Evening star., 1936-12-27


AAj its new date in January It
w will be just . little over
1885 years since in Decem-
Der, 1900. the Government of the
United States established itself here
on the banks OF the Potomac In what
was then its new home, destined. de.
spite subsequent dissatisfactions. to
remain its permanent seat. Previous
to this 1t had been located in New
York City, where George Washington
took the oath OF office. Then, 1t had
betaken itself temporarily to Phila-
delphia pending the making Of the
necessary arrangements for the es-
tablishment OF the seat Of govern
ment, determined upon by Congress
and finally. with all of its lares and
penates, 1t was moved to Washing
ton prior to the convening Of Con-
gress in John Adams administration.
And ever since that final moving
day Of our Government to Washing
ton" declares the wife Of a certain
Government offlcial, "the chief pas
time Of all Of us who are temporarily
in political life Is to celebrate with
a moving day Of our own each time
Congress convenes."
Apparently this merry game Of
where to domicile ones self in WASH
ington, like that childhood game,
button. button, who has the button?"
has always been with us, and perhaps
as much to the fore as political eau
cuses. biHhnight balls and social fes-
tivities, If we are to Judge by peeps
at the chronicles OF earlier adminis-
trations than those Of Franklin Delano
Roosevelt.
Concerning the site named In his
honor, to which the Government was
preparing to move its headquarters.
George Washington, after spending
the night at the home Of Thomas
Peter. prophetically said: IF this
country keeps united it will produce
here q city not SO large as London.
yet Of q magnitude inferior to few
others in Europe"
Avoided Georgetown Home.
Punsters in the form OF political
opponents were quick to take q fling
at the prospective housing troubles
Of those who had chosen as the seat
Of the national legislative bodies. the
former site Of Springtime fishing
ground Of local tribes Of Indians "in
this wilderness" "Conococheague"
in this one refers to the location OF
Washington. Capital of the new Ma
ton. between the mouths of the East
ern Branch and Conococheague
Rivers.
And you. Mr.. Gerry, be not quite 80
merry
About Conococheague, about Como
cocheague,
For your dull puning jeers, your mobs
and your fears,
We care not q fig. not q fig.
1t is at Georgetown that you shall
be set down.
In spite Of your canting. in spite Of
your canting."
Mr.. Gerry, however. with typical
forthrightness managed to put his
jiber to the blush by loca ting himself
''in elegant state" at the corner Of
what Is now Nineteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, not very far re-
moved. however, from the Georgetown
which he had avoided.
Nor was the Government itself in
anywise immune from its own NOV
ing problems. according to the recol-
lections Of Christian Hines, q lively
local historian Of these times. whose
home was in the vicinity Of the pre-
sent site Of the George Washington
University.
Sailing vessels. used for the con-
veying of Government effects from
Philadelphia. discharged their car
goes at Lear's wharf. near the foot Of
Twenty-sixth and @ streets of our
day.
Only Two Buildings Ready.
"As Wagons were rather scarce"
Mr.. Hines tells Of the cart belonging
to their family being utilized with
others in removing the boxes Of books
and papers. Many were marked
Joseph Nourse Register"
Furniture that was not too heavy
to be conveyed in this manner was
carted away to the War and Navy
ofIices. the only two that were built
at the time"
The War Department was estab-