Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-05-18
Anr ~ rnt pisrnIc1 orwoLumnIA.
Prepared b. Capt. v. q. Adams for the Bu-
reun Of National Education,


Prepared b. CAPT. n. q. ADAMS for the Bu-
reun Of National Education.
rRrvATv atIIERIBs iN rHE CRY
Tho moro We can cmbcllish and make
Washington attractive, the deeper will bc the
interest taken IN Il by the whole country.
As nation wn have Increased 30 rapidly w
wealth and power, have 80 far exceeded any.
thing the world ever saw before In mental and
material Development, and ~ people have
become 20 engaged In the race for riches ass
almost 10 forget our duty 10 art, scionco and
literature, 10 which we are Indebted for so
much that has mnde us great and powerful,
great nation Ike ours, then, should have
capital city worthy Of representing Il, and In
which all the beauties art, science and lltsra-
ture arc capableof Developing might be found,
for the instruction and entertainment Of the
whole people. And vet Washington presents
only thc crude beginning Of what we intend 10
do hereafter. We have our magnificent and
costly public baildings, but singular as II may
seem TO strangers from abroad, We have not
an art gallery or museum. Wehavc only one
building dedicated 10 ART, and for that even
arc indebted to the munlhccnco Of priyntc
citizen, who erected Il at a cost Of Gi0O 600
or thcTeRbouts, and intended II o. gift to
the city and for the benefit Of tho people.
Art has always found warm friends and gem
croue patrons In Washington. The taste for
u has been steadily improving and itsinfuencO
Increasing, until nowso Of Us more wealthy
citizens may he numbered with the best pa
irons American art has. Mr.. w. W. Cor
C0rnn, Mr.. q. w. Rigga, and Mr.. Charles
KNAPP have each valuable and well-selcctcd
collections Of pictures, among which are to be
found some Of the very bcst specimens Of the
enlargement these gentlemen have given to
American art, and the correct Judgment they
have shown In the selection of works, offer
examples II might be profitable for the Gov
crnment to follow.
There stands on the corner Of Pennsylvania
avenue and Seventeenth street spacious and
chasteiy designed brown BODYBUILDING, which
geoms to form moro than ordinary attrac-
tipn TO strangers, and bears the significant In
scnptlon; Dedicated to Art You instinct
lively feel, while looking at the building, that
art will find pleasant and appropriate home
~ H. This building, 10 which we have re-
ierrcd above, was erected by Mr.. w. W. Cor
coran, who intended to transfer his valuable
collection Of pictures, rtatuary, and other
works Of art % H. and present II TO the city
for the benefit Of tho people. Unfortunately
the war intcrposed 10 prevent the carrying
out Of this worthy purpose. Instead of be-
coming tho home 81 art, and dihusing Its
kindly influences over society, the building
was taken possession Of by the Government
and transferred TO the Quartormastcr General,
who has occupied II ever since. .,...
As Mr.. Corcoran Intended to confer ben
eft on the people, and TO do for the city what
should have been done by the Government II
l. 10 be hoped that those In authority will sec
the wisdom Of giving tho building up to liz
owner as speedily rs posslble, so that u may
be devoted 10 tho benevolent purpose he de-
signed Il for. The good such an Institution as
this would have conferred on q city like Wash
lngton cannot be too highly estimated. We
are informed that among other things, II was
the intention Of the owner 70 have q yearly or
scmi-ycarly exhibition Of pictures by Amcr-
can artists, and 10 which artists all over the
country would be invited TO contribute. Ex-
hibtiOns like these, ut tho capital OF the ma
ton, where persons Of taste, wealth and cdu-
cation from all parts Of the country assemble
during winter for entertainment and fnstruc-
aion, would be Of great benefit % artists and
the art iniercsts OF The country. They would
give 10 such artists as had only local gen
cral and extended reputation.
We believe also that II was tho intention Of
Mr. Corcoran 20 Ustabllsh, In connection with
this building schOols Of art, In which drawing.
painting, and sculpture would be taught free.
When we recollect how much good has been
derived by tho people Of France and England
through these and Elmilnr schools, and what
they have done for the skIlod industry uf
these countries, We cannot too highly appro-
cintc the MOTIVE which prompted the act.
TuE ECONOMY OF our GOVERNMENT, IN ITS
ENCOURAGEMENT OF ART ASD SCIENCE, As
COMPARED wrTn THOSE or FRANCE ASp
ENGLAND. ...r... ......
The Charge 90 frequently made in this
country against CongresH, OF eXtrnvagancc In
spending the peoples money for pictures and
Ntatnary, have but u very slight foundation 10
stand upon. Most of them arc made by per-
sons who give but little attention to the sub
jccL, and very likely could not be made to
appreciate the power art and scionco exercise
IN stimulating and expanding our industrial
enterprises, Th0so who VIII take the trouble
10 compare the estimates (govcrnmon) for
the United States France and England for a
single year win sec at glance how lncon-
The estimates Tor The Capitol, made for the
session Of 1878, arc ID follOws
Appropriated March ., 1867;
Rur continuing work at the Capitol oHtcuso. t1lnoo
For minor rupalrr l9asO
Fqr hesting the Supreme Court runn by steam
law hbrary and the pAssagns and stairHays adj
iaoonb tho court -rootn, and for othor Improve -
tnents and repair OF said cur room lip0
Tor rupalrs q the dome o. the Capitol lb0D
For casual repairs Of al the furnaces under tho
For sSiias lie ro,saa 81 Inc 6spiG b sic
Fsr sisht additional SaS,cec oSG,nn;.... i
er ,sniila.lnE arRsisa.ss n Pno
work on the CaritJa sEtoh ,aca. -,
Appropriated ] July %, lso ,, ,,,Ou.Op,. w.
For t.raIripr and Al ,,ninE Capitol -
F0r W6rk on Tho nos \ apme. :, y sf,o