Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-11-27
AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISE R
MOUNT VERNON AVENUE.

The New York Sun of today, in re-
ferring to the Proposed Mount Vernon
Avenue, says: "The beginning OF the
ooh century will witness the constrnc-
ton of national boulevard, which,
when completed. will connect WASH
ington and Mount Vernon" The sun
then proceeds to give history OF the
conception of the avenue and the pres
ent prospects TOR its construction, ana
farther on says: "The Mount Vernon
Avenue Association recently met in A.
exwndria and elected board OF direct
ors, VINO resolved to resume this WORK
as soon as the hoard elects officers, earl y
in 1900. The Washington end OF this
highway will be the western entrance
of the c .pitol building. The line Will
run through the Mail. south OF the
White House, and near the monument
to the Potomac at the western terminus
of New York avenue. II will cross the
Potomac over the proposed memorisi
bridge which will unite toe Capltol
with Arlington, the home of Lee, and
now the Arlington National Cemetery:
Ga the Virginia shore the boulevard
will follow the course of the Potomac TO
Alexandris, and from thence 20 Mount
Vernon on the exact line over which
Washington travelled from his home 10
alexandria when he attended Christ
Church in that city, and in whicn hls
highback pew ia still pointed out to
tourists. When this boulevard 10 COM
pleted ia accordance with the proposed
plans it will belong TO the nation. The
distance of this highway will be seven
teen miles, the width two hundred ano
6f.y feet. This distance will ba suit
divided into as many sections as there
are States and Territories. Each OF
these sections will be- named for q State
or Territory, aud such State or Terri
tory to be honored will be asked TO COL
tribute to the beauty Of the Boulevard
IN whatever manner shall be decide O
upon by legislative enactment. Wnat'
ever trees or shrubs are planned slous
any reservation will be taken from The
soil OF the State the name of which is
applied to the reservation. II there
snail be- monuments, or columns, OF
| arches, as there will be probably in the
| course of time, they will be constructed
from material taken from the mines OF
quarries Of States and Territories Lon-
ored by having sections named toi
them. l. has been suggested that
each State shall erect statue Of
its most distinguished citizen. Toe
Traveller over this highway will thus inc
III d short distance mute history O
the United States, given him in shor'
journey a conception of the scope O.
the country which he could OBTAIN IL
no other Wey without time and expense.
1t will be an avenue of the story Of the
country. The possibilities 9th beauty
of such highway can scarcely be com
puted. Since it has become known
that the work is to pushed, suggestions
multiply daily. OOe is that monu-
ment shall follow the completion of The
boulevard proper, in the corner o
which shall be placed the name ofevery
man employed 10 the highways COZ
structioD. Another is that midway
there shall be plaza, in the
centre of which shall be erected
a temple dedicated to the Presidents
and vice presidents of the country. il
ghico will be placed statue of each
One of the suggestions proposes Pan.
theon somewhere along the line, in
which shall be- gathered the remains OF
each president. This plan provides that
each succeeding president shall fnd
sepuute here when his life's work i:
done. The suggestion to have statues
of the military and naval heroes group-
| ed in temple constructed upon 6elO
to contain reproductions of all the ap-
oliances of warfare in the history OF this
country is being discussed. There have
been suggestions from those favorable
to the idea of expansion that somewhere
along the route there shall be some
thing-no5 yet defned-which will con
vey to the mind of the citizen of other
years the effort of This government to
civilize and elevate the peoples of the
colonial possessions.