A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 68

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 68
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

There are 3 Banks,-the Bank of Washington,-capital $479,120,- The Bank of the Metropolis,-ca- pital $500,000, and the Patriotic Bank,-capital $250,000. There are 19 houses of public worship, 3 Cath- olic, 4 Episcopalian, 3 Methodist, 4 Baptist, 1 Unitarian and 1 Friends', also 2 public free schools, and a great many other well conducted schools, where the usual branches of education are taught, as well as the dead Lan- guages and Mathematics. Schools for young ladies, are also established in various parts of the city; and there is 1 orphan asylum, constituted in 1815, a colonization society (the mother) in- stituted in 1817; 6 well organized fire companies and a Masonic Lodge. Regular lines of steam-boats ply from Washington to Alexandria, Baltimore, Norfolk, &c., and numerous stages run to other places, -among which are 8 daily coaches to Baltimore. The territory now Washington was form- erly a part of Prince. George Co. Md. and was ceded to the United States in 1790. In 1800.it became the seat of government, and 1802 was incorporated as a city. In 1812 it was remodelled, and finally chartered in 1815. The government is com- posed of a Mayor, 12 Aldermen, and a common Council of 18 members ; these are elected by the citizens, the latter for 1, and the Mayor and Al- dermen for 2 years.

THE NAVY YARD in this city. wa's established and organized by the act of Congress, approved 27th March, 1804. It contains within its limits abont 28 acres; and is enclosed by a high brick wall, with an entrance from the north, through an arched gateway, on each side of which are

The "Columbian Institute," for the . promotion of the Arts and Sciences, was formed at Washington in 1816. .and incorporated by Congress in accommodations for the marine officer 64

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Foot: 156-370

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

and guard, attached to the Yard. The saw gates, each capable of receiving buildings for the officers are commo- and working any number of saws dious,-and appropriate, quarters for sufficient for converting a log to any the Commandant, Master Com- mandant, Lieutenant, Sailing Master,

dimensions by one passage through the gate. Two hammers for forging Surgeon and Boatswain: for store anchors, &c. 2 large hydraulic. bel- houses, shops, &c. and a Navy Store, with a sail loft in the second story ; iron store, with a rigging loft in the second story; Commandant's, and other offices; labratory for the pre- paration of ordinance fixtures and stores, in the second story of which is a beautiful and well arranged armory. An armorer's shop for repairing small arms; an iron foundry ; a brass and composition foundry ; a chain ca- ble, and caboose shop; an anchor

block maker's shop, a saw mill, and rooms for machinery work, &c. 2 tim- ber sheds on arched columns, one with a joiner's shop, and the other with a mould loft in the second story ; 2 ship houses over foundations, and ways for buildings and launching ships of any size. All the buildings are large and of substantial construc- tion, and afford every convenience for building and equipping vessels for sea. There is in the Yard a fresh water dock for seasoning timber, &c.

lows, 2 circular saws, I turning and boring lathe, which when required, can be converted into a machine for boring steam engine cylinders; 9 turning lathes, 5 grind stones, 4 drill lathes for boring sheaves, &c. with other machinery, required to facilitate the operations of the several depart- ments in the adjoining buildings.

'There is also, situated in the S. E. corner of the Yard, a machine for proving rope and chain cables; the

shop, smithery and plumber's shop ; a mechanical force of which is so pow -. erful, that two men can part a cable suitable for a ship of the largest size. Considerable as a strain must be, suf- ficient to part a 24 inch cable, (or a strain of 100 tons,) such is the accura- cy of the operation of the index, that two ounces thrown into the scale sus- pended from the end of the lever, will sensibly affect the index, thereby af- ording an opportunity of calculating the strainon the cable with the great- est precision.

About a mile above the Yard is a large powder magazine, and a ware-

For the purposes of the Navy there are some valuable manufactories es- house for the storage of salt petre, &c. tablished in the Yard; and for it gen- There is generally employed in the Yard for the manufactories, and as laborers, about 200 men ; when ships are building or repairing, the number is proportionably increased by the employment of carpenters, caulkers, boat-builders, mast makers, gun car- riage makers, sail makers, coopers, &c. The Yard is beautifully situat- ed on the right bank of the Eastern branch ; the channel of which affords an easy navigation for small frigates, sloops of war, &c. erally, are made anchors, cham ca- bles, cabooses, blocks, ordnance fix- tures, and stores of every kind; brass and composition castings, &c. To facilitate the operations in the manu- facture of these articles, much labor- saving machinery has been erected; the principal of which is a steam en- gine, computed of 14 horse power, by which there is kept in continual mo- tion 489 feet of shafts, with their or- dinary wheels, drums, &c. to the weight of 40 tons, 8 cwt., 1 qr. lbs.

