Evening star., 1942-11-15

who took advantage Of boarding close to
the Capitol.
OF these were Representative Henry s..
Clarke Of North Carolina, who boarded
with Matthias Jeffries on Missouri ave.
nue. between Third and Fourth streets,
Missouri avenue then being known as
Missouri street. On this same avenue,
between Fourth and Sixth streets, Rep
resentative B. G. Thibodeaux of Louisi-
ana lived at Daniel Wilson's, and nearby,
at 467, lived John Tyler before he be-
came President. Representative r. J.
Daniel OF North Carolina also resided on
this avenue. O.. -- go
Around the corner, on Fourth street,
between Missouri and Pennsylvania ave-
nues, Representatives j. H. Harmanson
of Louisiana, Orlando B. Ficklin Of Hi.
nois and j. H. Lumkin Of Georgia board
ed with William Duvall.
Early Missouri Avenue.
The houses along Missouri avenue,
which were all constructed of brick, were
three stories In height and appeared to
have been well constructed. The walls
seemed to be in good condition at the
time OF their removal Some of these
buildings must have been 100 years old
at least, when removed, as evidenced by
the residence of Mr.. Tyler, which he
must have occupied during or prior to
1896, at which date he resigned from the
T1nitoH ha Asxx,
directories also contain the names of
other persons living in houses on this
avenue. However, this area was not
suitable for building purposes until some
time subsequent to the act of Congress of
May 7, 1922, at which time permission
was given city authorities to change tho
course of the Washington Canal along
Pennsylvania avenue and north street,
between Third and Sixth streets, to the
center of the Mall
Strange to say, In the act mentioned,
Congress for once gave the city more
than it asked for, though, as 1t later de-
veloped, to many the gift seemed some
what loaded. However, by that act, Con-
gress conveyed to the city all the land
lying between Pennsylvania and Mary
land avenues and from Third to Sixth
streets, with the exception of the central
portion referred to.
Development of the Mall.
This section of the Mall was then low
and marshy, being frequently covered
with water during the rainy season, and
the placing of the canal in its center
was expected to drain the low area and
thus relieve the situation which was
detrimental to health as well as being
unsightly. But the work was to be done
by the city in return for Uncle Sans
consideration, and the city government
was also required to pay for the removal
of the canal and for filling In the low
ground out of the money it received from
the sale of the lots.
Soon the canal was removed, and then
four new blocks were plated, being des-
ignated as squares A, B, G and D, and
the lots as laid off were soon disposed
of, carrying with them certain restric-
tions, the principal ones relating to the
early improvement OF the ground and
the type Of structure to be erected
thereon. So far as known, these cove
nants were complied with, and the area
was soon built up.
Though this transaction, on the part
of the Government, was looked upon at
this time as rather unusual. yet, in 1882,
Congress did even stranger thing than
it had done 10 years before, when 1t
gave to the city that part Of the Mall
north Of A street north (or where that
street would come in, were there such .
street on the map, and similarly, south
of A street south, and from Sixth to
Fifteenth street, said to aggregate about
IS acres, to be divided into lots and
sold, and the proceeds to be used in
acquiring and improving the canal and
for the purpose of continuing the recla-
nation Of the swamp. However, realiz.
ing this was huge mistake. Congress
at its next session modified this act BY
substituting for this grant Of land, IN
appropriation Of $l5000o.