Evening star., 1945-09-09
Capital Sidelights
BIZ Will P. Kennedy.

Many thousands of visitors to the
Capitol each year inquire about the
white marble star in the center of the
Capitol. on the ground floor. in the
crypt under the rotunda. 1t marks
theoretically, the center of the City of
Washington as originally laid out in
L LEnfants plan. Beneath that star is
the tomb constructed for deposit of
WaShington's body On December 81,
1899, Martha Washington acQuiesced to
a resolution of Congress transmitted by
President John Adams. making
sacrifice of individual feeling to sense
of public duty" but nothing was done
about it until, in 1882 John A. Wash
ngton, then owner of Mount Vernon.
declined the request made by Congress.
1t is not generally known that when
Gen. Grant died, the question of honor
ing him with final resting-place in
what has always been known as wash
ington's Tomb" was discussed, but the
family was averse to the plan.
Where did Washington live as Presi-
dent? First, in New York in the man
sion at 10 Cherry street for about nine
months Then he moved to more spa
cious house ON the west side of Broad
way, between Trinity Church and the
Bowling Green, owned by Mr.. McComb,
residence which had been occupied by
the French Minister, M. de Moustier.
1t had a garden extending to the shore
of the Hudson River. and Washington
had extra stables built From the
French Minister he bought a "tambour
secretary" or writing desk, and circular
chair, which he took with him to Phila
delphia and then to Mount Vernon
These he bequeathed Ito my companion
in arms and old and intimate friend,
DR.. Craik,' from whom they descended
to a grandson, Rev James Craik OF
! Louisville. KY.
In Philadelphia. when the Capitol
was moved there for 10 years, Washing
ton refused to permit house to be
provided for him at cost to the Govern
ment. He hired at $4,000 year the
home of Robert Morris, had some re-
building done, had part of the furniture
moved from New York and purchased
more in Philadelphia He and Mrs.
Washington drove by four-horse coach
from Mount Vernon, reaching Philadel-
phia on November %. Their first public
reception there was on Friday evening,
December Is Christmas Day. This
Presidents House was in Market street,
on the west SIDE of Sixth street, with
an excellent garden inclosed by brick
wall. Washington himself found it too
small to accommodate his family, even
with the additions he mad made. but
his paramount desire was to set the
style for economy. lack of display and
so undermine prohteering that had 1ared
up. He recorded: There are good
stables, but for twelve horses only, and
a coach house which will hold all my
| carriages"
What now is Franklin Park was in
cluded in the farm of Gen. John Da-
wilson of Annapolis. When a water
supply for the White House was sought
in 1919. an appropriation was made,
and at an expense of more than $4,000
water was conducted from spring near
where the John Barry Statue now
stands (erected in 1910 to the White
House and subsequently to the War
Department. In 1929, to obtain full
control of the spring, the entire square
was purchased for $4,000. In 1851 and
1852 the square was fenced in and
| the marshy land filled. In 1861 the
quartermaster department erected bar
racks there, and the first to occupy
them were the New York State Militia,
under command of Col. Daniel Butter
field. After the war an iron fence was
erected and trees and shrubbery
| plantad