Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08
Washington's Birthplace, Which Has
Been Hitherto Neglected.
EFFORTS FOR A MONUMENT.
An Appropriation Has Been Made, but It L.
In . Curious Position The Need OF q
wharf-what VIII Congress Dot

-, - a, .
49, ,,s.S y. ~
a. -, w.-..-s. :. ~ vorr,,'
". -.,, .-e.r.s o.. ~. h.n.s, =,
80 N,.I.s .,;,,;.-
schofa'ioh'' anu "'nousn
s'ePs nave been taken In mat olreouon, tns
place OF his birth Is yet entirely unmarked and
practically unknown to the vast maiority of the
c;,,zans ~ ,hs corr,,r
s.,.r., -. c .,n-;.,.d
400 non -. y a. sso oonsross 1ppiop.a.
~. .no ereeuon Vi sai'aoe Tt :
~, w .tor 80, We npinee on nU
~ ""a ~ AZ 'uc nauos ol VIZ -
~ Az, S ~ IN Snu rnS asea IN .urS M
49, az nos;t;en onoe. =, VIC amy mIu
hu;,S; nv p nd .a VI ~; .a;. no., S y. LUZ
oariS taEsn 20 er.cnta ~ III, ~ c.~.ass hn,
=. y n on S;.eAv.s ' nc. VII VI s.,r;.,.
-, .S 49, AZ =. Iii WIG =. =.
snvth;p p'' Co. - r nsn IN ~ Os H. w ~
ani.nai =; o;,..-. 1850 r. WI" ps We aI1m
colonei OF ensiheets, sisi'eo 'he homesseaa sho
ioun9 .aA' ~ was h.sny essen'la nrs' 70 nave
= hA.iuins pi"oe On 'ne lo.onac river An oroes
70 reacn .no piacs' me nonesteao covered
John r Wilson Neootiat;ona wera n,ada 18th
him for the sale of the land to the government.
and the transaction was cloeed by its purchase
for $4,000. This included right OF way for a
[ r 70 'ne ploPosea liver .snG,ns ~ ofiose
ofe0A H~iioA"s vi VIC o'o~0 i''i
ESTIMATES FOR WHARF.
Gen. Casey submitted estimates of the cost of
ga nl.in lint substantiai structure suitable for
o. a.. .-s;..-u - ....,,,o-. -
~
ne also sopmittea plans 1or wsar1 70 COSY
VI, iSo, ana SAID its erecnon wouio very mucn
facilitate the LANDING OF the materlai Ior the
proposed monument ana maserlauy lessen the
cost OF the same.
In communication to Speaker Randall mr..
M
"a, 1851, invited attention to the subject OF the
monument and said: This action by Congress
in taking measures to mark BY an appropriate
and durable monument q spot SO worthy Of our
veneration was received by the country with
universal approval, and / consider myself
happy in being charged with the execution OF
SO grateful duty. In order to be able to
carry into effect moro inteuigently the desires
Of Congress made ut the earliest practicable
moment q visit to the birthplace Of Washing
ton, 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, consider
able portion OF which still retains Its form.
THE pEsIax.
"Tbe seIection of a nroner desi0n for tb,
1890. ~. -; .,e;.aa o. -,
STRUCTURE mas sin0e reoe'eu my nos' oaroi u
ana tnougnsfui consideration. monuments
commemorative Of great and good men have
In the history of art. been Of either a triumpha
or sepulchral character. In the present case
the occasion and the object of the monument
preclude any imitation Of such examples, and
indicate that the designation Of the parental
home in which Washington was born, and the
preservation Of all that time has left Of it
should shape the architecture of the monument
The neglected birthplace OF the immediate
ancestry Of Washington, close to the home
stead, suggested the protection OF their re-
mains from further exposure and dishonor, al
d., har vyifh "a nj ~ ~
pIoPosea monumen', anu .Ils purpose - IN
tnra 1880 'A ny ~.o v, WV P'-A' "a WIG '''1'
1T am 30 fortunate as to have received in tbi
matter the advice and assistance Of q gentleman
accomplished In art and learned In the histor,
OF ar. under whose supervision careful draw
ln8s nave oeen maze Ior sucn commemora
i've puloine. 1hese plans contemplate
ouldlng OF granlte, Win nled ROOF, and
bronze tapiet bearing an ihscripuon, oronz'
doors ana windows, SO arranged with bronz'
screens mat the INFERIOR OF the oulding may d.
plainly seen from the OUTSIDE. Inc ancien
taotets ano nesostoaes, IN tneit broken condi
ton, TO be taken from the neighboring buria
ground. can Dc carefully secured In the outel
walls OF the structure:
Inc proposed puiioing would require no cart
or attention, would be In dimensions and pro
portons oignineo ana graceim ana would 81
SO constructed as TO stand for centuries. b.
exceeding S3O'VVo "ouio Dc sumclent Tor thu
structure. Inc unanlmity OF winch tne sppro
Priation Oh las' year was mace mas ALREADY
SHOWN the favorable oisposi,ion OF congress
ana gwen assurance OF us Willingness 70 turnisf
Whatever means may De required ior monu
ment whicn would, IN dignity and sentiment
comport VITO 'ne teehnes OF our people TOWARD
'ne Dlrthpiace OF !ne soidier and &tatesmai
whose neroic ana CIVIC virtues ana example are
ever present IN their minus rs an inseparabit
part OF tne glory ana strenStn OF the republic.
PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
In Nav. 1884. President Arthur sent q ma.
co... =. Con,r.ss oor,,,.rd;n,, ..ro,.h,. 80.
'ae' " ~oAe Noe "..en
ion 10 a comuuniea.ioh from Mr. frenns
huysen, Secretary OF State, recommending al
aaailionai apProprIsuon oi sp,ooo Ior the con
~ annroaoh 20 ,ha n,nnnmn,t 80 .ns s'u ~
Wakefield. In making his Recommendation
the Secretary of State says that with plain
substantial wharf, constructed and available
the cost OF erecting the monument Will b'
greauy reduced owing 70 the increased facilities
winch IL VIII anoru LOT the movement OF pmd
ing materials. Wtnout q wharf the materials
would nave 20 De nauied over very lnferio,
ROADS 1or at least SIX miles, and the cost oil
tnls long maui Will, OF course, De included IN
the cost OF constracuon. BESIDES. II the monu
men' were erecteo witnout wharf, connecting
the roadway WIN the river, II would be practi
eaiiy inaecessioie, and as congress evidently in
tended not only 10 mark the spot, but to maxi
place OF resort as well for those interested il
matters relating 70 the early history OF ou
country, most earnestly recommend the re
quiIeo appropriauoh DC MADE, and that 1t b
MADE AT once aValiaple.