Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14

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most historic day connected
with the District Of Columbia
the one hundred and thirty
eighth anniversary of the laying
of the corner stone at Jones Point,
which occurred on April IS, 1871. At
the time it is probable this was not con-
Sidered an especially great event, but
if you will but pause to consider its
unique character, you will no doubt
look upon it today as most impressive
occurrence.
True, the placing of boundary stones
Is no doubt very ancient custom, but
this was not boundary stone-it was,
to every intent and purpose, corner
stone, and was so maSonically con-
sidered and SO masonically laid. It was
not the corner stone Of some important
building or monument, but it was far
greater It was the corner stone Of q
Federal District in which was to be
placed the Capital City of 3 new Nation,
conceived in liberty" as Lincoln puts
1t, land dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal"
It will be recalled that the so-called
residence act was approved by Wash
ington on July '16, 1870, and by the
following twenty-fourth day of January,
1891, the President had sufficiently de-
cided upon the territory to be taken
as to issue his notable proclamation,
which in part sets forth:
Now, therefore, in pursuance OF the
powers to me confided, and after duly
examining and Weighing the advan-
tages and disadvantages OF the several
situations within the limits aforesaid,
I do hereby declare and make known
that the location Of one part OF the said
District Of 10 miles square shall be
found by running four lines Of expert
ment in the following manner, that Is
to say: Running from the courthouse
OF Alexandria, in Virginia, due south
west half mile, and thence a due
southeast course till 1t shall strike
Hunting Greek, to Ak the beginning Of
the said four lines of experiment.
"Then beginning the first Of the said
four lines of experiment at the point on
Hunting Greek where the said SOUTH
east course shall have struck the same
and running the said first line due
northwest 10 miles; thence the second
into Maryland, due northeast 10 miles,
thence the third line due southeast 10
miles, and thence the fourth line due
southwest 10 miles, to the beginning
on Hunting Greek.
land the said four lines of expert
knent being SO run, do hereby declare
and make known that all that part
within the said four lines Of experiment
which shall be within the State Of
Maryland and above the Eastern
Branch, and all that part within the
same four lines of experiment which
shall be within the Commonwealth Of
Virginia, and above q line to be run
from the point Of land forming the
SJnper Cape Of the mouth Of the East
krn Branch due southwest, and no more,
Is now fixed upon, and directed to be
surveyed, defined, limited and located
Eor part Of the said district accepted
FOR the permanent seat Of the Govern
ment of the United States; hereby ex-
pressly reserving the direction o. the
survey and location Of the remaining
mart Of the said district, to be made
Hereafter contiguous to such part or
harts Of the present location as Is Or
El1aIl be agreeably to Law"
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M1REsIDENT WASHINGTON had .
j wav Of moving fast when the oc-
nsicn warranted 1t and ne was not TAX