Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-28
BY SAM BLEDSOE.

~D@SSAote0 EAco8 8bau Wr1JeT.
In the late 17oos two men stood on a
hill and scanned the 10-mile square of
wilderness beside the Potomac River
which was to become the Capital Of the
United States.
One was Pierre Charles LEnfant
French engineer. The other was his
friend, George Washington. These two
visioned on the eminence where they
were standing the Capitol Of the Ma
ton vaulting its dome toward the sky
and before them city beautiful rising
from cane brake and forest.
Most Of Americas cities since 1920
have expanded with the smoke from
their industrial chimneys. Washington
turned back to LEnfant for guidance.
In the 10 years past 1t has done more
toward carrying out his dream than in
any other like period In the countrys
history:
LEnfants Hope Almost Forgotten.
The Frenchman quarreled with those
who did not grasp his conception and
gait after laying out the broad plan.
HIS hope for the most beautiful capital
- ~@sS WOAA0 was UAAAlOcb 1OEkObJEH 0S
time went on. But not quite. The idea
persisted and grew into the semblance
OF reality in 1926 when q 5000 ,0OO, 900
building program for Washington was
agreed upon.
The close Of 1880 found that program.
which Will obliterate the relics and ruins
on the south side Of Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. under way. The shabby, dreary-
eyeu buildings housing laundries and
wholesale grocery concerns still stand,
out the wreckers hand Is upon them.
Some have already gone, torn down
TO make way for the Sl7, 500, 600 Com
merce Building, near Fifteenth street
ana the Avenue. It Is virtually COM
plete. The $10,000.000 Bureau of In
ternaI revenue not far away is finished.
!nese Two are . part Of the group,
which win stand in 1.-THE triangle" the
~ acres between Pennsylvania avenue,
and Fifteenth streets. Back Of them
Ii the Mall" which L'Enfant saw as a
wide strip Of park running from the
Capitol to the Potomac River on the
west with the tree-crowned hills of
Virginia In the background The Gov
eminent in 1880 sees 1t that way.
"Tama Jim" Wilson Would. Smile.
1t will have q few buildings In It
one OF them Is the new Department of
NOAA1R4CVCu oIlCS 4SXU. 1nc
late 'Tama Jim" Wilson of lama
County, Iowa, former Secretary of
Agriculture, would chuckle If he could
see 1t. He wanted to erect the str1Ic-
ture in RooSevelt's time, but the sum
appropriated was small. Wilson built
Two wings and left q space blank for
the central structure. Not until now
has resentful Congress added It.
washington growth from 437,571 IN
1920 IN A4E TIC in
been disappointing to some, but the
explanation generally accepted is that
there has been mild exodus to nearby
Maryland and Virginia.
The Board Of Trade also points out
that, save for the war period, the city
has grown steadily without sensational
spurts. It has no factories of conse-
quence and wants none. The town ex-
pands as the Government expands and
more each month.
The Capitol faces the east, for It was
thought the towns residential and bus
mess growth would be largely In that
direction. It went the other way In
stead. and the period from 1920 to 1880
saw the movement to the north and
west increase instead Of diminishing.
BUSINESS made sweep on Connecti-
cut avenue, once the best residential
district, from Lafayette Square to Du-
pont Circle. Alexander Graham Bells
house just south Of the circle was torn
down and the old Vanderbilt mansion
on x street demolished. The mansions
in which John Adams and John Hay
once lived were razed.
Georgetown Fashionable Again.
Georgetown, where one cannot move
brick without disturbing history, be-
came fashionable again. Colonial man
AonS are being remodeled and the
wealthy and famous have displaced
colored tenants.
The town is looking forward 10 me
celebration Of the 2OOth anniveraarv
OF Washington's birthday in 1882.
For all its celebrities and public mag
nincence. Washington has Q noticeable
touch Of country village atmosphere.
The bulk Of Its population IS farm sons
and daughters. Pedestrians still stroll
along the principal streets, the pace
only slightly faster than that around
county seat court house.