Evening star., 1938-05-08
BY WILLIAM A. MILLEN.

ing fathers wished, has its roots back
in history, officials Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion said yesterday. in studying reme-
dial measures which they plan to
present to the members when they
meet here on May 81.
The officials say it has long been a
debatable question as to the cause or
causes of the present unbalanced
growth of the city, but geographical
and Typographical reasons, as well as
human nature, were all factors in
bringing about today's conditions.
The authorities recalled that the site
chosen for the new city was in the
midst of farming land-much of it in
timber Georgetown for years was the
only place where could be found inns
and boarding houses for residence. or
stores and warehouses for supplies.
Thus, the officials said. it can readily
be seen that proximity to that small
city had tremendous advantages over
the rival section on the Eastern
Branch. This human factor, the
Jealousy and rivalry between the two
interests over the location of the Fed
erai buildings in their own section,
reached such point that the directors
of newly founded bank in George
town refused loans for construction on
property located east of the Capitol
and speculation in lots grew apace.
Washington's Attitude Neutral.
George Washington, attempting to
maintain a neutral attitude in this
quarrel. purchased lots near the Ana
costa River known in those days as
the Eastern Branch. and also two in
the section adjoining Georgetown. He
constructed two houses on North Cap
itol street. for use as boarding houses,
so that Congress might be more con-
veniently accommodated.
The morass at the mouth of Tiber
Greek plagued the early inhabitants
with mosquitoes and malaria AL
though East Capitol street was on high
ground, there was in addition the
Anacostia flats to the eastward, so the
higher ground to the northwest
enabled the inhabitants to escape the
dreaded pests.
William T. Partridge, consulting
architect of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, examining
carefully an exact map of the city of
1902, decade after the founding of
the National Capital, said the greatest
number of houses in the vicinity of the
Presidents house" are found bordering
F street. with a settlement north of
the Navy Yard and but few hotels and
residences east Of the Capitol Only
scattering of homes occurs along
East Capitol street, from Second street
to the Anacostia River.
But Maj. Pierre Charles LEnfant,
the French engineer and veteran of the
Revolutionary War who laid out the
District Of Columbia at Gen. WASH
ington's behest in 1901. envisioned
great development to the east of the
Capitol.
White House in Key Spot.
The local topography Influenced
L'Enfant's plan for the new National
Capital. He set down the Capitol on
Jenkins Hill, affording an imposing
view of the terrain, and westward he
planned the Presidents house at spot
that gave delightful vista down the
Potomac River as far as Alexandria,
Va. With these two key structures set
where they are today, L'Enfant pro-
ceeded to map out the plan for the
new city.
Here is L'Enfant's own description:
After coming upon the hill (where the
Capitol now rests), from the Eastern
Branch ferry, the country is level, and
on space about two miles each way
presents a most eligible position for
the first settlement of a grand city.
The soil is dry and. notwithstanding,
we'll watered, abounding in springs, 1t
has wholesome air and being of
easy ascent it is, however, so high
that 1t commands on most of the
surrounding country. With respect to
navigation, it lies at the head OF an
extensive one and from the
bank of harbor in every respect to
be preferred to that of the Potomac
towards Georgetown-less impeded by
Ice and never so swelled by freshets."
L'Enfant continued to describe the
advantages of the Eastern Branch for
maritime purposes, called attention to
the fact that the channel of the Po-
tomac lies on the Virginia side until
Georgetown is reached, while in the
Eastern Branch the frequent wind
Ing Of the shore forms many natural
drydocks."
Warehouses for merchantmen
might safely be raised on the edge of
the water without fear of impeding the
prospect from the high fiat behind"
he wrote.
Plans Taken From Office.
While L'Enfant was in PHILADELPHIA.
where the seat of the Government was
located before 1t was moved here in
1900, his plans for the Capitol and
other public buildings were taken
from his office here, unfortunately.
They were never recovered.
L'Enfant fashioned his plan for the
city on an entirely new mold. While
his streets followed a rectangular sys-
tenn, the officials say an unique ar
direct means Of access to and from all
the principal buildings and monu-
mental features Of the city
The planners of today studying
L'Enfant's plan, see that he projected
q formal entrance to the city in the
large plaza shown on the banks of the
Anacostia River, where East Capitol
street is found today. This is now
proposed as a great sports center, with
q stadium, National Guard Armory
and other facilities. The principal
axis through the Capitol, on L'Enfants
plan, extended to the Anacostia River.
and provided for thoroughfare 100
feet wide. Hallway between the Capt.
tol and the bridge plaza, where Lincoln
Park is today, and one mile east Of the
Capitol the site for an Itinerary
Column" was set down on the French
mans plan as the point from which