Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-19

termed home building for many purposes
upon ground designated and donated by
Congress within the limits of said National
Rock Creek Park.
The Land Required.
We have now forty-five states. and I be-
lieve that even one acres of land would be
sufficient for each building, consequently
only forty-five acres will be required: but
taking a more liberal view of 1t and grant
ing five acres to each building. then only
two 225 acres will be used of this large
tract Of 1000 acres. The granting of the
land for this purpose will not be so much
OF a concession, because, while the title to
this property. strange to say, Is vested in
the United States for national purposes,
and the act prescribes that 1t has been &C.
quired for the people Of the United States
Congress has compelled the comparatively
few people of the District of Columbia to
pay one-half of s1,2O0,OO. the cost thereof
(note this anomaly; therefore, the people
or the United States having paid for one
half Of the park are entitled, with the
consent of Congress, to use the same and
the people of the District will not and can
not, object to such use for the purpose
herein suggested. 1t occurs to me that
without interfering with the original lnten-
ton TO use this tract of land as q rur al
park, no more valuable consideration could
De given to the people of the various states
for the money they have expended in tho
cost thereof than the allotment Of a suita-
BILE site for home building, in which could
be deposited library of the literature per-
tanning to each state, the maps thereof,
samples as far as practicable Of the pro-
auctions. pictures of scenery and points of
natural interest, photographs and pain .ings
OF prominent men, samples of minerals,
samples of wood. and, indeed a general
collection and history of everything that
interest pertaining to the various states of
the Union.
l believe that Rock Creek Park VIII not
only be greatly improved thereby but ;hat
washington city will be made eminently
more attractive, and that The education Of
the people of the country will be advanc ed
by the existence of these buildings and the
contents thereof
l feel also that the patriotism Of our peo-
pie VIII be promoted by q more Intimate
association on their part, by visiting these
buildings and observing within view not
only the home buildings of every state I'm
the Union, but by becoming thoroughly
familiar with all the various nhvsicaI
characteristic thereof by appreciating the
great advantages of each particular state
and by recognizing the necessity of Ire
serving each and every one of them to en-
able us to go on as a whole, under one
united government, toward the ACCOMPLISH
ment OF greater results than we have ever
heretofore as n nation, attained
The effect of this object lesson upon the
youth OF the country cannot. think. fail
10 De beneficial, even to such an extent as
would justify the construction of these
buildings at the cost of the United States.
but 1t is not my intention at this time to
suggest an appropriation by the United
States sufficient for this purpose. My only
desire is to urge that Congress offer a site
to each state, the title to the land and
complete jurisdiction over the same to re-
main, of course, in the United States, and
that every effort shall be made and induce
ment offered to encourage each state to be-
come sufficiently interested in this propo-
sition.
The Expense to Be Incurred.
If the suggestion herein made is worth
adoption, desire to submit my idea with
reference to the expense, which will be