TRANSCRIPTIONS OF CHARTS AND MAPS
SKETCH
OF
WASHINGTON IN EMBRYO,
Previous to its Survey by Major L’ENFANT.
Compiled from the rare historical researches
—of—
Dr. JOSEPH M. TONER,
who by special favor has permitted the use of his labor and materials
for the publication of a grand historical map of this District
Compilers
E.F.M. FAEHTZ & F.W. PRATT.
1874.
This sketch establishes the exact location
of Hamburgh and Carrollsburg and
approximated metes and bounds
of every estate then embraced
within the precincts granted
by the President.
In addition thereto the subsequent
avenues as well as several
other early improvements,
MAP SHOWING THE ORIGINAL MILESTONES OR
BOUNDARY STONES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
AND THEIR
APPROXIMATE LOCATION
FRED E WOODWARD
TERMS AND CONDITIONS declared by the President of the United States, this seventeenth day of October, seventeen hundred and ninety-one, for regulating the Materials and Manner of the Buildings and Improvements on the LOTS in the CITY of WASHINGTON.
1st. That the outer and party-walls of all houses within the said City shall be built of brick or stone.
2d. That all buildings on the streets shall be parallel thereto, and may be advanced to the line |of th|e street, or withdrawn therefrom, at the plea|sure| of the improver: But where any such build|ing is| about to be erected, neither the foundation or party-wall shall be begun without first applying to the person or persons appointed by the Commissioners to superintend the buildings within the city, who will ascertain the lines of the walls to correspond with these regulations.
3d. The wall of no house to be higher than forty feet to the roof in any part of the city; nor shall any be lower than thirty-five feet on any of the avenues.
4th. That the Person or persons appointed by the Commissioners to superintend the buildings may enter on the land of any person to set out the foundation and regulate the walls to be built between party and party, as to the breadth and thickness thereof. Which foundation shall be laid equally upon the lands of the persons between whom such party-walls are to be built, and shall be of the breadth and thickness determined by such person proper; and the first builder shall be reimbursed one moiety of the charge of such party-wall, or so much thereof as the next builder shall have occasion to make use of, before such |n|ext builder shall any ways use or break into the wall—The charge or value thereof to be set by |t|he person or persons so appointed by the Commissioners.
5th. As temporary conveniencies will be proper for lodging workmen and securing materials for building, it is to be understood that such may be erected with the approbation of the Commissioners: But they may be removed or discontinued by the special order of the Commissioners.
6th. The way into the squares being designed |in| a special manner for the common use and convenience of the occupiers of the respective squares—The property in the same is reserved to the public, so that there may be an immediate interference on any abuse of the use thereof by any individual, to the nuisance or obstruction of others. The proprietors of the Lots adjoining the entrance into the squares, on arching over the entrance, and fixing gates in the manner the Commissioners shall approve, shall be intitled to divide the space over the arching and build it up with the range of that line of the square.
7th. No vaults shall be permitted under the streets, nor any encroachments on the foot way above by steps, stoops, porches, cellar doors, windows, ditches or leaning walls; nor shall there be any projection over the street, other than the eves of the house, without the consent of the Commissioners.
8th. These regulations are the terms and conditions under and upon which conveyances are to be made, according to the deeds in trust of the lands within the city.
George Washington.
TERMS of SALE of LOTS in the CITY of WASHINGTON, the Eighth Day of October, 1792.
All Lands purchased at this Sale, are to be subject to the Terms and Conditions declared by the President, pursuant to the Deeds in Trust.
The purchaser is immediately to pay one fourth part of the purchase money; the residue is to be paid in three equal annual payments, with yearly interest of six per cent. on the whole principal unpaid: If any payment is not made at the day, the payments made are to be forfeited, or the whole principal and interest unpaid may be recovered on one suit and execution in the option of the Commissioners.
The purchaser is to be entitled to a conveyance, on the whole purchase money and interest being paid, and not before. No bid under Three Dollars to be received.
