Centennial History of the city of Washington, D.C. ... Illustrated

Preface

. This Centennial History of Washington has been written almost exclusively by Hon. William B. Webb, of Washington, District of Columbia, and J. Wooldridge, of Cleveland, Ohio, although assistance has been received by each writer from numerous individuals in Washington who have taken an interest, in the work. The chapters written by Mr. Webb are Chapter III., " Washington Becomes the Capital"; Chapter IV., "Permanent Capital Site Selected"; Chapter V., "Pioneer Life"; Chapter VII., "Growth and Improvement of the City"; and Chapter XXII., "The Bench and Bar." He also rendered valuable assistance in connection with Chapter XXIIL, "The Prosecution of Claims Against the Government." The other chapters in the work were written by Mr. Wooldridge, assisted to some extent, especially in Chapter XIV. and Chapter XVL, by a gentleman of considerable experience in this kind of writing.

But in all of his other chap ters, as well as in these, he was assisted in many ways by numerous citizens of Washing ton, who, from their relations to certain institutions or enterprises, or special features of the history of the city, were better qualified than others to supply the data necessary to write these particular portions of the history. This was also, to a greater or less extent, the case with Mr. Webb. No one can write even a local history without numerous consultations with many of the citizens of the place. And it has been the experience of both writers of this History of Washington that the great majority of those whom it was necessary to call upon for assistance in this way were more than usually courteous and obliging, and perfectly willing to aid to any extent in their power in the preparation of a work which they hoped would be at least creditable to those con cerned in its compilation and its publication, as well as to the city of Washington itself.

And inasmuch as the individuals who have given assistance in the ways referred to in the above sentences have been so numerous, it is believed that they will be satisfied if only the smallest possible number are named in this preface. Of those whom it would be impossible to omit with any degree of justice, the first is Dr. J. M. Toner, whose advice and assistance were always cheerfully and freely given, and always as freely and cheerfully accepted. The only regret in this connection, on the part of Hi

PREFACE.

. IV either of the writers, is that it was found impracticable, on account of the peculiar exigencies of the enterprise, to consult with him as fully with reference to several of the chapters as it was earnestly desired to do; and it is also proper to say that wherever such omission was unavoidable, the work has suffered to that extent. The other gentle man whom it is also not only a duty, but at the same time a pleasure, to recognize iu this way, is Mr. David Hutcheson, assistant librarian in the Congressional Library. Mr. Hutcheson was, during the whole time of the writer's labors in that library, always courteous and obliging, going beyond the requirements of his position in making valu able suggestions and referring to newspapers and books containing necessary information; his extensive knowledge of the contents of the library peculiarly qualifying him for the performance of these acceptable services.

That the work is without mistakes is not to be expected. Even Mr. Bancroft's great "History of the United States" is sometimes referred to as "merely an exhibition of the idiosyncrasies of its author"; and if such a criticism can be passed upon the greatest of American historians, how can the least hope to escape, even when writing under the most favorable auspices, which was far from being the case in the preparation of this work? But it is not designed or desired to dwell upon this particular, further than to say that a great deal of matter of greater or less value was prepared which was necessarily excluded from the work in order to avoid the production of an exceedingly unwieldly volume. But even as it is, it is believed to possess some merit ; how much, must be left to the kind and considerate judgment of the reader.

While upon this subject of value, it may not be inappropriate to call attention to a few of the errors in standard works corrected in this work ; for it is well known to all intelligent readers of history that even standard histories contain numerous errors, and that one of the objects of a careful writer is to correct the errors of his predecessors. In Barnes's "School History of the United States" it is stated that the first public messages sent over the telegraph wires between Washington and Baltimore in 1844 were in reference to the nomination of James K. Polk for the Presidency. On page 466 of this work this is shown to be an error, the first public messages passing on the 25th of May, 1844, while the announcement of the nomination of Mr. Polk for the Presidency was not made until the 29th of that month.

