Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02

the municipal center of the new Fed
eral City, there stands today one of
the most beautiful buildings in Washington the
local Court House. which architects regard as
one of the purest examples in the entire United
States of the Ionic style.
It is 10 years since its corner stone was laid
with elaborate ceremony. For half a century
and more it was the center Of the city's life.
Now, after more than century Congress
and the city fathers have decided that 1t shall
be the dominating feature of new municipal
center, which meantime has wandered many
squares away from the spot that was nrst
selected for it.
In accordance with the new plans municipal
center Is to be located between the City Court
House and Pennsylvania avenue. 1t will occupy
four city squares Thither will be moved the
Offices of the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia and all of the other activities of the
city government Curiously enough, the Police
Department Is even now moving into an old,
partly brick building opposite the Court House.
This building was only about two decades ago
the District Building" and was deserted for
the present Municipal Building at Fourteenth
and Pennsylvania avenue to provide more space
and a government-owned building in what was
then regarded as a fitting location for such q
structure.
If it were possible for one to have watched
the growth and changes Of the City Of Wash
ington since the City Court House was built
its corner stone having been laid in August,
182o-to the present day and evision the future
so far as the material part of this city is con-
cerned, a strange movement backward and
forward Of important buildings would be one Of
the first things that would strike the eye. Not
the least strange thing about it all Is that
gradually and after many vicissitudes the CEN
trail buildings Of the city government are com.
ing back to the place that was first intended
for them, and where they first stood
Varying the figure little, If one might be
supposed to be standing on the brow Of Capitol
Hil1-or better yet, seated on a limb Of q tall
oak tree on that hill, once known locally as
Jenkins Hill, he would see a vast plain spread
out before him in the angle between the Po-
tomac and the Anacostia Rivers, almost COM
pletely surrounded, except where the Anacostia
and Potomac Rivers joined by rim Of hills.
THE Federal City, as it was then called, oc-
cupied portion Of the land that lay in the
angle Of the rivers, but did not extend to the
rim Of hills. There were, however, within this
location selected by President Washington and
L'Enfant for the Capital of the new Nation
several smaller elevations. the principal one Of
which was Capitol HA on which our imaginary
observer is standing. The nearest hill TO this
would have been the one on which the Court
House-or the City Hall. as it was long called
now is located.
The White House. more frequently called in
the early DAYS 1.-The Presidents House" occupied
a slight elevation close to the swampy land
bordering on the Potomac River over in the
direction of Georgetown which was then di-
vided from Washington City by Rock Greek. On
the shore of the Potomac River and within sight
of the White House when President Madison
and his famous and beautiful wife Dolly"
Madison lived there another hill met the eye
within the city. On it ut the present time Is
located the Naval Hospital, Twenty-third and e
streets.
1t is difficult TO visualize all of these things
now, with tall buildings obstructing the view in
all directions, and remembering, too, that there
has been an enormous amount Of grading done.
Especially high hills have been cut down and
leveled of for the erection Of houses and the
construction Of streets.