PLAN
of the City intended for the
Permanent Seat of the
Government of the UNITED STATES
Projected agreeable to the direction
of the President of the United States
in pursuance of an Act of Congress posted the
sixteenth day of July, Mdccxc,
“establishing the Permanent Seat
on the bank of the Potowmac”
By Peter Charles L’Enfant.
Observations explanatory of the Plan.
| I. | The positions for the different Grand Edifices and for the several Grand Squares or Areas of different shapes as they are laid down were first determined on the most advantageous ground commanding the most extensive prospects, and the better susceptible of such improvements as the various intents of the several objects may require. |
| II. | Lines or Avenues of direct communication have been devised as connect the separate and most distinct objects with the principal, and to preserve through the whole a reciprocity of sight at the same time. Attention has been paid to the passing of those leading Avenues over the most favorable ground for prospect and convenience. |
| III. | North and South lines, intersected by others running due East and West, make the distribution of the City into Streets, Squares, etc., and those lines have been so combined as to meet at certain given points with those divergent Avenues so as to form on the spaces “first determined” the different Squares or Areas, which are all proportional in Magnitude to the number of Avenues leading to them. |
Breadth of the Streets.
Every grand transverse Avenue and every principal divergent one, such as the communication from the President’s house to the Congress house, etc., are 160 feat in breadth and thus divided:
| 10 feet of pavement on each side | 20 | Feet |
| 30 feet of gravel walk planted with trees on each side | 60 | |
| 80 feet in the middle for carriage way | 80 | |
| 160 | ||
| The other streets are of the following dimensions, viz.: | ||
| Those leading to public buildings or markets | 130 | Feet |
| Others | 110-90 | |
In order to execute the above plan, Mr. Ellicott drew a true Meridional line by celestial observation which passes through the Area intended for the Congress house; this line he crossed by another due East and West, which passes through the same Area. These lines were accurately measured and made the bases on which the whole plan was executed. He ran all the lines by a Transit Instrument and determined the Acute Angles by actual measurement, and left nothing to the uncertainty of the Compass.
References.
| A. | The equestrian figure of George Washington, a Monument voted in 1783 by the late Continental Congress. |
| B. | An historic Column, also intended for a Mile or itinerary Column, from whose station (a mile from the Federal house), all distances of places through the Continent are to be calculated. |
| C. | A Naval itinerary Column proposed to be erected to celebrate the first rise of a Navy and to stand a ready Monument to consecrate its progress and Achievements. |
| D. | This Church is intended for National purposes, such as public prayer, thanksgivings, funeral Orations, etc., and assigned to the special use of no particular Sect or denomination, but equally open to all. It will be likewise a proper shelter for such monuments as were voted by the late Continental Congress for those heroes who fell in the cause of liberty and for such others as may hereafter be decreed by the voice of a grateful Nation. |
| E. | Five grand fountains intended with a constant spout of water. N. B. There are within the limits of the City about 25 good springs of excellent water abundantly supplied in the driest season of the year. |
The Squares coloured yellow, being fifteen in number, are proposed to be divided among the several States in the Union for each of them to improve, or subscribe a sum additional to the value of the land for that purpose, and the improvements round the Squares to be completed in a limited time.
The center of each Square will admit of Statues, Columns, obelisks, or any other ornaments, such as the different States may choose to erect, to perpetuate not only the memory of such individuals whose Counsels or military achievements were conspicuous in giving liberty and independence to this Country, but also those whose usefulness hath rendered them worthy of general imitation; to invite the youth of succeeding generations to tread in the paths of those Sages or heroes whom their Country has thought proper to celebrate.
The situation of these Squares is such that they are the most advantageously and reciprocally seen from each other, and as equally distributed over the whole City district, and connected by spacious Avenues round the grand Federal improvements, and as contiguous to them, and at the same time as equally distant from each other, as circumstances would admit. The settlements round those Squares must soon become connected.
This mode of taking possession of, and improving the whole District at first must leave to posterity a grand idea of the patriotic interest which promoted it.
