DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 165 



public reservations free of cost. The government divided into 

 building lots and apportioned between itself and the owners all 

 the rest of the land in the District ; it was to sell small lots and 

 out of their proceeds pay for large ones. The government 

 made an excellent bargain, and it was fortunate also that there 

 were few owners to deal with and no extensive improvements 

 for demolishing which damages would accrue. Here, again, 

 was one of the economic advantages of the location of the Dis- 

 trict, for had any large city been selected as a site there would 

 have been great expense on account of the purchase and re- 

 moval of buildings necessary for the erection of government 

 buildings. The new government was not obliged to advance a 

 dollar for the land which came into its possession. There were 

 10,136 building lots assigned to the government, which in time 

 proved worth $850,000. Taking into consideration the public 

 reservations and streets, the government acquired a tract of 

 600 acres in the heart of the city. Certainly Washington made 

 a good bargain in the interest of the new government. 



The commissioners appointed by Congress acted with very 

 commendable speed, for while the cessions of Virginia and 

 Maryland were accepted finally by the act of July 16, 1790, 

 Washington reported to Congress January 10, 1791, that he had 

 fixed the confines of the District. The commissioners ran 

 their lines and the corner-stone was laid April 15, I79i> at 

 Jones's Point, near Alexandria. 



It should be remembered that the credit of the Federal gov- 

 ernment was on a very low plane at the time the Federal capital 

 was located. The expansive plan for the city projected by 

 Major L'Enfant, who drew his inspiration from the cities of the 

 Old World, anticipated the expenditure of large sums of money. 

 His plan was by many considered altogether too grand and 

 chimerical. He really planned a city for half a million, and for 

 this purpose he projected broad avenues, circles, squares, parallel 

 streets and all the other details necessary to secure beauty and 

 uniqueness. The engineer wished to provide for space without 

 incurring waste of land, and symmetry without sameness. All 

 these things resulted in differing opinions as to the future of the 

 capital city. Some thought it an excellent field for speculation ; 



