TERMS OF ORIGINAL AGREEMENT
The terms of the sale of land to the Government were agreed to on March 30, 1791, under which the original owners agreed to convey to the United States Government, free of cost, such portions of their farms as were needed for streets, parks, and other public reservations; and to sell such land as was needed for Government buildings and public improvements at £25 per acre (about $67). The remaining land was to be laid out in building lots and apportioned equally between the Federal Government and the original owners. Rufus R. Wilson, in Washington, the Capital City, says:
In this way, without advancing a dollar and at a total cost of $36,000, the Government acquired a tract of 600 acres in the heart of the city. The 10,136 building lots assigned to it ultimately proved to be worth $850,000, and now represent a value of $70,000,000. Shrewd financier as he was, it is doubtful if Washington ever made another so good a bargain as that with Burnes and his neighbors.
The following is a copy of the agreement:
THE AGREEMENT OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON WITH THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS
We, the subscribers, in consideration of the great benefits we expect to derive from having the Federal City laid off upon our Lands, do hereby agree and bind ourselves, heirs, executors, and administrators, to convey, in Trust, to the President of the United States, or Commissioners, or such person or persons as he shall appoint, by good and sufficient deeds, in Fee simple, the whole of our respective Lands which he may think proper to include within the lines of the Federal City, for the purposes and on the conditions following:
The President shall have the sole power of directing the Federal City to be laid off in what manner he pleases. He may retain any number of Squares he may think proper for public Improvements, or other public Uses, and the lots only which shall be laid off shall be a joint property between the Trustees on behalf of the public, and each present proprietor, and the same shall be fairly and equally divided between the public and the Individuals, as soon as may be, after the City shall be laid off.
For the streets the proprietors shall receive no compensation; but for the squares or Lands in any form, which shall be taken for public buildings, or any kind of public improvements, or uses, the proprietors, whose lands shall be so taken, shall receive at the rate of twenty-five pounds per acre, to be paid by the public.
The whole wood on the Lands shall be the property of the proprietors.
But should any be desired by the president to be reserved or left standing, the same shall be paid for by the public at a just and reasonable valuation, exclusive of the twenty-five pounds per acre to be paid for the land, on which the same shall remain.
Each proprietor shall retain the full possession and use of his land, until the same shall be sold and occupied by the purchasers of the Lots laid out thereupon, and in all cases where the public arrangements as to streets, lotts, &c., will admit of it, each proprietor shall possess his buildings and other improvements, and graveyards, paying to the public only one-half the present estimated value of the Lands, on which the same shall be, or twelve pounds ten shillings per acre. But in cases where the arrangements of the streets, lotts, squares, &c., will not admit of this, and it shall become necessary to remove such buildings, Improvements, &c., the proprietors of the same shall be paid the reasonable value thereof, by the public.
Nothing herein contained shall affect the Lotts which any of the parties to this Agreement may hold in the Towns of Carrollsburgh or Hamburgh.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and Seals, this thirtieth day of March, 1791.
| Signed | |||
| Signed & sealed in presence of us—Mr. Thos. Beall,making an exception of the Lands he sold Abraham Young not yet conveyed. | - | Robert Peter(Seal) | |
| David Burnes(Seal) | |||
| Jas. M. Lingan(Seal) | |||
| Uriah Forrest(Seal) | |||
| Witness to all the subscribers including William Young | - | Benj. Stoddert(Seal) | |
| Notley Young(Seal) | |||
| William Bayly | - | Dan. Carroll of Dn.(Seal) | |
| William Robertson | Overton Carr(Seal) | ||
| John Suter | Thos. Beall of Geo.(Seal) | ||
| Samuel Davidsonwitness to Abraham Young’s signing | - | Charles Beatty(Seal) | |
| Anthony Holmead(Seal) | |||
| Benj. Stoddertwitness to Edward Peirce’s signing. | - | Wm. Young(Seal) | |
| Edward Peirce(Seal) | |||
| Joseph E. Rowles for Jno. Waring. | Abraham Young(Seal) | ||
| Wm. Deakins Junr. for Wm. Prout& William King as attorney in fact. | - | James Peirce(Seal) | |
| William Prout(Seal) | |||
| Robert Peter, asattorney in fact for Eliphas Douglass.(Seal) | |||
| Benj. Stoddert for Jno. Waringby written authority from Mr. Waring.(Seal) | |||
| William King(Seal) | |||
MAP OF BOUNDARY STONES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
THREE OF THE BOUNDARY STONES
The land which was being considered for the city proper consisted of about 6,000 acres. In laying out the streets 3,606 acres were taken, and about 540 acres were bought by the United States as sites for the public buildings and grounds. The lots laid out numbered 20,272. Of these the United States took half and the property owners were given back the remainder. The United States sold its share of the lots and from the proceeds paid for the 540 acres on which it was to put the public buildings.
The United States also took a fee-simple title to the streets and avenues.