In "The Story of Washing ton," by Charles Burr Todd, it is stated on page 38 that "This account is taken from the Washington letters in the State Department, and settles the much controverted point as to the authorship of the plan of the Capitol." By this, Mr. Todd means that in the text of his work he has established the fact that Mr. Hallett's plan of the Capitol was selected instead of Dr. Thornton's. In this supposition Mr. Todd is in error, and his assumption proves that he did not read all the correspondence on file in the State Department between President Washington and the commissioners, for that correspondence shows that while at one stage thereof it was thought best to adopt Mr. Hallett's plan, yet, after further consideration, Dr. Thornton's plan was in the

PREFACE.

. V main adopted, but modified somewhat by Mr. Hallett's ideas. Other papers and documents established the same point. Accordingly, in the chapter on "Government Buildings," this fact is so stated. To what extent, if to any extent, Dr. Thornton appropriated Mr. Hallett's ideas, is not discussed, that part of the controversy between those two architects being left to some future historian. These two instances are men tioned merely as illustrations of the effort made to write with accuracy. H. W. CREW, Publisher. ILLUSTRATIONS. Washington, George, ------ Frontispiece Britton, Alexander T., -.-_. Facing 401 Clark, William E., ------..... Facing 398 Clarke, Daniel B., , Facing 391 Emery, Matthew G., - Facing 394 Glover, Charles C, Facing 389 Hall, James C, - Facing 601 Johnston, William P., Facing 603 Lincoln, Nathan S., Facing 608 McIlhenny, George A., --..-.

Facing 433 Mattingly, William F., Facing 753 Morgan, James E., - - - - • Facing 605 Norment, Samuel, Facing 397 Noyes, Crosby S., ------ Facing 459 Parker, Myron M., Facing 705 Prentiss, Daniel W., _...- Facing 612 Ross, John W., -- Facing 159 Shepherd, Alexander R., - Facing 199 Tallmadge, Theodore W., Facing 758 Thomas, A.mmi A., Facing 436 Thompson, John W., Facing 356 Toner, Joseph M., Facing 609 Webb, William B., Facing 751 Wilson, Jesse B., ----- - Facing 402 CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Natural Advantages

Situation and Natural Surroundings of the City — The District of Columbia — Prime Meridians of the World — Design of Making and Attempts to Make the Meridian of Washington a Prime Meridian — History of the Efforts to Determine the Latitude and Longitude of Washington — Efforts to Establish an Astronomical Observatory at Washington — William Lambert's Work — Andrew Ellicott's Work -Errors in Mr. Lambert's Work — R. T. Paine's Work — Sears C. Walker's Work — Latitude and Longitude of the Four Corners of the District of Columbia, of the ■Washington Monument, and of the Naval Observatory — Ellicott's Azimuth Mark — Other Original Landmarks — The Center Stone — The Center of the District of Columbia — The Climate of Washington — Thermometrical and Barometrical Elevations — The Potomac River — Jefferson's Description of the Confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers — The Oreat Falls — Captain John Smith's Exploration of the Potomac — The Potomac Fisheries — Theoretic Geology of the Vicinity of Washington — Economic Geology — The Botany of the District of Columbia 17-55

Chapter II. Indian History

First Exploration of Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries — Tribes of Indians upon the Bay — The Powhatans, the Manahoacs, and the Monacons — The Moyaones, the Nacotchtants, and the Toags — The Shawanese — The Susquehannocks, the Tockwocks, and the Nanticokes — The Delawares — Indian Fishing Ground — Indian Tradition as to Greenleaf's Point — Formation of the Indian Names of Rivers — Fate of the Delaware Indians — Resemblance between Indians of Maryland and Virginia — Massacres of and by Indians — Marriage of Pocahontas — The All-Conquering Iroquois — The Changing Fortunes of the Aborigines — The Descendants of the Powhatans Embrace Mormonism 56-63

Chapter III. Washington Becomes The Capital

The First American Congress — Circular Letter to the Colonies — The Spirit of Independence — The Necessity of a Permanent Seat of Government — The Attack upon Congress in Philadelphia — Its Effect — Offers from States for a Site for a Permanent Residence — Views of Individuals — Discussions on the Subject in Congress — CONTENTS. X The The The The Plan of Two Federal Towns — The Convention of 1787 — The Nature of Control over the Seat of Government Sought by Congress — History of the Movement to Settle the Question of a Permanent Seat of Government — The Question Finally Set at Rest— The Act of July, 1790, Authorizing the President to Locate the Federal District —The Removal of the Federal Offices to the City of Washington 64-86