THE UNITED STATES' ARSENAL of the city, on the point of land form-

By power derived from the opera- is situated at the southern extremity tion of the above shafts, a requisite power and motion is conveyed to two ed by the junction of the Potomac and

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WASHINGTON CITY.

Anacostia rivers. This position, be-|Captain Frazer, acting Adjutant Gen- eral of the British army.

ing at the head of ship navigation- at the seat of government -- and cen- tral in a national point of view, was selected in 1804, as a favorable site for an Arsenal, intended for the man- ufacture and depository of Military Stores. For these purposes it was exclusively devoted until 1812; when immediately after the declaration of war with England, strong batteries were erected on the sides, approacha- ble by water, both, to protect the Arse- nal and guard the river channels lead- ing to the Navy Yard and other parts a rectangular parallelogram. Ac- of the city. From this time, the place cording to present arrangements, was known by the name Fort Wash-

In the autumn of 1814, the work shops were rebuilt ; and the manufac- ture and preparation of army supplies went on as before. In 1816 a large store house and officers' quarters were erected, forming the north front of the fort. In 1823-24, the garrison was withdrawn- the ramparts re- moved, and permanent buildings ex- clusively for Arsenal purposes erected on the same ground, making, with those built in 1816, the four sides of

there are two buildings for the depo- ton; notwithstanding its entire want site of muskets, rifles, pistols, swords of defence on the land side; which

and other small arms; 3 for the dwel- made it necessary, after the British lings of officers and artificers; and 4 army had entered Washington, for large work shops, besides other the American troops to vacate it .- smaller buildings. One of the shops This was done during the night of contains a steam engine which drives the 24th of August, 1814, after burn- ring the work shops and removing as

various machines, made use of in re- pairing small arms, and in manufac- much property as time would permit. turing artillery carriages. Of the The next morning a detachment of latter, a considerable number are an- 500 British troops marched to the nually made at the place-mostly for fort, and commenced the destruction the use of the militia.

of whatever had been left in a ser- The Arsenal contains many thou- sand arms, consisting of all the usual varieties. They are neatly arranged viceable state. Among other things, were a number of 18 pounder guns, left by the garrison in the haste of in open frames, and being kept in per- departure, mounted in battery and un- fect order, present an imposing ap- pearance. Forty thousand soldiers can be fully armed and equipped at an hour's notice. On the plain in spiked-these they attempted to des- troy by discharging one against the trunnion of another ; but, most unfor- tunately for the operators, the first front of the Arsenal, are 855 pieces of piece discharged happened to be ordnance, including cannon, howitzers and mortars of various calibres .--- Among them are seen trophies of the Bennington, Saratoga, Yorktown and Bridgewater. pointed in the direction of a well near by, into which, some of the wadding of the gun was thrown by the dis- late and revolutionary wars, captured at charge ; this communicated fire to a large quantity of powder, previously placed there by the garrison to pre- 'There is also a cannon, relick of the revolutionary contest, made in Virginia of hammered iron. It bears the name of "Queen of France," which was marked upon it at that. pe- vent its falling into the hands of the enemy, and a tremendous explosion was the immediate consequence; by which one half of the 500 men, who entered the place 30 minutes before, riod.

with all the pride and hilarity result- The geological formation of the ing from victory, were killed and Arsenal grounds, does not differ from wounded. Among the killed, was a other parts of the city. From the

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

surface there is an average of 10 feet(building the public edifices at Wash- in depth of ferruginous clay, resting

ington, which were destroyed by fire on alternate horizontal strata of sand in 1814. The building of jails for and gravel, in which are found de- tached parcels of bog iron ore.

Alexandria county and Washington county,-the purchase of a C. H. for The following statement of expen- ditures, (by the United States) in Washington, to January 1st, 1830, Washington county,-the erection of a United States' Penitentiary, and a variety of other items, not chargable ? includes the entire expenses of re-lto the sales of city lots.

Prior to 1816.

