Evening star., 1929-04-21

trader, however, and he wanted the
landowners on the chosen site to get
into a proper frame of mind about
prices. He conducted large part Of
the negotiations himself, and on sew
eral occasions called groups Of land
owners together at Georgetown and
argued forcefully with them about the
need Of being reasonable and the ad-
vantage Of Offering their land at a
figure that would make certain getting
the Capital on their site. Washington
knew all about land values Of the farms
which made up the new District and
the villages Of Carrollstown and HAM
burg which were mere clusters of a
few houses located more or less where
the Capitol and White House now are.
He also knew the owners, and he saw
TO 1t that his desire to locate the Ma
tional Capital city on the Potomac was
not upset by the greed OF any land
holder.
In that connection 1t is worth re-
calling that Philadelphia did not re-
linquish the Capital with a good grace,
but fought vigorously to retain 1t, even
after the decision for q Potomac site
had been made. The State Of Penn
sylvania built a fine house for the Presi-
dent to occupy, but Washington refused
to move in and continued to rent his
house in Philadelphia while he was
President. He would not give the Penn
sylvanians any claim on him for the
Capital.
Potomac Bridges Change Situation.
Many a heart-breaking problem arose
in building the Capital City. There
were disputes without end as to where
the legislative buildings should stand and
where the Presidents Palace, as the en-
gineer L'Enfant. called it. The loca-
ton Of the Capitol and White House
more than a mile apart was done large
~ to please landowners in various sec
tions In and around the new District.
Georgetown did not want the city put
away OF on jenkins Hill-where the
Capitol stands-a location quite mac
cessible in those days. Jefferson, who
as Secretary of State carried out many
details of the planning of the city, had
suggested a public park between the
legislative and executive buildings when
1t was planned to have them fairly close
together. When they were set mile and
quarter apart. the Jeffersonian idea Of
public walks" was retained. and thus
was created the Mall. great blessing.
as 1t saved lot Of fine open space
through the middle Of the city.
There were no bridges across tfe
located, and the area on the Virginia
side which Washington included in the
District seemed as far away az Balti-
more. No wonder 1t was given back 70
Virginial Today three bridges cross
the Potomac in this area. with the
great Arlington Memorial Bridge, fnezs
and widest Of boulevard bridges. nsz--
ing completion. From the END Of this
new bridge in Virginia viii start tte
new Mount Vernon Memorial HighTzv
the Lee Highway and other man
thoroughfares. Times have changed
and the vision Of Washington has b.
come fully justified. but now a score
Of legal problems impede the idea os
bringing the Virginia lands back into
the Federal District.
Arlington County lies entirely inside
Of the original Fairfax County. from
which it was carved to present Il to
the Federal Government in 1871. II
side Arlington County again lies the
| independent city of Alexandria. one Of
the numerous Virginia cities which are
separate from the counties in which
they lie. sort Of free city idea peculiar
| to that State. To shift a city and q
county from their State and into the
District Of Columbia is such a problem
that the success Of the new movement
is far from assured. It certainly will
not be accomplished in hurry Many
people In Arlington County oppose It
as vigorously as others favor 1t.
Meanwhile the Capital City pours
over its borders into Maryland. and
while this involves some odd problems
Of administration, with the District
sometimes paving one side Of a street
while Maryland township paves and
polices the other side, each problem IS
worked out amicably as the city grows,
+ and Congress extends occasional special
benefits to adjoining lands in Maryland
and Virginia over which the surplus Of
! the Federal city Is spreading.