Evening star., 1932-04-10

Crawford (afterward proprietor of the Union
Hotel, Georgetown). who seemed to me to be
the principal manager; Benjamin Bettcrton.
James Hodnett, Mr.. Burrows Mr.. Fogle and
Mr.. Poor. messcngers."
Though generally quite accurate, yet Mr..
Hines has been criticized for referring to the
War and Navy Offices as being the only two
that were built Mt the time" when, rs q
matter of fact, the Treasury Building was the
only one then ready for occupancy. Mr.. Hines
was born in 1881. and his recoections Of the
city bear date of 1856, so few slips of this
kind are not so bad, after all.
DUT whatever Mr. Hines may have said, the
- removal Of the public records to this city
was not such an easy job as one might
suspect and in addition, economy was then
urged. Just as we find 1t being impressed upon
Us today. as see by President Adams
executive order of May Is, 1900. in which he
says:
The President requests the several heads Of
departments to take the most prudent and
economical arrangements for the removal of
the public Offices, clerks and papers, accord
ing to their own best judgment, as soon
may be convenient, in such manner that the
public Offices may be opened IN the city Of
Washington. for the dispatch OF business, by
the 18th Of June"
However, whether economy was exercised or
not, the entire amount expended for this
moval OF the Capital was $4s,165-57. and in
looking over the records We find such items as
ITO Jacob Wagner, for packing boxes and
trunks purchased by him for the removal of
the books and papers belonging to the Office
OF the Secretary Of State, including carting
$722.sl
ITO Haxen Kimbal clerk Of the Once of
the Secretary of State. for himself and the
other clerks of said ofice for expenses In
Cured In removing from Philadelphia to
Washington. 81 ly225.43."
Indeed. the Government betrayed all ex-
penses incurred by the employees and their
families in removing TO Washington, an amount
which came close to $24 900.
Regarding the receipt Of the Government
records in this city, J. B. Osborne q more re-
cent and accurate writer on the subject. in
speaking of War and Navy records says:
The bulk of the records of the War and
Navy Departments was first stored in Lear's
warehouse, o stone structure, near the foot of
Twenty-flfth street west. owned by Col Tobias
Lear. at one time private secretary to Gen
Washington Several weeks prior to the
moyal, q three-story brick building. owned by
Joseph Hodeson and located on the south side
of Pennsylvania avenue, between Twenty-first
and Twenty second streets, had been leased as
. temporary War Office awaiting the COM
pletion of the executive office to the west
Of the Presidents house. The War Depart
ment took possession Of the Hodgson property
in June and remained there until November g.
1900. when the building was destroyed by fire.
The Navy Department also leased q building.
or at least part Of one, in the vicinity of
the Presidents house. The general post Of
fee was located near the corner Of Ninth and
streets northwest, In a large three-story
house owned by DIR. Crocker. MIR. Abraham
Bradley, jr, Assistant Postmaster General,
ar of he
-delphia May 27 and arriving at Washington
on the evening of May 20.
so much confusion exists on the subject
of the original executive buildings that pre-
sent here the results of an examination of
the unpublished proceedings and letters of
the Commissioners of the District, which are
on file in the Office of Public Buildings and
Grounds in the War Department.
The Treasury Office, already stated was
the first one erected 1t occupied the site
of the south wing at the present Treasury
and was damaged by fire January 90 1901,
burned by the British August "a. 1914 and
destroyed by fire on March 81, 1888"
A Ar. NOURSES property on Wisconsin
wi avenue, included what is now the Ca
thedral Close. where is being erected the
beautiful Washington Cathedral. and here once
stood his home, large frame house which
was built by Mr.. Harrison, who had sold
the farm to Mr.. NourSe and who had bought
it from John r. Platsr, who in turn took title
from Gen. Forrest.
Mr.. Nourse gave the place the name Mount
Alban," because. it is said. Its sloping hill
side reminded him of descriptions of the hill
where st. Alban was martyred in ancient
Britain"
Another tract of land on Wisconsin avenue
owned by joseph Nourse, and which contained
about 100 acres, given to his son, Charles