Chapter IV. Permanent Capital Site Selected

Act of Congress Approved July 16, 1790 — Appointment of Commissioners — Presi dent Washington's Proclamation — Location and Surroundings of the District Chosen under Above Act— Description of the Site by John Cotton Smith — Extract from the Herald — Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh — The Agreement with the Proprietors — The Act of Maryland — Conveyance of Lands to Trustees— Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant Selected to Prepare a Plan of the City — His Plan Approved — Thomas Jefferson's Part in This Matter — The Name, "City of Washington," Conferred — The Plan of the City Discussed — Major L'Enfant's Dismissal — Act of Congress Compensating L'Enfant for His Services — Andrew Ellicott Succeeds L'Enfant — Completes the Survey of the District of Columbia — Close of the Rule of the Commissioners — Difficulties with the Original Proprietors — Washington's Letter in Reference Thereto — David Burns Still Obstinate — Finally Yields — Extracts from New York Daily Advertiser — Estimate of the Value of the Work of Those Who Selected the Site of the National Capital 87-107

Chapter V. Pioneer Life

Early Settlers of the District of Columbia — Daniel Carroll, of Duddington — David Burns — Marcia Burns — John P. Van Ness — Notley Young — Benjamin Oden — Robert Peter — The Removal of the Government to Washington — Officers Who Came Here at That Time — Samuel Meredith — Thomas Tudor Tucker — Joseph Nourse — Richard Harrison — Peter Hagner — John Steele — Gabriel Duval — William Simmons — Thomas Turner — Abraham Bradley, Jr. — Thomas Munroe — Roger C. Weightman — Stephen L. Hallett — Dr. William Thornton — George Hadfield — Benjamin Henry Latrobe — Pierre Charles L'Enfant — Samuel Harrison Smith — Andrew Ellicott — Benjamin Bannecker 108-121

Chapter VI. Municipal

Municipal Government of the City of Washington — The Acts of Maryland and Virginia Ceding Territory — The Connection of the Location of the Capital with the State Debt Question — Thomas Jefferson Quoted — The Amended Act Relating to the District — President Washington's Letters and Proclamations — The First Commissioners — The Setting of the Corner Stone of the District — Difficulties with the Proprietors — The Agreement with Them — Major L'Enfant's Instructions— His CONTENTS. XI The The Agreement with John Gibson — He Demolishes Daniel Carroll's House — His Course Approved by a Portion of the Proprietors — The First Commissioners in Full — The First, Charter of Washington — The First Election under It — Subsequent, Elections -Incidents in the Political History of the City — The Charter of 1820 — The Mayors of the City — Congressional Legislation as Affecting the District—Indig nation of the Citizens — Congress Comes Near Abolishing Slavery in Washington — Election Riots in 1857 — Know-Nothingism — Mayor Berret Arrested — Richard Wallach Becomes Mayor — M. G. Emery Elected Mayor — The Territorial Government—Alexander R. Shepherd's Work— The Government by Commissioners — The Police Department— Soldiers on the Force — The Water Department and Great Aqueduct — The Fire Department— The City Post Office 122-179

Chapter VII. Growth And Improvement Of The City

Grandeur of the Plan of the Capital — Early Inhabitants — Early Attempts to Improve the City — Locality of First Improvements — Noted Residences in Wash ington—Quotation from Benjamin 0. Tayloe — John Sessford's Statistics — About the Removal of the Capital — Work under the Charter of 1820 — Improvement on Pennsylvania Avenue — Senator Southard's Report — W. W. Season's Report — Statistics of Buildings Erected in Recent Years — Census and Debt of the District — Progress Since the War — Change in Form of Government — The $4,000,000 Loan — Sewerage Built — Street Improvements — Governor Shepherd's Work — Area of Public Parks — Extent of Paved Streets 180-201