Those figures coloured red, are intended for use of all religious denominations, on which they are to erect places of worship, and are proposed to be allotted to them in the manner as those coloured yellow to the different States in the Union; but no burying grounds will be admitted within the limits of the City, an appropriation being intended for that purpose without. N. B. Then a number of Squares or Areas unappropriated, and in situations proper for Colleges and Academies, and of which every Society whose object is national may be accommodated. Every house within the City will stand square on the Streets, and every lot. even those on the divergent Avenues, will run Square with their fronts, which on the most acute angle will not measure less than 56 feet and many will be above 110 feet.
Pine Creek, whose water, if
necessary, may supply the
City, being turned into
James White’s branch.
| F. | I. | Pts. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perpendicular height of the source of Tiber Creek, above the level of the tide in said Creek. | - | 236 | 7 | ⁵⁄₈ | |
Perpendicular height of James
White’s Spring, being part
of Tiber Creek, above the
level of the tide in said
Creek.
This branch of the Tiber, is intended
to be conveyed to the President’s
house.
The water of this Creek is intended to be
conveyed on the high ground, where the
Congress house stands, and after watering
that part of the city, its overplus will fall
from under the base of that Edifice, and
in a Cascade of 20 feet in height, and 50 in
breadth into the reservoir below; thence to
run in three fills through the Garden into
the grand Canal.
The perpendicular height of the ground
where the Congress house stands, is
above the tide of Tiber Creek, 78 feet.
 | |||
| ° | ′ | ||
| Lat. Congress House, | 38. | 53. | N. |
| Long. | 0′. | 0′. | |
References.
| F. | Grand Cascade, formed of the Water from the sources of the Tiber. |
| G. | Public walk, being a square of 1,200 feet, through which carriages may ascend to the upper Square of the Federal house. |
| H. | Grand Avenue, 400 feet in breadth, and about a mile in length, bordered with gardens, ending in a slope from the houses on each side. This avenue leads to the Monument A, and connects the Congress Garden with the |
| I. | President’s park, and the |
| K. | Well improved field, being a part of the walk from the President’s house, of about 1,800 feet in breadth, and ³⁄₄ of a mile in length. Every lot, deep coloured red, with green plots, designates some of the situations which command the most agreeable prospects, and which are the best calculated for spacious houses and gardens, such as may accommodate foreign Ministers, etc. |
| L. | Around this Square, and all along the |
| M. | Avenue from the two bridges to the Federal house, the pavement on each side will pass under an Arched way, under whose cover Shops will be most conveniently and agreeably situated. This street is 160 feet in breadth, and a mile long. |
 | |||
| ° | ′ | ||
| Lat. Capitol | 38: | 53, | N |
| Long | 0: | 0. | |
Observations
explanatory of the
Plan.
| I. | The positions for the different Edifices and for the several Squares or Areas of different shapes, as they are laid down, were first determined on the most advantageous ground, commanding the most extensive prospects, and the better susceptible of such improvements, as either use or ornament may hereafter call for. |
| II. | Lines or Avenues of direct communication have been devised to connect the separate and most distant objects with the principal, and to preserve through the whole a reciprocity of sight at the same time. Attention has been paid to the passing of those leading Avenues over the most favorable ground for prospect and convenience. |
| III. | North and South lines intersected by others running due East and West, make the distribution of the City into Streets, Squares, &c.; and those lines have been so combined as to meet at certain given points with those divergent Avenues, so as to form on the Spaces “first determined,” the different Squares or Areas. |
| F. | I. | Pts. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perpendicular height of the source of Tiber Creek above the level of the tide in said Creek | - | 236. | 7. | ⁵⁄₈ | |
This branch and that of the Tiber may be
conveyed to the President’s house.
The water of this Creek may be conveyed
on the high ground where the
Capitol stands, and after watering
that part of the City, may be destined
to other useful purposes.
