Evening star., 1934-07-22

CO11 ClHClE ana the territory parity
to the south and largely to the north
end northwest is not what would
call an old neighborhood Indeed.
y during the period of the Civil War
there were few houses north of a line
drawn east and west Of the circle. There were
several brickyards in the vicinity of Dupont
Circle and Slash Run. the main arm of which
flowed for several blocks down Eighteenth
street before taking a southeastward course
nearly to Sixteenth street, between L and NJ
streets, and afforded excellent facilities for
butchers, who erected their slaughter houses
nearby From about Sixteenth and L streets
this stream took westward course to Twenty
second street, and then flowed nearly north to
Rock Greek. emptying into this larger body of
water at the northwest corner of square 40,
between and o and Twenty-second and
Twenty.hird streets.
In looking at Boeschke's map, made from
data collected and surveys made of the Dis
trict during the years 1885, 1857. 1858 and
1859, we find very few structures of any kind
in the area referred to prior to 1861. Take,
for instance. the space surrounded by Vermont
avenue from Logan Circle to Florida avenue
Rhode Island avenue from Logan Circle to
Scott Circle, and along Massachusetts, avenue
from this point to Dupont Circle and then
north on Connecticut avenue, the whole being
bounded on the north by Florida avenue, and
we find indicated on the map referred to only
about 40 structures all of which may not have
been residences. There must also have been
much vacant ground to the south of NJ street
at this point, for some years later one of the
principal base ball grounds was at Fifteenth
and L streets
The statue of Gen. Winfield Scott was or
dered by Congress in 1867 and erected in 1874
Originally it stood acre plot of ground
but traffic conditions have made it necessary
to limit this space. Henry Kirke Brown was
the sculptor, Robert Wood & Co. Of Philadel-
phia the founders. and Congress appropriated
S35, 600 for the statue and $4,000 for the
granite pedestal, which was brought from Cape
Ann Mass. The statue was cast from cannon
captured by Gen. Scott during the Mexican
campaign and donated by Congress. 1t is
Is feet high and weighs 900 pounds.
This distinguished officer is represented in
fun uniform of lieutenant general, mounted
on a war charger. at rest, and surveying the
field of battle. The pedestal stands IA feet
high and consists of five large blocks; total
height with statue being % feet. The platform
is 26 feet long Is feet wide, and ? feet thick
and weighs ll9 tons 1877 pounds The total
weight of pedestal is 500 tons 697 pounds, and
when quarried weighed 400 tons 62l pounds
They were at that time the largest stones ever
successfully Quarried in this country, and
among the largest in the world. 1t is said that
great difficulty was experienced in their re-
moval to the seashore, whence they were
transported to the National Capital by sea
THE Daniel Webster Statue which stands
to the west of the circle. was presented to
the United States by Stilson Hutchins and un-
Veiled January 4, 1900. Congress appropriated
$4,000 for the pedestal. A bronze tablet de-
picting the Webster -Hayne debate in the
United States Senate in 1880 is on the face
of the pedestal which is inscribed. Liberty
and union. and forever, one and insep-
arabic" and the west side of the pedestal
is represented a scene in bronze of Webster
addressing an outdoor gathering. with the in
scription, Our country, our whole country
and nothing but our country" Gaetano
Trentanove the sculptor and the bronze
was cast by Fratelh CALI of Florence Italy.
To the east of Sect Circle is the Hahne-
mann Memorial erected to the memory of the
famous German physician who founded the
homeopathic school of medicine. 1t is the
Gift of the American Institute of Homeopa thy
On January 81, 1901, Congress granted permis-
sion for its erection on public ground and in
eluded an appropriation of $4,000 for q foun-