National Republican., 1881-10-22


he caused design for the monument to be pre-
pared by Mr. Perkins, the plan Of which met with
his approval. The estimated cost Of the monu-
mcnt, according TO this PLAN was $4,000, Just the
amount which Mr. Evarts expected to have Mt his
disposal for the completion OF the work. On the
22d Of February last, Wnshingtons Birthday, the
measure was revived In the Senate and the addi-
tionol $4,000 was appropriated, with very little
opposition, and gave great satisfaction TO the
friends Of the enterprise The prospect at tho
present time for the early completion of the monu
ment IS more favorable than at any period since
the measure was projected, and may be briefly
stated as follows; The sum of $4,000 Is available
for purposes the several titles 10 the reservations
grants and roadway will doubtless be ollenatcd
to the United States at the forthcoming session OF
the Legislature ofVrginla, and the work will be
prosecuted In the spring. under the direction OF
the chem Secretary of State, whoever he may be.
Just here the question may be pertinently asked,
What shall be the character Of the contemplated
Improvements? few facts respecting Wakefield,
not embraced in any former article, may help the
reader in arriving nta proper solution OF this ques-
ton.
THE NEAREST RAILROAD STATION, BOWLING GREEN,
near Fredericksburg Is thrty.cight miles, and the
nearest landing. .placc-Wirts Landing, on Mattox
Creek--is six and half miles distant. The North
orn Neck Is an isolated locality and not easily nc
cessiblc, either by land or water. When the navi.
cation the Potomac and the Rnppahaunock Is
closed tho residents of Wakefield have no inter-
course with the outside world and rarely, II ever,
see the face OF stranger, either at home or else
where. There Is no landing. place at Wakefield.
Vessels OF light draught even cannot approach
within half amlle OF the estate, either the Poto.
mac or Pope's Greek. Produce for the Aexan-
dria and Washington markets Is shipped at Wirt's
Landing, the private roadway to which is through
the estate, and visitors to Wakefield from tho
North are landed at the same place and travel
over the same road TO reach the mansion. Visitors
from the South are landed ut point on
the Rappahnnuock which Is farther from the
birthplace than wirts Landing, on MnttoN Creek.
Congressman Harris, Of Virginia, introduced the
Joint resolution In the House In 1879, appropriat.
Ing the 5000 referred TO- II Is fair presume that
neither Mr.. Harris nor any other mcmher of Con-
gress had an accurate idea OF the location Of the
birthplace the difficulty of reaching It, nor the
condition Of the title. Mr.. Evarts was probably
equally uniformed OH these points lie could
not have understood the obstacles in the way OF
reaching the birth. place, or lie would not have
employed large Government steamer for the
purpose which could not advance within nearly
mile OF the shore The party was compelled
TO TAKE TO THE SMALL BOATS,
which stranded thirty feet from the beach, placing
them IN dilemma from which they were only re.
lieved by the carriages Of Alr. Wilson and Dr.
Writ being driven out into the water rescue them
From n somewhat careful survey of Wakefield. its
topography. and Its water surroundings 1 AM pre-
pared to state the following as some OF the i'm.
provements which should be made:
First-Thc old vault or burying ground should
be incOscd to the extent of the half acre
reserved for improvement. A suitable monument
should be placed In the centre and the Enclosure
ornamented with flowers evergrcens, shrubbery,
&c. This would be in accordance with the ex-
pectations OF Colonel Washington aud of Sir. Will
son when granting the plat to the state vi Virginia
ScCoud-ThC monument at tho birth place
should occupy tho exact spot where stood the un-
pretending farmhouse In which Washington
was born. 1t should be at least seventy. five feet
high II could then be seen for distance OF thir-
ty. miles up and down the river and from the
Maryland shore opposite. / have been informed
that the plan drawn by Mfr. Perkins contempates
n structure only twenty-five feet high Such
monument could not be seen from any point Of
land oil Of the estate, nor could 1t be sreu from
any point on the Potomac river although less
than two miles from the shore. The grounds at
the monument should be handsomely enclosed
aud laid out In walks and set out with shade trees
evcrgreens, &c.
Thitd-Proylslon should be made for easy access
TO the monument. This could he done
ny DREDGING PoPE's CREEK
from Its mouth TO the birth -place-one and half
miles-or by constructing O wharf 900 feet in
length from near the mouth of Bridges Creek to
the channel of tho river. This would enable
vessels Of heavy draught, moving up and down
the river, to land visitors at that wharf Mr.. Will
son is ready to grant q roadway from said landing
to the birth place and to the old vault the same
conditions rs those contained in the instrument
| already quoted. Unless means are provided for
| reaching the monument and old vault by water
they will not he visited by dozen persons year
Their great distance from n railroad-thirty- eight
| miles-will prevent persons from visiting them by
land. II Is to be regretted that an appropriation
| for these objects could not have been made by
| Congress; but at present the $4,000 must be ex-
pended in the erection Of the monument alone.
Perhaps few years time may change all of this.
The monument should be chaste and attractive
in its design with suitable inscriptions at its base
worthy of the great nation which thus seeks to
honor him whose birthplace 1t is designed to
mark and commemorate; the birth place o: the
illustrious Washington the great the wise, the
good; OF Washington, supreme in war, in council,
and in peace; valiant without ambition, discreet
| without fear, confident without presumption In
disaster calm; In success moderate; in all, him
self; of Washington, the hero, the patriot the
| Christian, the father of nations the friend oi
mankind; Of Washington, who, when he had won
ALL renounced all, and sought in the bosom of his
| family and of nations, retirement and In the hope
of religion Immortality, ME-,