The perpendicular height of the ground
where the Capitol is to stand, is
above the tide of Tiber Creek 78
Feet.
| F. | I. | Pts. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perpendicular height of the West branch above the tide in Tiber Creek | - | 115. | 7. | ²⁄₈ | |
Plan
of the CITY of
Washington
in the Territory of Columbia,
ceded by the States of
Virginia and Maryland
to the
United States OF America,
and by them established as the
Seat of their Government,
after the Year
MDCCC.
Breadth of the Streets.
The grand Avenues, and such Streets as lead immediately to public places are from 130 to 160 feet wide, and may be conveniently divided into foot ways, walks of trees, and a carriage way. The other streets are from 90 to 110 feet wide.
In order to execute this plan, Mr. Ellicott drew a true Meridional line by celestial observation, which passes through the Area intended for the Capitol; this line he crossed by another due East and West which passes through the same Area. These lines were accurately measured, and made the basis on which the whole plan was executed. He ran all the lines by a Transit Instrument, and determined the Acute Angles by actual measurement, and left nothing to the uncertainty of the Compass.
MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS; THEY HAVE NO MAGIC
TO STIR MEN’S BLOOD, AND PROBABLY THEMSELVES
WILL NOT BE REALIZED. MAKE BIG PLANS; AIM
HIGH IN HOPE AND WORK, REMEMBERING THAT A
NOBLE, LOGICAL DIAGRAM ONCE RECORDED WILL
NEVER DIE, BUT LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE WILL
BE A LIVING THING. ASSERTING ITSELF WITH EVER
GROWING INSISTENCY. REMEMBER THAT OUR
SONS AND GRANDSONS ARE GOING TO DO THINGS
THAT WOULD STAGGER US. LET YOUR WATCH-
WORD BE ORDER AND YOUR BEACON BEAUTY
DANIEL H. BURNHAM
WASHINGTON D.C.
THE MALL - CENTRAL AREA
STUDY FOR DEVELOPMENT - 1937
NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
VIRGINIA PROJECTS
SHOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH STUDIES OF
VIRGINIA-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK
AND PLANNING COMMISSION
ARLINGTON COUNTY ZONING COMMISSION
MARYLAND PROJECTS
SHOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH STUDIES OF
MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK
AND PLANNING COMMISSION
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION
EXISTING PUBLIC PARKS
PROPOSED PUBLIC PARKS
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS
CEMETERIES
PROPOSED AIRPORTS
GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS
EXISTING PRINCIPAL HIGHWAYS
PROPOSED PRINCIPAL HIGHWAYS
EXISTING INTERMEDIATE HIGHWAYS
PROPOSED INTERMEDIATE HIGHWAYS
CITIES AND TOWNS
STATE LINE
COUNTY LINE
DISTRICT LINES
- INDEX -
PROPOSED PARKWAY
EXISTING PARK LANDS
PROPOSED PARK ACQUISITION
EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, CEMETERIES ETC.
PRELIMINARY PLAN
FORT DRIVE
PARKWAY CONNECTING THE CIVIL WAR FORTS ENCIRCLING THE CITY
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
LT. COL. U.S. GRANT 3RD - EXECUTIVE AND DISBURSING OFFICER
MAJ. CAREY H. BROWN - ENGINEER
CHARLES W. ELLIOTT 2ND - CITY PLANNER
FEBRUARY 1937
-LEGEND-
PARKS & PUBLIC GROUNDS
PROPOSED PARKS
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
PROPOSED PUBLIC GROUNDS
PARK, PARKWAY & PLAYGROUND
PROJECTS
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK & PLANNING COMMISSION
ROCK CREEK PARK
WASHINGTON, D.C.
SCALE IN FEET
OFFICE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC PARKS
LIEUT. COL. U.S. GRANT, 3RD, DIRECTOR
G.E. CLARK, ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF SURVEYS
G.S. ELLIOTT - CHIEF OF PARTY
LEGEND
LEAVE CAR OR BUS LINES FOR PARK
MACADAM ROADS
DIRT STREETS OR ROADS
FOOT PATHS
SPRINGS OR FOUNTAINS
IMPROVED STREETS
BRIDLE PATHS
PICNIC GROVES
REVISION 1933
Basement Plan
1800