was built was
owned by Samuel Davidson and David
Burns, the then party line running d.
| rectly through the site of the pres
ent White House.
All Of the old land records Of the
National Capital are in the Office of
| public buildings and public parks,
except the original L'Enfant plan.
which has been sent to the Library
| of Congress for preservation. There
will be old charts showing the various
park developments, including East
Potomac Park, which Mr.. Owen, with
the late Gen. Peter c. Hams. were
the first to develop; Rock Greek Park
and others. Much of the information
from which the charts were compiled
was taken from hand-written records.
many of them in the penmanship and
bearing the signature of men famous
/ In the early history of the city and
Government.
Historic Signatures Shown.
There will be O. photostat copy of
the order appointing of the original
commission TO lay out the Federal
City. and showing the signatures of
| George Washington and Thomas
/ Jefferson. This commission was COM
posed of Thomas johnson and Daniel
Carroll of Maryland and David Stuart
of Virginia. The present Office of
public buildings and public parks is
4 said to be the logical successor of
| this original commission.
There also will be a model of the
top of the Washington Monument as
well as numerous pictures showing
| the various stages of the construction
and a cross-section drawing showing
the interior of the structure. Like
wise there will be innumerable pic
| lures showing the various ceremonies
held in the Capitol, including inaugu-
| rations. and pictures of the United
| States Park Police Force and of the
| guards of the Government buildings.
Models of the Rock Creek and Po-
tomac Parkway plan, Meridian Hill
Park and Potomac Park also will be
| included in the exhibit