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passed the 3d of May, 1802, by which act, the appointment of the Mayor was vested in the President, yearly; and the two branches of the council, elected by the people, in a general ticket. By a supplementary act, passed May 4, 1812, the Corporation was made to consist of a Mayor, a Board of Aldermen, and a Board of Common Council; the Board of Aldermen to consist of eight members, elected for two years, to be residents of, and chosen from, each ward; the Board of Common Council to consist of twelve, three from each ward; and the Mayor by the joint ballot of the members of the two boards, to serve for one year. By a new charter, granted by Congress, on the 15th of May, 1820, it is provided, that the Mayor be elected by the people, to serve two years, from the second Monday in June; the Board of Aldermen to consist of two members from each ward, elected for two years, and are ex-officio justices of the peace for the whole county; the Board of Common Council to consist of three members from each ward, to serve one year; and every free white male citizen of the United States, of lawful age, having resided in the city one year previous to the election, being a resident of the ward in which he offers to vote, and shall have been assessed on the books of the Corporation, for the year ending on the 31st of December, preceding the election, and shall have paid all taxes legally assessed and due on personal property, when legally required to pay the same, shall be entitled to vote at any election for Mayor, or members of the two boards.

The city is, by an act of the Council, divided

into six wards, bounded as follows, viz: "All that part of the city to the westward of Fifteenth street, west, shall constitute the First ward; that part to the eastward of Fifteenth street, west, and to the westward of Tenth street, west, shall constitute the Second; that part to the eastward of Tenth street, west, to the westward of First street, west, and to the northward of E street, south, shall constitute the Third; that part to the eastward of First street, west, to the westward of Eighth street, east, and to the northward of E street, south, shall constitute the Fourth; that part to the eastward of Tenth street, west, to the westward of Fourth street, east, and to the southward of E street, south, shall constitute the Fifth; and the residue of the city shall constitute the Sixth ward."

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The number of dwellings, exclusive of public buildings and shops, was, on the 1st of January, 1822, 2229-of which, 1045 were brick, and 1184 wood; and the assessed valuation of real and personal property, on the 1st of January, 1821, was $6,668,726, affording a revenue of $32,843 63; in addition to which, there is a revenue of $10,000 arising from the licenses of taverns, hackney coaches, &c., which is appropriated to the support of the poor, of public schools and markets, and to pay the officers of the Corporation.

There is, perhaps, no city in the Union, that has so many pleasant heights adjoining it as Washington, being surrounded by them, in the shape of a horse shoe; the Potomac, of more than a mile in width, forming the opening to the South. These heights afford delightful sites for country seats, of

which there are already a number erected. The city combines, in a high degree, the requisites desirable for the metropolis of the Union. Situated at the head of tide-water navigation, near the centre of the sea-board line, and a ready communication with the ocean; springs of pure water in abundance; convenient for intercourse with every section of the republic; ample as to territory; the most beautiful situations for public and private edifices; markets not proportionably higher than those of other cities; fish in abundance; the Potomac affording astonishing quantities of shad and herring, the first from three to six dollars per hundred, and the last from one to two dollars per thousand. The weights and measures are regulated to the Maryland standard.

To correct a prevailing error, that the city has been, and continues to be, a burthen to the United States, the following statement is given, by which it will appear that this is not the case-but, that after charging the city with the expense of erecting the public buildings, originally, and their re-erection after their destruction by the enemy, there will remain a great balance in favor of the city.

Answers by the Commissioner of the Public Buildings to certain questions put to him by a Committee of Congress.

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First. The authority assumed and exercised by the Government over the 'disposition of city lots? The length of time in which it was exercised?"

Answer.The Government assumed and exer

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cised authority over the disposition of the city lots, from January, 1791, (when the appointment of the first commissioner took place,) until the present time.

The act of Congress, establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the government of the United States, passed 16th July, 1790.-That act authorized the President of the United States to appoint three commissioners, who, under his direction, were to survey and define the limits of the city: it also gave them the power to purchase or accept lands for the use of the United States, and to provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of Congress and of the President; and for the public offices of the government of the United States. For defraying the expense of such purchases and buildings, the President was authorized to accept grants of money; and Virginia did grant $120,000; and Maryland $72,000, for that purpose.

By an agreement entered into between President Washington and the original proprietors of the lands on which the city was founded, the proprietors executed deeds of trust to Thomas Beall of George and John M. Gantt, by which they conveyed all their lands, within the proposed limits, for a Federal City, to be laid out with such streets, squares, parcels, and lots, as the President of the United States should approve. The trustees were directed to convey, and did convey to the commissioners for the time being, and their successors in office, for the use of the United States, for ever, all the said streets and such of the said squares, parcels, and lots as the President should deem proper for

the United States. The residue of the lots were directed to be divided equally; one half to be assigned to the original proprietors, and the other half "to be sold at such time or times, and on such terms and conditions, as the President of the United States, for the time. being, shall direct." And the produce of the sales of the lots, when sold as aforesaid, were to be applied to the payment in money for so much of the land as might be appropriated to the use of the United States, at the rate of twenty-five pounds (or $66 2-3,) per acre, not counting the said streets as part thereof. "And the said twenty-five pounds per acre being so paid or in any other manner satisfied, that the produce of the same sales or what thereof may remain as aforesaid, in money or securities of any kind, shall be paid, assigned, transferred and delivered over to the President, for the time being, as a grant of money, and to be applied for the purposes, and according to the act of Congress aforesaid."

Second."The laying out the plans and streets of the city? The authority of Government over them?""

Answer. The plan of the City of Washington, as it has been laid out, within the district of ten miles square, was placed before congress on the 15th December, 1791, by President Washington; and the Government exercised authority over the "plan and streets" of the city until the 15th May, 1820, when the act of incorporation gave the authority to the corporate authorities of Washington. Third.-" "The amount, at all times, expended by the Government on the streets ?"

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