1George Washington to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 9 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your letter of Sep. 5 . and in consequence thereof have authorised Mr. David Ross of Bladensburg, and Colo. Robert Townshend Hooe of Alexandria, to examine the accounts and vouchers of the expenditure of the monies appropriated to your trust as Commissioners of the public buildings of the federal territory, and to certify to me the result. Dft ( DLC : Washington Papers);...
2From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 15 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
By this day’s post I have the honour to return the drawings of the Capitol which had been left here in order to have an estimate made; I send also that estimate, together with the rates of the different work, as made by a skilful workman here. The sum total it is supposed will enable you to form some idea of the whole cost of your building, as there is a tolerably well-known proportion between...
3Enclosure: Thomas Carstairs’s Estimate of the Cost of Masonry for the Capitol, [ca. 15 August 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of the President of the United States, and the Honble. Thomas Jefferson, the subscriber has measured and estimated the cut stone and Ruble work of a Capitol as seen in the plan and one elevation hereto annexed at the Philadelphia rates, viz. Cut Stone round building including 24¾ Columns and 2. pelestars £ 37278.13.0 Setting Do. & building rough Stone work 14705. 0.0 Rough...
4George Washington to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 31 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had under consideration Mr. Hallet’s plans for the capitol , which undoubtedly have a great deal of merit. Doctor Thornton has also given me a view of his. These last come forward under some very advantageous circumstances. The grandeur, simplicity, and beauty of the exterior, the propriety with which the apartments are distributed, and economy in the mass of the whole structure, will I...
5George Washington to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 31 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The regular course which the affairs of the Federal city are likely to move in by the appointment of a Superintendant, who may relieve you from details, and from all sacrifices of time except your periodical meetings, enables me now to proceed, on more certain grounds to the subject of compensation. That a proper compensation should be made you must undoubtedly be the public expectation as...
6From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 15 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President, thinking it would be better that the outlines at least of the city and perhaps of Georgetown should be laid down in the plat of the Territory, I have the honor now to send it, and to desire that Mr. Ellicot may do it as soon as convenient that it may be returned in time to be laid before Congress. I have the honor to be with perfect esteem, Gentlemen your most obedt & most...
7From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 23 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Thinking it best that you should receive all possible information on the subject of procuring workmen, in order that you may avail yourselves of such parts of it as circumstances render eligible, I have the honor to mention to you that in a conversation with Mr. Pierpoint Edwards and Colo. Wadsworth of Connecticut, they informed me that any number of house carpenters may be got in that state...
8From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 17 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing that there was a Mason here (Traquair) who was in the practice of importing workmen in his own line from Edinburgh, I took occasion to enquire of him whether it might not be possible for you to have some imported thro the means of his correspondent, whom he represented as having both address and zeal to forward his countrymen to this country to which he means after some time to come...
9From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 13 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have according to the desire expressed in your letter of the 5th. inst. examined the model of Mr. Mullikin’s mill for sawing and polishing stone, lodged in my office. It is always an objection that a thing is new and untried. His method of giving motion backwards and forwards to a sawframe by a spiral plane is ingenious: but I confess it does not appear promising to me. It is certainly...
10Enclosure: Drawing of a Mill for Sawing and Polishing Stone, 13 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
PrC ( MHi ); entirely in TJ’s hand.