Chapter VIII. Military History

Causes of the War of 1812-15 — The Embargoes — Tammany Society of Washington to President Jefferson — War in Prospect — President Madison Convenes Congress — Congress Declares War — Recruiting in Washington — Reorganization of the Militia of the District — Military Organizations — British Ships in the Potomac — Excitement in Washington — General Winder Arrives in Washington — The Battle of St. Leonard's — The Battle of Bladensburg — President Madison's Proclamation — Peace through the Treaty of Ghent — The War with Mexico — Annexation of Texas by Treaty or Joint Resolution — Organization of Troops for the War — Peace with Mexico — The War of the Rebellion — Brief Statement of its Causes — The Insurrection at Harper's Ferry — Ratification Meetings — Attack on the Republican Headquarters — Meeting of Southern Senators to Further the Secession of Their States — The Peace Convention — Mr. Lincoln's Arrival in Washington — His Inauguration — Military Companies — Proclamation Calling for Seventy-live Thousand Men — First Troops to Arrive in Washington — Military Department Created — Militia Officers Commissioned — Battalions Organized — Crossing the Potomac — Colonel Ellsworth Killed — Fortifications Around the City — First War Dispatch from a Balloon — Battle of Bull Run— The Army Bakery — Troops in Defense of Washington — War Meeting in the Capitol — Second Battle of Bull Run— Battle of Antietam — Hos pitals in Washington — Proclamation of Emancipation — Drafts in the District — Ladies' Relief Association — General Early Attacks Washington — Surrender of CONTENTS.

The The Early Richmond — Lee's Surrender — Assassination of President Lincoln — Confiscation of Property — The Grand Review — Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia 202-284

Chapter IX. Transpor Ta Tion

First Exploration of the Potomac River — The Potomac Company — The Chesa peake and Ohio Canal Company — The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company — The Metropolitan Railroad Company — The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company — The Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company — The Washing ton and Potomac Railroad Company— The Washington and Chesapeake Railroad Company — The First Bridge across Rock Creek — The Chain Bridge — The Long Bridge — The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company — The Metropolitan Railroad Company — The Columbia Railroad Company — The Anacostia and Poto mac Railroad Company — The Capitol, North O Street, and South "Washington Railroad Company — The Rock Creek Railroad Company — The Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railroad Company — The Georgetown and Tennallytown Railroad Company — The Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Company — The Mount Ver non and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company— Other Steamboat Companies 285-350

Chapter X. History Of Banking

Bank of Columbia — The Bank of the United States — Office of Discount and De posit in Washington — "The Produce Bank of the Potomac" — The Bank of the Metropolis — The National Metropolitan Bank — The Bank of Washington — The National Bank of Washington — The Union Bank of Georgetown — The Central Bank of Georgetown and Washington — The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank — The Patriotic Bank — Confusion of the Finances — The Second National Bank — John C. Calhoun on the National Bank — Directors of the Branch Bank in Washington — President Jackson's Animosity to the National Bank — Suspension of Specie Payments — Extension of Charters of the District Banks — Troubles with the Currency — President Tyler's Vetoes — The Banks of the District Practically Extin guished—The Freedman's Saving and Trust Company — Riggs & Company — First National Bank — Merchants' National Bank — National Bank of the Republic — National Savings Bank — National Safe Lleposit Company — National Capital Bank of Washington — Second National Bank — Citizens' National Bank — Washington Safe Deposit Company — Columbia National Bank — Washington Loan and Trust Company — American Security and Trust Company — Lincoln National Bank — West End National Bank — Traders' National Bank — Ohio National Bank — Private Banking Institutions 351-405

CHAPTER XL MERCANTILE HISTORY

Business Firms — Prices of Nails— A Commercial Company Established — Business Firms in 1803 — A Fair in Washington — Regulations for Making Bread — Piano fortes First Imported — The City in 1816 — The Coal Trade in 1854— Merchants' CONTENTS. XIII Early The Early Exchange Organized— Timber Shipments — Steamship Companies — Another Mer chants' Exchange — Changed to a Board of Trade — The Present Board of Trade — The Markets — The Columbian Exposition 406-421

