The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-21

wss laid with great ceremony and pa
rade away out in the country on Jones'
point, south of the present lighthouse,
on April 10, 1To1. From that point, i'm
mediately afterwards the survey WAS
commenced and lines were run as di-
rected by the presidents proclamation
These lines we're marked by hewn
stone posts placed at intervals of one
mile. The posts were inscribed on the
district side with the words: 'Juris-
diction of the United States" and on
the opposite side. according to location,
were inscribed either the word Mary
land" or Virginia" On another side
appeared the authorization ''vari" for
variorum. with the number of the stone
and the date 1871 or 1872. TIE survey
was completed during the year
I7O2. The corner stone is about
two feet high and stood isolated until
the United States built the wall inclos-
ing the lighthouse. The stone was
then included in and forms part of this
wall on the south. From this stone
the surveyors located the longitudinal
and meridian center of the district
The stone marking the exact center of
the ten-rnilc square was located about
where the Washington monument now
stands
The entire population of the city of
Alexandria and the contiguous cour-
try was less than 10000 souls, and
therefore the numbers of the partici.
pants were as nothing in comparison
to what would be expected upon such
an occasion to-day; for now at least
half a million people would throng our
Streets crowd our cars, and almost
swamp our steamers. Nevertheless
the ceremony of laying the corner
stone was quite an event at that early
day There was as grand a process
sion as the sparse population of this
section of the country could muster.
Two of the newly appointed COM
missioners of the district were present.
A contemporary account states that
when Hon. Daniel Carroll and Hon.
David Stuart, district commissioners,
arrived in Alexandria on the 18th of
April, 1871, the mayor and commonal-
ty, together with the members of the
civic association, at three o'clock
waited on the commissioners at Mr..
Wise's City HOteD, where they dincd,
and, after drinking glass of wine to
the following sentiment, viz: May the
stone which we are about 70 place in
the ground remain an immovable |
monument to the wisdom and unanimi- |
ty of North America" the company
proceeded to Jones point in the follow
ing order: First, the town sergeant |
second, District Commissioner Carroll |
and the mayor; third, men and COM
mon codncil; fifth, strangers; sixth, the
master of lodge twenty-five, with Dis
trict Commissioner Stuart on his right |
and Rev. James Muir on his left;
seventh, masons in the usual form of
procession; eighth, citizens
two by two.
The master of the lodge, Commits
sioner Stuart, and others placed the
stone and it was laid in accordance
with the masonic ceremony. That
was quite in keeping with the cir
for George Washing
ton was almost as proud of his stand
ing Ill free-masonry as he was Of
his achievements in war and in states-
The masons in those days
were paramount in all civic affairs, and
did much to accelerate the
influence and standing of that order IN
the new world.
Our people were generally religiocs
in those days, and they depended
largely upon clergymen for Oratory
upon public occasions. They had TO
spelibinders, nor numerous talented
civic orators. Hence it was in ao-
cordance with the spirit of the times
that Rev. James Muir, an eloquent
Scotch clergyman, delivered the ad-
dress of the occasion. It was almost :
all in Scriptural language and the
speaker closed with the following: !
''Amiable it is for brethren to dwell
together in unity; it is more fragrant ,
than the perfumes in Aaron's garments;
it is more refreshing than the dew on
Hermon's hill. May this stone long ,
the goodness of God in ,
those uncommon events which have ,
given America a name among nations. ,
Under this stone may jealousy and self
shness be forever buried. From this ,
stone may e superstructure arise whose ,
glory, whose magniicence, whose sta .
bility, unequalcd hitherto, shall ,
the world and invite even the ,
savage of the wilderness to take shelter =
1nder its roof" I
The company pa-took Of refresh $
ments and, returning to Wise's tavern, !
frank toasts, one of which, that Of DR.. ;
E. C. Dick, has been preserved: May 5
jealousy, that green-eyed monster, be {
buried deep under the work we have ,
his day completed, never to rise again :
within the federal district" But, with :
III their toastings, fraternal desires and !,
jealousy, that green-eyed G
was not buried beneath tha; (
stone, nor was ''selfishness forever ,
buried" Those people Immediately 7
entered into scramble for choice town :
lots, for federal offices, for official pre- 5
and their descendants have $
been keeping it up ever since
SMITH d. FRY.
Wasted Opportunities. g
- |