Purchase of ground for public purposes, 38,697.92

Purchase of stone quarries,

30,225.31

Surveying and marking boundaries,

67,469.76

Opening and improving streets, -

33,646.82

Bridges over Rock, Tiber and James' Creeks, Building wharfs,

9,130.17

Building sheds for workmen,

4,681.23

Digging canal from James to Tiber creek,

5,670.61

Interest on loans, commissions, &c. 165,533.93

Salaries, &c.

- 119,906.65

Capitol, &c.

Prior to burning in August, 1814,

788,071.28

From 1814 to January 1, 1830,

1,704,250.27

Temporary Committee rooms, -

2,771.90

Enclosing the square,

71,602.57

Alterations in the Capitol,

5,507.84

Graduating and improving the square,

20,716.99 -

Allegorical clock,

2,000.00

Furnishing committee rooms in centre building,

3,579.30

President's House, &c.

Prior to burning in August, 1814,

- 333,207.04

From 1814 to January 1, 1830,

300,072.37

Alterations,

1,945.63

Covering the roof, -

5,405.32

Erecting walls and gates,

5,887.73

Graduating and improving the square,

19,009.51

Offices.

Prior to burning in August, 1814,

93,013.82

From 1814 to January, 1830, - -

268,850.68

Contingencies between 1814 and 1820,

- 15,673.02

Engine Houses, Engines, &c.

12,917.37

Paved footways,

9,064.04

Purchase of part of the City Hall, for Court, &c.

10,000.00

Purchase of square 249, for water,

1,246.94

Jail of Washington County,

4,746.20

Jail of Alexandria County,

11,186.03

Penitentiary of the District,

76,127.23

Total,

490,004.39

2,596,500.21

665,527.60

361,865.50

140,960.83

$4,254,858.53

15,041.99

المسلول

509

WASHINGTON CITY.

WASHINGTON COUNTY is bounded States and foreign powers; and cor: N. W. and N. by Montgomery Co. responds officially with the public Ministers of the United States at Fo- reign Courts, and with the Ministers of Foreign Powers. resident in the United States .- He performs, also proaches a parallelogram, 8. ms. in the main duties of what, in other Go- vernments, is called the Home Pe- partment .- Salary, $6,000.

Md.,-N. E. by Prince George's Co. Md.,-S. E. by the Eastern branch of Potomac, and S. W. by the main stream of Potomac. In form it ap- length from S. E. to N. W .; mean breadth 54 ms .; area 42 sq. ms. or 42-100ths of the whole district, ex- The office of Secretary of the Treasury was created by act of the 2d of September, 1789. He superin- .. Government, and, upon his own re- sponsibility, recommends to Congress measures for improving the condition of the revenue. He holds his office at the will ot the President; is, by nsage, a member of the Cabinet; and, ex-officio, one of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund .- Salary, $6,- 000. tending in lat. from 38º 51', to 38º 58' nearly, and in long. from 0° 6' 6" E. to 0° 03' W. the Capital, The tends all the fiscal concerns of the surface of this Co. is very finely di- versified by hill and dale. Rock creek enters near the northern angle, and meandering in a general direc- tion from N. to S., enters Potomac between the city of Washington and Georgetown. The slope of the whole county is indeed from N. to S., and the descent very rapid. The soil generally thin, though some favora. Accounts of the government are fi- nally settled at the Treasury Depart- ble exceptions exist. Exclusive of W. C. and Georgetown, it contained ment: for which purpose it is divided in 1830 a population of 2,994. The into the office of the Secretary, (who entire population of the two cities and the county, was in 1830, 30,262. superintends the whole, but who is not therefore, absolute, with respect to the power of adjusting claims or of paying money;) into two Comptrol?

The CIVIL List of the United States, though relating rather to the whole Union, than particularly to the lers, five Auditors, a Register, and ą District of Columbia, is a matter of Treasurer. such general interest, that we will in- sert it here:

CIVIL LIST,

Shewing the nature and extent of the duties of each officer of the Gene- ral Government of the U. States, and their salaries-with the num- ber of clerks employed in cach de- partment, and the aggregate amount of their salaries.

The Department of State was cre- ated by the act of 15th September, accounts of the several persons em- 1798. Previously to that period, by act of 27th July, 1789, it was denomi- nated the Department of Foreign Af- fairs. The Secrtary, is ex-officio, a Commissioner of the Sinking Fund, and, by usage, a member of the Ca- binet. Hle conducts the negotiation, of all treaties between the United all accounts settled by the Second,

The First Comptroller examines all accounts settled by the First and Fifth Auditors, and certifies the bal- ances arising thereon to the Register, : countersigns all warrants drawn by. the Secretary of the Treasury, if warranted by law; reports to the Se- cretary the official forms to be used in the different offices for collecting the public revenue; and the manner . and form of keeping and stating the ployed therein. He superintends the preservation of the public accounts subject to his revision, and provides for the regular payment of all. mo-' neys which may be collected .- Sala- ry, $3,500.

