Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-22
TO MARK THE SPOT.
THE MONUMENT AT WASH
AINGTON'S BIRTHPLACE.
Roadway and Wharf Needed at
Notwithstanding Let
ter from Mr.. Evarts.

Ou tuc lftH VI vuuc, 1910, UNIV
resolution passed by Congress was APP
proved, directing o monument to DO
erected to mark the birthplace OF
George Washington, and appropriating
$1,000 for the purpose. On the 26th OF
February, 1881, joint resolution OF
Congress was approved, amending the
former resolution and appropriating
$4,000 for the purpose OF erecting the
monument, with promise that no part
of the sum appropriated should be ex-
pended unit, the Secretary Of State
should be satisfied with the title to the
land to be occupied by the monument,
and the securement OF public right OF
way thereto.
WHARF AND ROADWAY.
On the 14th of May, 1884, President
Arthur transmitted to the House OF
Representatives q communication from
Hon. Frederick L. Freylinghuysen,
Secretary of State, recommending an
additional appropriation of $4,000 for
the construction OF wharf and roadway
as a means Of approach to the monu-
ment proposed to be erected at Wake
field, Westmoreland county, Va, to
mark the birthplace Of George Wash
ington. This letter of the Secretary OF
State was commended by the Presi-
dent To the favorable consideration OF
Congress The Secretary in his COM
munication submits copies OF CORE
spondence between the State Depart
ment and committees of the House and
Senate, and between the Secretary OF
State and Colonel Thomas l.. Casey, of
the Engineer Corps, United States Army,
relating to the proposed erection OF the
monument The Secretary recommends
that the additional sum Of $4,000 be ap-
propriated for the construction OF a
wharf and in improving the roadway to
the birth site. The Secretary suggests
that with a plain, substantial wharf
constructed and available the cost
of erecting the monument will
be greatly reduced. Owing to
the increased facilities it will afford
for the movement of building materials,
he further states that without the
wharf the materials would have to be
hauled over very inferior roads for
about six miles, and the cost OF tlls
long haul would be included In the cost
OF construction. He further states that
if the monument were erected without a
wharf connecting the roadway with the
river it would be practically inaccessible,
and that as Congress evidently intended
not only to mark the spot, "but to make
it place OF resort % well for those IN
terested III matters relating to the early
history of our country" he earnestly
recommends that the required appro-
priation be made and at once available.
CHARACTER OF THE MONUMENT.
On the oath of May, 1880, the Hon.
William NJ. Evarts, Secretary of State,
addressed a letter to the Hon. Samuel h.
Randall, chairman of the Appropriation
Committee of the House of Representa-
tives, as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON. May q, 1850.
"Sir.-I have the honor TO invite
your attention to the subject OF the |
erection of monument to mark the |
birthplace of Washington, for which an
appropriation OF $1,000 was made by
Joint resolution of Congress, approved
June Ia, 1879. BY the terms Of this
resolution the expenditure OF the appro-
priation and the control OF the erection
of suitable monument were entrusted
to the Secretary of State.
This action by Congress i'll taking
measures to mark by an appropriate and
durable monument spot so worthy OF
our veneration Was received by the
country with universal approval, and |
a, in EaInn a q
with the execution OF 80 grateful duty.
In order to be able to carry into effect
more intelIlgently the desires OF Con
Rress | made at the earliest practicable
moment n visit to the birthplace OF
Washington in Westmoreland county, |
in the State of Virginia. | found that
all which now remains Of the house IN
which Washington, was born Is a ruined
hearthstone and chimney, a considerable
portion Of which still maintains its
form.
1.-The selection Of q proper design for |
the structure has since received my most
careful and thoughtful consideration.
Monuments commemorative OF great |
and good men have III the history OF
art been Of either a triumphal or sepul-
chral character. In the present case,
the occasion and the object of the monu-
ment preclude any imitation OF such ex-
amples. and indicate that the designa-
ton OF the parental home in which Wash
ington was born and the preservation of
all that time has left of it should shape |
the architecture of the monument
1.-The neglected birthplace of the inn
mediate ancestry of Washington close to |
the homestead suggested the protection |
of their remains from further exposure |
and dishonor as in harmony with the
reverential spirit of the proposed monu-
ment, and this purpose is included in
my choice of the plans of the structure.
1.-The unanimity with which the APP
preparation of last year was made has al
ready shown the favorable disposition of
Congress, and gives assurance of its will
ingness to furnish whatever means may
be required for monument, which
would, in dignity and sentiment, COM
port with the feelings of our people to-
ward the birthplace of the soldier and
statesman whose heroic and civic viz
tues and example are ever present III
their minds as an inseparable part of the
glory and strength of the republic.
81 have the honor 10 be, Sir, your
obedient servant,
WILLIAM NJ. EyARTs."
ESTIMATE OF COST.
Colonel Thomas Lincoln Casey, OF the
corps OF engineers, addressed a letter to
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, Secretary of State,
dated April Is, 1884, making estimates
for various kinds of wharfs and for
cast-iron pile wharf he submits an esti-
mate with cost Of 81, 403.62.
NO FURTHER ACTION.
For reasons which your correspondent |
does not understand no further action |
was taken until the last session Of Con.
gress, when Mr.. Daniel introduced re-
solution in the Senate authorizing the |
Secretary of State TO use so much of the
money appropriated for the monument
as was by him deemed necessary to build
cast-iron wharf leading to the roadway
to the monument This involved no
new or additional appropriation. but
simply proposed to utilize part Of the
appropriation already made to begin the
work IN the proper way. This vas re-