Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-11-20
MOUNT VERNON AVENUE ASSO
CATION.

nue Association was held on Saturday
at the Office OF Mr.. M. B. Harlow, one
of the old directors, who was also elect
ed member of the new board. An ef-
fort will be made to secure an appro-
priation from Congress to begin before
the close of the present century tho
construction of the proposed grand ma
tional boulevard, from Washington to
Mount Vernon.
The idea of constructing this avenue
was first suggested by City Treasurer
Nj. B. Harlow in 1856.
In 1887 meeting Of the citizens of
WASHINGTON, Alexandria city and coun.
ty, and Fairfax county was held in this
city, and an organization was effected,
known as the Mount Vernon Avenue
Association, which was chartered by
the legislature of Virginia February l.,
1883 AS further evidence of the
great interest manifested by Virginia
in this project, March 5, 1855, the leg.
islsture transferred to this association
claim held by the State against the
general government for S120,000, which
sum was advanced by the State of Vir-
gioia in 1890, and used by the govern.
ment in the construction of the first
public buildings erected at Washington.
In 1889 an appropriation of $4,000
was voted by Congress for the purpose
of making surveys, ascertaing the cost
and the feasibility of the governments
endorsement of the proposed memorial
highway. Col. Peter G. Hams was de-
tailed by the Secretary of War to make
the necessary surveys, After COM
pletipg his work, Colonel Hains, in
submitting his report, highly endorsed
the carrying out the proposition OF
the Mount Vernon Avenue Association.
Secretary Endicott, in his report TO
Congress on the subject, also endorsed
the matter. This report was presented
to Congress in 1890, but no definite &C.
ton was taken by that body looking to
the construction OF the memorial high
way.
The report of the Secretary of War
was that the minimum cost of the high
way would he 81 200, 900. aud the maxi
mum s2,0OOOOO. This provided four
the building OF the graudest boulevard
in the world, communicating at the
south end of the proposed memorial
bridge (across the Potomac from New
York avenue to Arlington thence to
Alexandra, and across Hunting Creek,
a branch of the Potomac, on q pro-
posed memorial bridge to be construc,-
ed in honor of Lafay cite, De Kalb, Ro.
chsmbeau. and other foreign officials
who aided the United States revolution.
ary war; then from the south end oil
this structure to the tomb of Washing
ton at Mount Vernon.
The distance is seventeen miles, which
it is proposed to subdivide into as many
reservations as there are States and ter
ritories, naming the reservations after
the States and territories respectively
allotted. go
The boulevard is;intended to b 25O
fset wide, the roadway occupying sixty
feet. the residue to be utilized in plant l.
ing trees, shrubbery, plants and flo@erS,
native to the States; also erecting s'atu'-
in brooze and marble to their LIST -
pushed citizens whom they may desire
to honor.
| It will be seen that ample ground is
provided to carry out the idea OF the as
sociatiop. which is intended 10 he a
combination of the Apian way 10 Rome
| and Westminster Abbey ir Loudon.
Since the report of Colonel Hams
to Congress, the Mount Vernon
Avenue Association has continu
cd actively endeavoring 20 secure
an appropriation for the com
mencement of the work. At each ses'
sion of Congress since the matter was
| first presented the association has mao
| introduced a bill for an Appropriation
for the proposed work.
One of the most enthusiastic aovo'
Gates in Congress of the project was the
late Senator Leland Stanford. OF Cali
fornia. who was chairman of the com
mittee to whom the bill was referred.
He stated in COMMITTEES that he favor.
ed the construction OF the bouieVaro
| by the government "no matter Wnas IL
cost as the American people can never
do too much to honor the name Of
Washington" -. c.,
The association has during the tlrs'
nine wears steadily worked to accom-
plish the object for which it was or.
ganizsd and now that the CONSTRUCTOR
of the proposed memorial bridge acros:
the Potomac appears to be an assured
fact renewed efforts will be made te
secure the necessary appropriation fol
tho construction of Mount Vernon ave-