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