IV
House Calendar No. 141
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 261
[Report No. 107–407]
Recognizing the historical significance of the Aquia sandstone quarries of
Government Island in Stafford County, Virginia, for their contributions
to the construction of the Capital of the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 11, 2001
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia (for herself, Mr. GOODE, Mr. WOLF, Mr.
SCHROCK, Mr. FORBES, Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. SCOTT, Mr.
MORAN of Virginia, Mr. CANTOR, and Mr. GOODLATTE) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources
APRIL 15, 2002
Additional sponsors: Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA and Mr. BOUCHER
APRIL 15, 2002
Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the historical significance of the Aquia sandstone
quarries of Government Island in Stafford County, Vir-
ginia, for their contributions to the construction of the
Capital of the United States.
•HRES 261 RH
Whereas the First Congress passed the Residence Act author-
izing the establishment of a Federal Capital as the seat
of Government of the new Republic;
Whereas President George Washington, acting under the au-
thority of the Residence Act, selected the present site of
the District of Columbia as the new Federal Capital and
seat of government;
Whereas President Washington, aided by then Secretary of
State Thomas Jefferson, took personal charge of the
plans for the development of the new seat of government;
Whereas President Washington decided that the public build-
ings of the new capital city should be faced in stone so
that these buildings would equal or exceed in beauty the
buildings of the established capitals of Europe and pro-
mote permanence and majesty on the Potomac;
Whereas President Washington, a boyhood resident of Staf-
ford County, Virginia, recommended that the freestone
quarries on Aquia Creek in Stafford County be purchased
by the Commissioners of Public Buildings as stone quar-
ries for the public buildings of the District of Columbia,
a recommendation acted on by Pierre L’Enfant, the plan-
ner of the new capital city;
Whereas the new quarries, later named Government Island,
became the major source of building stone for the Cap-
itol, the White House, and numerous other public build-
ings in the District of Columbia;
Whereas there exists substantial evidence of 18th and 19th
century stone cutting and quarrying techniques on Gov-
ernment Island, and this physical evidence sheds light on
a valuable and informative chapter in the development of
the United States Capital; and
•HRES 261 RH
Whereas the Board of Supervisors and residents of Stafford
County, Virginia, have undertaken action to preserve
Government Island for posterity and to make it available
for the education and enlightenment of the public: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the national historical signifi-
cance of the Aquia sandstone quarries of Govern-
ment Island in Stafford County, Virginia, for their
substantial contribution to the construction of the
new Capital of the United States under the direction
of President George Washington; and
(2) commends the Board of Supervisors and
residents of Stafford County, Virginia, for their ef-
forts to preserve Government Island and to make it
available for visitation by the public.
House Calendar No. 141
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 261
[Report No. 107–407]
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the historical significance of the Aquia
sandstone quarries of Government Island in Staf-
ford County, Virginia, for their contributions to
the construction of the Capital of the United
States.
APRIL 15, 2002
Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed