Almanac and Hand-Book 1898 A VOLUME OF STATISTICAL, OFFICIAL, AGRICULTURAL, HISTORICAL PUBLISHED QUARTERLY AT WASHINGTON, D. C., BY THE EVENING STAR NEWSPAPER COMPANY. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.00 PER YEAR. VOL. 4, NO. 1, JANUARY, 1898. Page. 37 44 PREFACE. a eas 12 29 30 45 32 32 The value of THE STAR'S Almanac and Hand Book has been demon strated during the three past years that it has been annually published. 26 The fourth issue herewith presented will be found to contain much useful 8 28 information conveniently arranged for ready reference. In its compilation 9 12 16 49 7347 13 25 33 the greatest care has been exercised to secure the most complete and reliable data. The wide scope of its contents and their great value to the many who have occasion constantly to make research for facts having a bearing upon current events will be apparent on a quick glance through its 10 pages. It will serve as a complete reference library condensed within the 45 58 compass of one compact volume, systematically arranged and indexed. Besides the vast amount of general information in this issue, the affairs and interests of the District of Columbia are given ample space. This 20 part of the Hand Book is separately indexed. 261 The information thus brought together in regard to the District, especially that which relates to the local government, is of great interest to property owners as well as to citizens generally. The Hand Book makes it possible for those who are comparatively strangers at the District building, the headquarters of the city government, to know who to see in regard to any matter in which they may be concerned and which requires the action of some District official. A clear and concise statement of the relations of the Capital City to the United States Government is given, as well as an interesting sketch of the history of the District. The Hand Book contains facts which all residents are supposed to know, but about which in reality the average citizen has but vague ideas. In its pages may be found a guide to the principal points of interest in and about the city and the names of the principal officers of the government, as well as the names and addresses of the Diplomatic Corps. This As for THE EVENING STAR, itself, its character and standing are so well understood in the community to whose interests all its efforts are devoted that little need be said on that subject. For the information, however, of strangers into whose hands this book may fall, it may and can be truthfully said that in a greater degree than any other journal in the United States The Star fills the ideal of a family daily newspaper. is fully demonstrated by the fact that it is regularly served to subscribers in 822 per cent of all the occupied houses in Washington, and in 92% of all those occupied by white persons. It is generally admitted that no newspaper in the world can match this record. It follows, therefore, that as an advertising medium The Star has no rival and no competitor worth mentioning in the territory it covers so completely and so satisfactorily. An advertisement inserted in its columns literally covers the entire field, sure as it is to meet the eye of all readers in the District of Columbia, of whatever sex, race, color, condition or nationality, political or religious belief. It only remains to be added that, considering extent and quality of circulation, its advertising rates rank with the very lowest in the country. 17 THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. OFFICIAL REGISTER, DIRECTORY AND GENERAL INFORMATION. The location of the seat of the na-ceived and the members from the tional government was decided upon south and north arrayed themselves by Congress only after acrimonious on sectional lines. The former to a political discussion and long delay. large extent wanted the present site, The boundary lines of the District while the latter were in favor of a were announced by Washington in more northern location. The first 1791, and the history of the ten miles session passed without action, but square, as it was then known, is co- at the second, in 1790, a bill was inincident with that of the city of troduced authorizing the acquireWashington. After the Continentalment of a tract of land at some place Congress had made the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia the Articles of Federation then adopted provided that annual sessions of Congress should be held in such places as might be determined on from time to time. The Continental Congress during the period of the Revolutionary War held its sessions in several cities. In the year 1783 Congress removed from Philadelphia to Princeton, New Jersey, because of the attempt made by the unpaid soldiers to overawe that body, the local authorities failing to protect the dignity of the national legislative body. During the next year a resolution was adopted by Congress providing for the appointment of Commissioners to lay out a site for the Federal Capital at the lower falls of the Delaware. Virginia's representatives endeavored to have Georgetown substituted, but failed. The first Congress under the Constitution met in New York in 1789, and the debate over the selection of a site for the national capital was prolonged. The Constitution had delegated to Congress the power "To exercise exclusive Legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular states, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dockYards, and other needful Buildings:-" When the First Congress met, therefore, many petitions were re between the mouths of the Eastern branch and the Connoogocheague for the permanent seat of the government of the United States. At this time Alexander Hamilton's bill for funding the war debt of the states was also under consideration, and, as most of the money under it was to go to the north, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton arranged a compromise between the angry representatives of the north and south by which both the federal government site measure and the funding bill should pass, it being decided that the seat of government should remain at Philadelphia until 1800, and then be transferred to the new site on the Potomac. The act determining upon the present site of the nation's capital was passed July 7, 1790, and was signed by President Washington July 16. It authorized the President to appoint three commissioners to define the boundaries of the District. It was also provided that on the first Monday in December, 1800, all the offices attached to the seat of government should be removed to the District. President Washington appointed as commissioners Thomas Johnson and Daniel Carroll of Maryland and David Stuart of Virginia, and, March 30, 1791, he issued a proclamation defining the boundaries of the District as follows, Congress on March 3 having amended the original act so as to include a section of Virginia below Alexandria: "Beginning at Jones' Point, being the upper cape of Hunting creek in Virginia, and at an angle of 45 degrees west of north, and running in a direct line ten miles for the first line; then, beginning again at the same Jones' Point and run |