Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03
By JOHN cLAGETT PROCTOR.

~ r the many thousands Of visi-
tors who are here today and
who will remain here tomor-
~ row to witness the inauguration
Of Herbert Hoover aS Presi-
dent of the United States, and who VIII
In their spare moments 60 sightseeing
around our attractive city, there a1s
probably q very few, indeed, who have
ever heard the story of the French en-
gineer whose mind conceived the plan
for the greatest and most beautiful
capital city in all the world-Washing-
ton.
There is no question as to where Gen.
Washington wanted the Capital placed,
though he was astute enough not OPEN
~ to make known his preference in
advance for the Potomac site. However,
a law-permitting the selection Of D
site ION the River Potomac, at some
place between the mouths of the East
ern Branch and the Connogoche
he lost no time appointing commits
eionerS as provided for, and, inciden-
tally, citizens who undoubtedly would
carry out his wishes in the matter.
Having determined upon the site, the
next thing the first President did was
to find some competent person to de-
sign and plan the city, and some one
mer, Maj. Pierre Charles LEnfant was
selected, and for the latter Mai. An.
drew Ellicott was employed.
Maj. L'Enfant's qualifications well 1T
ted him for the duties he was called
upon to perform. He had been educat-
ed in the best military schools of
France, coming to America In the Fall
Of l777, with NJ. Ducoudray, having
served abroad as lieutenant In the
French Provincial Service. Soon after
his arrival in this country he was pro-
NOTED to captaincy of Engineers. Feb
ruarv IL, 1776, and after the war was
granted the rank of major by brevet
upon his own application, May 2, 1888.
His war record was one to be proud
Of, he having been wounded on the bat
tlefleld of Savannah. made q prisoner
under Sir Henry Clinton and paroled
May, 1880, by Maj. Stuart. commission
er of prisoners: exchanged at New York
on January II, 1882. He did excellent
service, too, during the period of the
War for Independence, when his serv-
ices were available, in teaching the
americans how to plan and rear forth
flcationS.
A FTER the close of the war, he re-
"A modelled and fitted up the City
Hall in New York for the use Of the
First Congress. and his subsequent sim
liar treatment of the Federal House In
Philadelphia reflected much credit upon
his ability as an architect and designer
Hence 1t was but natural that Washing
ton should turn to him for the plan OF
the city he hoped to see grow on the
banks of the Potomac. only Is miles
north of his beloved Mount Vernon.
Indeed, L'Enfant was quite DESTROYS
Of drawing the plans for the new city,
IN which he saw so many possibilities
a great and a golden opportunity for
everlasting fame for himself And so
as early as September ii, l7o9 nearly
a whole year prior to the passage Of
the so-called resident act, he addressed
q letter to Washington, soliciting for
himself the appointment to design the
Capital City when Congress had pro-
vided for the same. His letter to the
first President reads:
THE late determination of Congress
70 lay the foundation of a city which
Is to become the Capital of this vast
empire offers so great an occasion of
acquiring reputation to whoever may be
appointed to conduct the execution of
the business that your excellency will
not be surprised that my ambition and
the desire have of becoming q useful
citizen should lead me to wish share
in the undertaking.
mo nation, perhaps, had ever be-
fore the opportunity offered them Of
deliberately deciding on the spot where
/. their capital city should be fixed or Of
combining every necessary considera-