The Second Comptroller examines .

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

Third, and Fourth Auditors, certifies his decision upon them .- Salary, the balances to the Secretary of the $3,000. Department in which the expenditure The Fourth Auditor receives all accounts accruing in the Navy De- partment, or relative to it. He exa- mines the accounts, certifies the bal- ances, and transmits the accounts with the vouchers and certificate, to the Second Comptroller, for his decision upon them .- Salary, $3,000. has been incurred; countersigns all requisitions drawn by the Secretaries of the War and Navy Departments, warranted by law; reports to the Se- cretaries the official forms to be used in the different offices for distributing the public money in those Depart- ments, and the manner and form of The Fifth Auditor receives all ac- keeping and stating the accounts of counts accruing in, or relative to, the Department of State, the General Post Office, and those arising out of Indian Trade, examines them, certifies the ject to his revision .- Salary, $3,000. balances, and transmits the accounts

the persons employed therein. It is also his duty to superintend the pre- ,servation of the public accounts sub-

The First Auditor receives all ac- counts accruing in the Treasury De- partment, and in relation to the reve- nue and the civil list; and, after exa- mination certifies the balance, and transmits the accounts, with the vouch- ers and certificates, to the First Comp- troller, for his decision thereon .- Sal- ary, $3,000.

The Second Auditor receives and settles all accounts for the pay and clothing of the Army, subsistence of officers, bounties, and premiums, Me- dical and Hospital Department, and National Armories, arming and equip- ping the militia, Ordnance Depart- ment, Indian Department, Purchas- ing Department, the contingent ex- penses of the War Department, and all store accounts growing out of the foregoing. Heexamines the accounts, certifies the balances, and transmits the accounts with the vouchers and certificates, to the Second Comptrol- ler, for his decision upon them .- Sal- ary, $3,000.

The Third Auditor receives all ac- counts relative to the subsistence of the Army, the Quartermaster's De- partment, and generally all accounts of the War Department, other than those referred to the Second Auditor. He examines the accounts, certifies the balances, and transmits the ac- counts, with the vouchers and certifi- he records all warrants for the receipt cates to the Second Comptroller for or payment of moneys at the Treasu-

with the vouchers and certificate, to the First Comptroller for his decision upon them. To the Fifth Auditor, also, has been assigned the duties of Commissioner of the Revenue, which are considerable, embracing a super- intendence of the light house estab- lishment, and a correspondence with, and superintendenee over, the collec- tors of the direct tax and internal re- venne .- Salary, $3,000.

To this office has been assigned by the President also, the duty of agent of the Treasury, under the act of 15th May, 1820, for conducting all suits at law, in which the United States are concerned.

The Treasurer receives and keeps the money of the United States, and disburses the same upon warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Trea- sury, countersigned by the proper Comptroller and Auditor, and record- ed by the Register .- Salary, $3,000. The Register of the Treasury keeps all accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the public money, and of all debts due to or from the United States; he keeps the District Tonnage Accounts of the United States; he receives from the Comp- trollers the accounts which have been finally adjusted, and, with their vouch- ers and certificates, preserves them;

the

511

WASHINGTON CITY.

ry, certifies the same thereon, andjed in the discharge of his duties by transmits to the Secretary of the two Assistants. He has the sole ap- Treasury copies of the certificates of pointment of all Postmasters through- balances of accounts adjusted. , By out the United States; the making of an act of the 10th February, 1820, it is made the duty of the Register of the 'Treasury, to prepare statistical accounts of the commerce of the Unit- ed States, to be laid before Congress. -Salary, $3,000.

all contracts for carrying the mails; and, in short, the control, according to law, for every thing relating to the institution. Since the commencement of President Jackson's. administra- tion, he is a member of the cabinet .- Salary, $6,000. 1

