Evening star., 1932-12-18
TREE PLANTING ON STREETS OF CAPITAL
BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.

HE planting of the trees on Consti-
tuition avenue, between Third street
and John Marshall place. few days
ago, by representatives of some OF
the local bodies, brought to mind
the historic old ne1ghborhood In
which these trees were planted and the time
when President Jefferson supcrintended the
planting of four rows of Lombardy poplars
along Pennsylvania avenue, just few yards
to the south of where the American elm trees
referred to were planted
Originally this section of Washington, ex-
tending, approximately from midway of the
Mall, on the south, to New York avenue. on
the north, and from the old Tiber (or about
Second street,, on the east to Hamburg, on
the west, belonged to that well-known Scotch
man, David BurneS. The northern line, at
point where the White House stands, ran
almost through the center of this building,
and the area included the ground upon which
stands the Treasury building, the old Land
Office, the old Patent Office building, the De-
partment of Commerce, and all the buildings
now being erected in the Federal Triangle. To
Burnes, this must have been a valuable piece
of property, for besides its value as farm land.
no doubt something could be realized from the
sale of the enormous quantity Of fish that in
habited the Potomac-upon which his holdings
partly abutted-and the old Tiber which ran
through his farm.
Indeed, several years after Burnes had decided
q part of his interest in the property to the
Government we still find him farming his land
not far from where the Department of Com
merce Building now stands. However, his life
was not very long, for he died at the age of GO,
on May 8, 1900, and just missed by a month
seeing the Government departments moved to
the new city, an event which he had for some
years looked forward to with eager anticipa-
ton. Mrs. Burnes, his wife, did not survive
her husband very long, and died in 1907. Both
are now buried in Rock Greek Cemetery, their
remains having been removed there In 1888,
when they were accidently discovered during
the grading of streets in Brookland
! place in 1903, and Mr. Jefferson was gen.
orally on hand to see the work well done.
Elected on the Republican ticket. he was ultra
democratic in his actions, and could be found
wherever improvements were being made In
the city. He not only had a knowledge Of the
most desirable estates in and around the Dis
trict of Columbia. but did not hesitate to In
form, his friends where bargain could be had
in local real estate which he did in 1902, when
he wrote to Joel Barlow, In Paris, regarding
Kalorama, and said There is . most lovely
seat adjoining this city-on q high hill. COM
now for sale. superb house. gardens, ETC..
with 80 or 40 acres of ground. 1t will be sold
under circumstances Of distress, and will prob
ably 60 for the half Of what it has cost It
was built by Gustavus Scott, who is dead-a
bankrupt"
Joel Barlow was not quick>enough, and the
place sold to William Augustine Wasll-
ington who in turn sold it to Barlow i've years
Later for $4,000, and as the new owner was
man Of letters, Mr.. jefferson made frequent
visits there and naturally assisted with his ad-
vice in the raising Of fruit trees and gardening
In general, for which Kalorama then was
noted. His interest in the Federal City was
supreme in all respects, and Washington placed
much reliance In his judgment It was his
idea that the streets of the Capital should be
at right angles. and that no street should be
narrower than 100 feet and that the sidewalks
should be Is feet wide. When the streets were
long and level, he suggested that they be made
$50 feet wide. However his idea that 1,500