Chapter XII. Manufacturing

Establishments — A Nail Factory — A Hat Factory— The Steam Engine — Threshing Machine — The Columbia Manufacturing Company — Foxall's Foundry — Manu factory of Fire Engines — The Columbia Rolling Mills— Paper Mills — Pope's Threshing Machine — Bomford's Flouring Mill — George Page, Shipbuilder — Steam Marble and Brown Stone Works — George Hill, Jr.'s Paper Mill — William Stick ney's Envelope Manufactory — The Washington Oas Light Company — The United States Electric Lighting Company — Summary of Manufacturing Establishments in Existence at the Present Time 422-439

Chapter XIII. History Of The Press

Washington Gazette— The National Intelligencer — The Washington Daily Gazette — The Washington Federalist — The Washington Republican — The Weekly Messenger — The Washington Mirror — The United Slates Telegraph — The Globe — The Mudi sonian — The Native American — The Columbian Star — The Columbian Gazette — The Washington Union — The Republic — The Spectator — The National Era — The Federal Republican — The American Telegraph — The Washington Sentinel — The Constitutional Union — The American Organ — The Sunday Morning Chronicle — The National Repub lican — The Daily Patriot — The Evening Star — The Washington Post — The Wash ington Critic — The Capital — The Public Service — The Home Magazine — The Sunday Herald — The Republic — The Washington Sentinel — The National Tribune — The National View — The American Farmer — The American Anthropologist — The Vedette — Kate Field's Washington — Public Opinion — The Congressional Record — Other Papers — The Electric Telegraph — Press Agencies 440-468

Chapter XIV. Educational History

■ Schools — John McLeod — Lancasterian School — Private Schools — Colored Schools — Public Schools of Washington — Georgetown College — Columbian University — Howard University — National University — The Catholic University of America — American University — Gonzaga College — Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb — St. John's College — The Academy of the Holy Cross — St. Cecilia's Acad emy — The Spencerian Business College — Glen Echo Chautauqua — National Bureau of Education — Norwood Institute — Wood's Commercial College — Wayland Semi nary — The Ivy Institute — Mount Vernon Seminary — Columbia College of Commerce — Libraries in Washington 469-518 CONTENTS. XIV

Chapter XV. Literature And Art

Warden's and Elliott's Works — Other Authors — Literary Writers of Washington — G. A. Townsend — Ben: Perley Poore — Mrs. Southworth — Professor Baird — General II. V. Boynton — Dr. J. M. Toner — George Bancroft— Mrs. Burnett — Scientific Writers— William B. Webb — J. W. Powell— W. J. McGee — Architects — Hallett — Hadfield — Hoban — Latrobe — Bulfinch — Mills — Walter — Clark — Cluss — Schulze — Mullett — Hill— Page — Pi lindexter — Frazier — Corcoran Gallery of Art -Artists 519-533

Chapter XVI. Church History

Trinity Catholic Church — St. Patrick's Church — St. Peter's Church — St. Matthew's Church— St. Mary's Church — St. Dominic's Church — St. Aloysius' Church — Other Catholic Churches — St. Paul's Episcopal Church — Christ Church — St. John's Church, Georgetown — St. John's Church, Washington — Other Episcopal Churches — Dunbarton Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgetown — Fourth Street Church — Foundry Church — Wesley Chapel — Ryland Chapel — Other Methodist Episcopal Churches — Methodist Protestant Churches — West Street Presbyterian Church, Georgetown — First Church — F Street Church — Second Church — New York Avenue Church — Fourth Church — Other Presbyterian Churches — Congregational Churches — First Baptist Church — Second Church — E Street Church — Other Baptist Churches — German Evangelical Lutheran Church — St. Paul's English Lutheran Church — Trinity7 Church — St. John's (Johannes') Church — Other Lutheran Churches — The Reformed Churches — United Brethren Church — Unitarian Churches — Vermont Avenue Christian Church — Ninth Street Church — The Washington Hebrew Congregation — The Adams Israel Congregation — The Church of the Holy City 534-58S

