St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-12-19
The Week In Washington.
The Capital n Century Old.

Washington celebrated on Wednesday
the Tooth anniversary of the transfer OF
| the seat of federal government from the
| banks OF the Delaware to the banks OF
| the Potomac. All the picturesque and
varied elements which make the life OF
the capital what it is joined hands to
give imp es>iveness to series OF cere-
monies recalling the establishment OF
national authority in the waste OF
swamp and woodland which had been
| oh sen as the FEDERAL district. and signal
izing that districts painful and halting
but ultimately splendid development as
a centre OF national activity and nation
al power. Though in a certain s,nse
comm, moratii g the creation OF mum
cipalty with IN individual lite and moi
vidual interests OF ITS own, the junction
was appropriately designed to empha-
size and glorify the city's century OF pro-
gress and establishment, not as COM
munitv nourished by its own resources
and welded TO local traditions and as
sociations, hut as the seat and fountain
head of that national life with whose
enormous expansion it has kept steady
pace and whose breadth and freedom are
reflected in the spacious and beautiful
outlines which after century the teder-
al city is now barely beg,nn ng to realize.
The ceremonies which filled the day at
both ends of PennsS lvania avenue were
in the best sense simple, dlgn,tled and
effective. The president received at the
White House at 10 O'Clock the governors
of the various states and territories
which had responded to the districts
invitation to take part in the celebra-
ton. Governor Stcknev of Vermont
was represented by Adjutant General
Gilmore at this time. Colonel Bingham,
superintendent Of public buildings and
grounds. then gave an interesting ac-
count oil the plans for the enlargement OF
the Executive Mansion. A model of the
manson and proposed dltlon occu-
pied a promin' MT place in the east room
by which Colonel Bingham was able to
illustrate the Improvements and add
tions desired. OF all the records he had
been able to find OF extensions, that pre-
pared under the supervision OF Mrs
Harrison came nearest he said, to tul
filling certain guiding principles consider.
ed as Mt cessary to be followed in any de-
sign tor an extension, not only on ac-
count OF their own propriety, but to
meet the views of the great majority OF
American people. Mrs Harrison's plan,
he said, consists of buildings about the
size of the present house, one on the
east side and one on he west side OF the
White House grounds connected to the
present mansion by curved wings-the
quadrangle being completed by rebuild
ing the Conservatives at the south end
OF the grounds. This plan leaves the
present mansion unchanged.
A mill airy parade to the capitol was
followed by the formal exercises in the
hall OF the house. at which the end of the
governments first century OF occupation
was officially commemorated by the re-
present atives OF every branch OF federal
authority. In the evening, at the new
Corcoran Art gallery, reception was
held, in which the social and intellectual
interests of the capitol's Ii e found an
adequate and successful expression. The
weather was perfect tor an outdoor cele-
bration, TIE air beng clear and bracing,
but not too cold for the on.look r.
There were no crowds from distance,
but the Washington pubic enjoyed in
consequence in complete measure most
OF the sensations which come with the
greater but usually more trying and ex-
hausting excitements OF an Inauguration
Day.