Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06

ten the work has already commenced and will
be pushed rapidly, for there is desire to begin
construction work on the new building at an
early date '
In the past few years several historic build
1ngs in the business part Of the city have given
way to modern structures, and the old sympa-
thetic Washingtonian has naturally regretted
that the changes had to be made, Just as he
regrets that the buildings in this old block
must 60, but the razng of the buildings in this
particular square will strike an unusually Sc
we're blow, especially in the tearing down Of
the Old Brick Capitol, landmark Of unusual
historic value, not only locally but nationally
as well.
Many lines have been written about this old
building that has stood so long on the SOUTH
east corner of First and A streets northeast
and which was many years ago converted into
three dwelling houses numbered 81 % and IS
First street. The story of Belle Boyd's incar-
ceration here during Civil War days has been
told many times, and the execution of Capt.
Wirz, of Andersonville Prison fame, is also an
event that transpired here-things, however of
more or less sensational and morbid char
acter, but the most valuable historic part Of
this building had its origin very many years
before the War Between the States
The reader is of course familiar with the fact
that this building was erected for the purpose of
housing Congress right after the British burned
the public buildings here including the Cap
1tol, on August "a, 1914. Congress had been
called to meet here on September 10, following
the invasion, and there was but one public
building left by the enemy large enough in
which to meet, and that was the old Blodgett
Hotel building, on street near Seventh,
where now stands the old Land ONCE and
here Congress met.
Hardly had Congress convened when its
members were urged to remove the Govern
ment elsewhere by those who saw the psy-
chology of the situation. Indeed, the matter
went so far that record vote taken in
the House, and according to the National In
teihgencer of September 81, 1914, it was de-
cided not to remove the Government the vote
being 81 for and 80 against After a lanse of
three months the Senate concurred
TO the student Of local history it is easy TO
see the underlying cause that brought
ABOUT this decision. George Washington the
President Of the United States had urged the
capitalists OF the country to invest their for
tunes in Washington real estate and supported
Dy Congress, the most glowing inducements
mao oeen set forth in direct appeal and in
advertisements. They did So and by the time
washington was burned out nearly all had
gone broke" while those who had not were
nghtang with their backs against the wall In
save what little still remained If the Canital
were removed complete bankruptcy and per-
maps Imprisonment besides stared them IN the
face.
Under these circumstances Congress should
not for one moment even have considered re-
moving the Federal Capital elsewhere How
ever, as Grover Cleveland might have reasoned
1t was a condition and not a theory that con.
Tonteo the people Of Washington at that time
and in this predicament they realized that
tnere were just two things that must he done
ana one was Immediately to provide adequate
quarters for Congress, the other to lend IT
sumcient funds to begin restoring the public
building. Both of these were done
CONGRESS accented the offer IF the ko.L.
loan the Government half million of dollars.
ana STOCK company erected forthwith the Old
brlck Capitol where Congress met for four
years, or from 1915 to 1919, when the original
capitol was sufficiently restored to receive 1T
again Here President James Monroe was in
augurated in 1917, delivering the first public
inaugural address on the outside of the Cant
tol, and here John c. Calhoun died in 1850
This building, which is now being removed
after having served such a noble purpose at
the time 1t was erected cost the owners $25 600
and was the largest structure built here nv
private enterprise up to that time the corner
stone being laid on July 4, just 116 years ago.
1t was three stories in height" according to
W. B. Bryan, with high-pitched roof
The principal entrance was through a wide
arched door from First street and above was
large window opening. The Senate chamber
on the first floor was As feet long and IL feet
wide, while the room occupied by the House
was on the second floor, and its dimensions
were rs by IS feet, with gallery Brick was
the material used in the walls and the entire
cost was $4,000, not including S., 900 for spe-
cial fittings for the use of Congress, paid from
the public treasury. The rent was fixed on a
basis OF 6 per cent of the cost of the building.
with an allowance for insurance so that the
annual payment was 81 $50"
STOCK at 500 share was issued to the
following persons: Daniel Carroll of Dud-
o1ngton held 20 shares Thomas Law is, Crit
nun Coomoe and william Brent, 10; William
Emack, Robert Brent WiIlia M n TN;oror