Chapter XVII. Medical History

Introduction of Vaccination in the District of Columbia — Early Physicians — Healthfulness of Washington — Board of Health — Cholera Epidemic — Its Prevention by the Board of Health — Deaths from Cholera — Sketches of Physicians — Medical Societies 589-617

Chapter XVIII. Public And Charitable Institutions

The Smithsonian Institution — United States Naval Observatory — The Congressional Library — The Navy Yard — The Soldiers' Home — National Asylum for the Insane — Providence Hospital — Columbia Hospital — Washington Orphan Asylum — St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum — Garfield Memorial Hospital — Other Public and Charitable Institutions 618-657 CONTENTS. XV

Chapter XIX. Government Buildings And Public Monuments

The Capitol — The President's Mansion — The City Hall — The Treasury Department — The Patent Office — Department of Agriculture — Pension Building — The Bureau of Engraving and Printing — The State, War, and Navy Department Building — The New Congressional Library Building — Washington National Monument — Greenough's Statue of Washington — The Jackson Statue — Mill's Statue of Washington — Mrs. Hoxie's Statue of Farragut — The Lincoln Statue — The Scott Statue — The Rawlins Statue — The "Emancipation" Statue — The Statue of Peace — The Mc- Pherson Statue — The Greene Statue — The Thomas Statue — The Franklin Statue — The Marshall Statue — The Garfield Statue — The Henry Statue — The Dupont Statue — The Luther Statue — The Lafayette Statue : 658-695

Chapter XX. Cemetertes

First Burying Ground— Congressional Cemetery— Oak Hill Cemetery — Rock Creek Cemetery — Glenwood Cemetery — Arlington Cemetery —Other Cemeteries 696-701

Chapter XXI. Societies

Masonry — Its Introduction into the United States — In Georgetown — Federal City Lodge, No. 15 — Potomac Lodge, No. 43, and No. 5 — Lorenzo Dow and Masonry — Masonic Hall iu Georgetown — Masonic Hall Association in Washington — Masonic Temple — Grand Masters of the District of Columbia — Masonic Lodges — Knights Templar — Other Organizations — Odd Fellowship Introduced into the United States — First Lodge in Washington — Grand Lodge in the District of Columbia — Odd Fellows' Hall — Lodges in Washington — Grand United Order of Odd Fellows — Knights of Pythias — Washington Library Company — Washington Bible Society — Young Men's Christian Association — Women's Christian Association — Patriotic Orders — Scientific Associations 702-715

Chapter XXII. The Bench And Bar

The Peculiar Character of the District of Columbia — Laws of the States of Virginia and Maryland Continued in Force Therein — Rights Preserved — Appeals to the Supreme Court — The Circuit Court — The Orphans' Court — Police Court — District Marshal — The Jurisdiction of the Courts — Kendall versus the United States — Chief Justices of the Circuit Court — Thomas Johnson — William Kilty — William Cranch — George W. Hopkins — James Dunlop — Associate Justices — James Marshall—Nicholas Fitzhugh — Allen R. Duckett — Buckner Thruston — James S. Morsell— William M. Merrick — The Supreme Court of the District of Columbia — David K. Cartter — Edward F. Bingham — Abraham B. Olin — George P. Fisher CONTENTS. XVI The — Andrew Wylie — D. 0. Humphries — Arthur McArthur — A. B. Hagner — Walter S. Cox — Charles P. James —Martin V. Montgomery — Andrew C. Bradley — The Criminal Court — Thomas Hartley Crawford — The Police Court — Celebrated Cases in the Courts of the District of Columbia — The Lawrence Case — The White Case — The Gardiner Case — The Herbert Case — The Sickles Case — The Assassination of President Lincoln — Hallett Kilbourn — The Guiteau Case — The Star Route Cases — Members of the Early Bar — Francis S. Key — William L. Brent — Philip R. Fen dall — Richard S. Coxe — Joseph H. Bradley — James M. Carlisle — Henry May — The Present Bar 716-753

Chapter XXIII. Claims

Prosecution of Claims Against the Government — Claims Growing Out of the Wars of the Country — The Board of Commissioners on Mexican War Claims — Nature of These Claims Requires Lawyers of the Highest Standing and Ability — The Court of Claims — Amounts Paid Out in Pensions — Importance of the Profession — George E. Lemon's Building — Names of Some of the Attorneys Engaged in the Prosecution of Claims 754-759

