The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-09
NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE
The Sons of Veterans Interested in
the Enterprise.
An Offer of Land for the Institution
the Heights Near ArItn gton.
Next M0nth-Interest In the Prof.
ect-Mason City Seeks the Prize.

An enterprise which may result in the
establishment near Washington of the
largest military college in the United
States is under way among the members of
the National Association of Sons of Vete-
rams.
It is the intention of the organization to
establish a National Military College as a
memorial to the veterans of the War of the
Rebellion. Not until the last year has the
plan attracted widespread attention.
Committees have been appointed to So
licit funds and assistance from local camps
throughout the country, and the enthusi-
asm that the plan has awakened makes the
establishment of the institution almost a
certainty. Liberal contributions have been
received from many States and promises of
assistance from others have been given.
The question of location has not as yet
been decided At the annual meeting Of
the National Commandery at Syracuse N
Y. next month the location viii be chosen.
Local camps in and about Washington
are making every EFFORT to have a site
near OR within the District chosen. They
argue that the Capital of the United States
would be the proper place for an enter
historical associations and its proximity
to the great battlefeIds of the civil war
are all points upon which particular stress
is laid. In addition TO this there have
been arrangements made whereby the
Washington camps may tender to the ma
tional organization. free OF cost. beauti-
fui site for the college.
Mr.. Frank Hume has made an offer TO
deed to the association. as a site for the
college, fifty acres of land OF land on Gar
field Heights, south of Arlington. This
property. valued at $4,000 will. it is
thought have quite an effect on the de-
cision of the committee On location.
1t is thought that property adjoining that
on Garfield Heights already promised can
be secured. Inasmuch as land there is
valued at 81, 600 an acre. the cost of To-
eating a college there would be lessened
to a considerable extent by the donation.
There seems to be considerable rivalry
for the location of the proposed college
Mason City, Iowa, is one of the strongest
bidders The Commercial Club of that
city is working hard and have made sub
stantial offers Of land to the National Com
mandery.
The District Commissioners have been
consulted. and they will undoubtedly use
their influence to secure the prize for
Washington. Col. G. A. Whitmore, Past
Commander Of the Maryland Division of
Sons or veterans, Wnlcn includes MARY
land, Delaware Virginia and the District
Of Columbia, is an active worker in the
interests OF the local camps.
The assistance OF the Board of Trade and
the business Mems Association has been
asked No official answer has as yet been
secured but there is no doubt of the SYM
pathy the business public has with the
movement.
1t is proposed in addition to the regular
ap1I- hull IN cF1Ia cfi
fee to be used as a national war mu-
scum. in which will be preserved many
valuable relics OF the civil war. There is
no national museum Of this kind at pres
ent. and many relics. invaluable from a
historical point of view, are stored away
in private and small public museums from
which they may be easily lost.
A number of fine scholarships viii be
established for soldiers orphans, Promi-
nent public men. G. A. r. veterans, and
others all over the country are being in
terested in the movement.