The War Department was created! by act of 7th August, 1789. The Board of Commissioners for the Nary .- This Board was established by act of 7th of February, 1815. It consists of three Captains of the Na- vy, in rank not below that of a Post Captain. The Board is by law, at- tached to the office of the Secretary of the Navy, and under his superin- tendence; discharges all the ministe-7 rial duties of that office relative to the procurement of naval stores and materials, and the construction, arma- ment, equipment and employment of vessels of war, as well as other mat- ters connected with the Naval Estab- lishment of the United States." Secretary of War, at first, had the su- perintendence of Naval Affairs. On the 30th of April, 1798, however, a separation took place, and a Navy Department was established. The Secretary of War superintends every branch of the military department; and is, by usage, a member of the cabinet. He holds his office at the will of the President. Attached to the War Department, and under the immediate direction of the Secretary, are an Engineer Office, an Ordnance . Office, an Office for the Commissary General of Subsistence, a Paymas- ter General's Office, a Surgeon Gene- The number of Clerks employed in the State Department, including those in the patent office, with three messengers, are 20-whose joint sala .. ries amount to $22,000. ral's Office, a Bounty Land Office, and a Pension Bureau. All these offices, together with the Head-Quar- ters of the Commanding General, (Major General Macomb,) and the In the Treasury Department there messenger .- 'Their joint salaries are $13,750. Adjutant General's and Quartermas-fare employed ten clerks with one. ter General's Offices, are located at Washington .- Sa ary, $6,000.

The office of Secretary of the Na- vy was created by act of the 30th of there are employed fifteen clerks with April, 1798. He issues all orders to the Navy of the United States, and superintends the concerns of the Na- In the Second. Comptroller's there are employed eight clerks, with one messenger-their joint salaries a- mount to $10,300. val Establishment generally. A Board of Navy Commissioners was instituted by act of 7th February, 1815, to aid him in the discharge of his duties. The Secretary of the Navy is, by usage, a member of the cabinet, and holds his office at the will of the President .- Salary, 86,000.

General Post Office .- This De- partment is under the superintendence joint salaries amount to $16,350.

of a Post Master General, who is aid-

In the First Comptroller's Office one messenger-whose joint salaries amount to $18,450.

In the First Auditor's Office there! are employed eleven clerks, with one messenger-whose salaries amount to $13,000.

In the Second Auditor's Office, there are employed fourteen elerks-whose

In the Third Auditor's Office.there

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ADDENDA TO THE GAZETTEER OF

are employed sixteen clerks, with one messenger-whose joint salaries a- mount to $20,600.

In the Fourth Auditor's Office there are employed fifteen clerks-whose joint salaries amount to $17,050.

In the Fifth Auditor's Office there are employed twelve clerks-whose joint salaries amount to $14,400.

In the Treasurer's Office there are employed five clerks-whose joint salaries atnount to $6,050.

In the Register's Office there are employed twenty clerks, with two messengers, whose joint salaries a- mount to $23,500.

Commissioner General of the Land Office, with a salary $3,000 .- In this office there are employed eighteen clerks, with one messenger-their joint salaries being $20,150.

In the Ordnance Department there are employed three clerks-whose salaries amount to $2,950.

'In the Surgeon General's Office, there are employed one clerk with a salary of $1,150.

In the Quartermaster General's Office there are employed two clerks -their joint salaries being $2,150.

In the Navy Department there are employed seven clerks, whose salaries amount to $9,400.

There are three Navy Commis- sioners, whose joint salaries amount to $10,500. The Secretary's salary is $2,000. In this office are employ- ed six clerks-their joint salaries amounting to $6,750-also a Drafts- man, whose salary is $1,000, and a Messenger at $700.

There are two Navy Constructors, whose salaries amount to $5,300, and

In the War Department, there are employed fifteen clerks, with one a Naval Storekeeper-at $1,700 per messenger whose joint salaries are annum. $19,850.

Besides the General Postmaster

In the Adjutant General's Office there are two Assistant Postmaster are employed two clerks-their joint salaries being $2,950.

Generals, whose salaries amount to $5,000-and in the General Post Of- In the Paymaster General's Office fice there are employed forty-four there are employed three clerks and clerks and one messenger-whose one messenger-their joint salaries Isalaries amount to 40,200. being $4,600.

Addenda to the Gazetteer of Virginia and District of Columbia.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF VA.

By an act of Assembly, 1833, the counties and towns of this state were divided into 21 Congressional Districts, in the manner following, to wit :

District Ist-Contains the counties of Norfolk, Princess Anne, Nanse- mond, borough of Norfolk, Elizabeth City, and Ise of Wight.

2d-Is composed of Sussex, Southampton, Surry, Prince George, Greensville and the town of Petersburg.

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A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 68

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry Publication date: 1835 Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278