Chapter I. Natural Advantages

Situation and Natural Surroundings of the City— The District of Columbia— Prime Meridians of the World — Design of Making and Attempts to Make the Meridian of Washington a Prime Meridian — History of the Efforts to Determine the Latitude and Longitude of Washington — Efforts to Establish an Astronomical Observatory at Washington — William Lambert's Work — Andrew Ellicott's Work — Errors in Mr. Lambert's Work — K. T. Paine's Work — Sears C. Walker's Work — Latitude and Longitude of the Four Corners of the District of Columbia, of the Washington Monument, and of the Naval Observatory — Ellicott's Azimuth Mark — Other Original Landmarks — The Center Stone — The Center of the District of Columbia — The Climate of Washington— Thermometrical and Barometrical Elevations — The Potomac River — Jefferson's Description of the Confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers — The Great Falls — Captain John Smith's Exploration of the Potomac — The Potomac Fisheries — Theoretic Geology of the Vicinity of Washington — Economic Geology — The Botany of the District of Columbia.

THE first question to be asked about a place is as to its situation; and usual!}7 this has reference to its latitude, longitude, elevation above the sea, and natural surroundings. In answering such questions as these with regard to Washington, the Capital of the United States, it is proper to begin with its latitude and longitude, and the history of the determination thereof, although these were not determined even approximately until some years after its selection as the site of the Capital of the Nation. However, it may be briefly stated that Washington is situated on the north side of the Potomac River, about one hundred and sixty miles from its mouth. It is within the District of Columbia, which, as originally laid out, was in the form of a square, ten miles in length on each side, and hence containing one hundred square miles of territory.

The sides of this square extended at an angle of forty-five degrees with the meridian line, so that the several corners of the square pointed respectively to the north, east, 2 south, and west. The south corner, or point, was at the north cape of Hunting Creek, was known otherwise as Jones's Point, and was on the right bank of the Potomac River, just below Alexandria. The north corner is about a mile from Rock Creek, in Maryland. The west corner was near the Four-mile Road, in Virginia, and the east corner is about two miles east of the Eastern Branch, near Bladensburg, Maryland. Inasmuch as it is necessary to introduce an account of the establishment of the meridian of longitude passing through Washington, it is deemed appropriate to present in the same connection brief mention of the various first meridians of the world.

The earliest astronomer to determine longitude by astronomy was Hipparchus, of Rhodes, who chose for his first meridian that of Rhodes, where he observed. This island is on the dividing line between the Ægean and the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Ptolemy adopted a meridian running through the Lnsulæ Fortunatæ, as being the farthest known land toward the west; while the Arabs adopted the meridian of the Straits of Gibraltar. In the eleventh century, Alphonso X., of Castile, adopted the meridian of Toledo. After the discover}7 of America by Columbus, and the voyages of the Portuguese navigators, Pope Calixtus caused the adoption of the meridian thirty-five degrees west of Lisbon; but later on, the first meridian was set back two degrees toward the east. Meanwhile, Protestant nations remained refractory to any action in this respect taken by Rome.

The Dutch adhered to the meridian of Ptolemy until they changed it to that of the peak of Teneriffe; but a scientific congress, assembled by Richelieu, at Paris, in 1630, selected the meridian passing through the island of Ferro — one of the Canary Islands — for this purpose. Other famous first meridians have been that of Uraniemberg, and that of San Miguel, one of the Azores, twenty-nine degrees and twenty-five minutes west of Paris. These continued to be used for a long time, yet the meridian of Ferro, authorized by Louis XIIL, April 25, 1634, gradually superseded all the others. In 1724, the longitude of Paris from the west coast of Ferro was found by Louis Feuillee, sent there by the Paris Academy, to be twenty degrees, one minute, and forty-five seconds; but upon the proposition of Guillaume de Lisle, the meridian of Ferro was assumed to be precisely twenty degrees west of the Paris observatory.