Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-03-31
Arlington

What glorious opportunity of acdng to
,he beauty aud general piciuresqueaess OF
tia Capital city is presented by the green
hills and slopes, and the dense woodlands
on the opposite shore of the Potomac in the
immediate vicinity of historic Arlington
Attorney Clements brought this matter to
the attention OF Congressmen Banks, Lee,
Wise and others on Saturday at the Capitol
in practical and substantial manner, and q
bill covering his suggestions, or some OF
them, will be framed and presented 10 Con-
gress, il is said.
The government owns 1,100 acres of
ground on what ia known as the old Lee es
tate, or Arlington, as it is more Familiarity
called. OF this number only about 300 acres
are used for purely government purposes,
the remaining 500 acres being largely occu-
pied by colored people, who mainly live in
ramshacke dwellings. The latter section
lies south Of the old l. mansion and the
soldiers national cemetery. TIE 800 acres
first named are occupied by Fort Myer (tbe
cavalry post, and the cemetery whefeiD lie
the remains of hundreds Of thousands Of
Union soldiers.
Mr.. Clements proposition is to establish a
grea, Government agricultural station and
experiment farm on the 500 acres now occu-
pied By the negroes to connect this with
the nal in the vicinity Of Washington Mon
ument by means Of memorial bridge rep
resenting the cementing or reunion OF the
North ard South-or Columbus memorial
0ridge-and the construction of suitable
buildings on the farm and an immense am
phitheatre on the crest of the slope where
tae Lse mansion stands. Tne cost to the
Governmentio 10 securing theArington estate.
MIR. Clements said, footed up about $1,000
There would be but little cost attached to
the experiment station and farm project,
say those interested the ground being al
ready the properly Of the Government.
Turn it over to Secretary Rusk and let him
figure out the cost. The amphtheetre sit
ting on the crest of the green bills and the
bridge would sdd immensely to the beauty
of WashDgton's surroundings. The amphi-
theatre could be in the nature ofa memorial
hall to the nations dead, who sleep in the
surrounding city of eternity.
"The country in the section mentioned" /"
said the protector. sis much more pretty and
picturesque than Rock Creek, and affords a
delightful view of Washington, the Potomac
aud surrounding country. The Agricultural
Department officials standing at the win
ucWS Ol lC6 CSpdEtLu6up OuliuiuS COoio, WIN
the aid of glasses, see their men ct work on
the experiment farm. The soil is rich and
vel! adapted to the purpose of experiment.
log, aud the bridge would make it easy of
access"
Speaking of the general undeeirabiity of
the negro settlement being allowed to re.
main, he said that the Alexandria county
authorities cannot 60 on the reservation to
repair the roads or to preserve order when
necessary, and ss the occupants are expect
ing yearly to be evoied by Uncle Sam they
allow houses and land to go to rack. Also,
that during the smallpox epidemic in that
vicinity the patients were heavy load on
the county authorities. He said it was
veritabe Hottentot village and that
strangers would hardly believe that there
was such collection of shanties under the
very shadow of the Capitol dome.
Should the government decide to establish
ne farm and station and construct the am
pltheatre, an old law, which WAS enacted at
the request of Gen. Washington, would have
to be repealed. The law in question pro-
vdes that 10 government buildings shall be
constructed west of the Potomac river.
Gen. Banks, Representative Wise and
Gen. Lee ali express themselves favorable to
the project, and bill will no doubt soon be
introduced. d.-Wdsh. Critic