LOT #35109 |
Sold on Oct 17, 2008 for: Not Sold
Andrew Jackson Third Person Autograph Letter Signed...
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Description
President Jackson investigates how his commissioner of public buildings spent funds appropriated to improve Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, two months after he fired him
Andrew Jackson Third Person Autograph Letter Signed "The President of the U. States," one page, 5" x 6.75". [Washington, D.C.], March 8, 1834. In full, "The President of the U. States with his respects to the Register of the Treasury with the request that he furnish him with the vouchers of Mr Elgar late commissioner of the Public buildings showing the application of the $131,630, appropriated for the Pennsylvania avenue for the year 1833." By 1820, flooding from Tiber Creek which crossed Pennsylvania Avenue near 2nd Street had washed most of the avenue's gravel pavement away. On May 25, 1832, President Jackson signed into law an act which appropriated $62,000 "for improving Pennsylvania Avenue," authorizing the Commissioner of Public Buildings to contract "for improving the avenue, in the city of Washington, leading from the Capitol to the Executive Offices, by paving the centre way thereof, forty-five feet in width, with cobble or pebble stones, or with pounded stone. . . as the President of the United States may direct." On February 19, 1833, Jackson approved and signed "an act for the further improvement of Pennsylvania Avenue" which appropriated another $69,630 to alter the original plan "by causing that portion of the avenue lying between the road directed to be macadamized and the side pavements to be graduated and covered with stone. . . in place of gravel." The total appropriated by the two acts signed by President Jackson was $131,630. On December 19, 1833, Vice President Van Buren communicated to the Senate a report of Commissioner of Public Buildings Joseph Elgar which included the expenditures of 1833 for improving Pennsylvania Avenue. The next day, the House Journal published Elgar's report showing he had spent $102,579.35 of the $131,630 appropriated. On December 30, 1833, Elgar transmitted to the House the superintendent's report of the work done on Pennsylvania Avenue; it was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia. Elgar had been appointed Commissioner of Public Buildings by President James Monroe on May 13, 1822. Shortly after the superintendent's report, Jackson, evidently not pleased with his work, removed Elgar and on January 15, 1834, nominated William Noland to succeed him. On March 25, 1834, 17 days after Jackson wrote this letter to Register of the Treasury Thomas L. Smith specifically requesting vouchers showing how Elgar spent the money appropriated for improving Pennsylvania Avenue, a bill came out of the House Committee for the District of Columbia "to complete the improvements on Pennsylvania Avenue." It appropriated an additional $9,290 "to pay outstanding claims for work done on Pennsylvania Avenue. . . to finish foot pavements, entrances of tunnels or sewers and side drains. . . to repair the north end of Tiber bridge. . . to remove the dust and mud from the surface of Pennsylvania avenue. . . to keep Pennsylvania avenue in repair." President Jackson undoubtedly noticed that Elgar had not used $29,050.65 appropriated for improving Pennsylvania Avenue, yet there were still bills to pay. Mounting remnants at upper edge on verso and tape stains at upper blank edges. Darkly penned by President Jackson on pale green stationery, blind embossed in the upper left with a profile bust resembling George Washington. Fine condition.Auction Info
2008 October Grand Format Manuscripts Auction #692 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
October, 2008
17th-18th
Friday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 0
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19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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