The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-12

Washington is celebrating today the
100th anniversary Of the establishment Of
the seat of Government IN me District Of
Columbia
The day Is ane OF retrospection as weil
as celebration. Orators ara calling Up the
past. They are telling OF the city as it
was and as it is TO be. The last decade Of
the eighteenth century is being drawn so
clearly hat ii appears near. Historic ep-
ochs and the miles Of to;nbs that separate
then and now are swept over with q
glance ard the Washington of old seems
not so Tar away.
Upon This day have eliminated the plans
Of two years. for It vas at citizens meet
ing held in the Lehman Building, on Tues
day night, October q, 1893, that the prop
osition to celebrate the centenary of the
removal Of the American Capital from
Philadelphia to Washington took posi-
tive form.
Though it is centennial observance,
little more than q century has passed
since the event which is being commem-
grated. The transfer of the seat Of
Government from Philadelphia to wash
iagten was completed, as far as the ex-
ecutive Offices were concerned, by June Is,
1900 When the first session Of the Sixth
Congress adjourned at Philadelphia or
Nay Il, 1900. it was directed that the
second session, 10 begin on Monday, No
vember 1t, 1900, should be held at Wash
ington. though, because of the tardiness
OF members OF Congress, a quorum in
both the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives was not obtained until several
days after the time set.
Nature gave to the Centennial Day su-
perb weather. II the west during the
morning and in the east during the after
noon, the sky was hazy blend of soft
grey and winter blue. gentle wind
came out of the south and gave an easy
motion to the hags that swayed and swung
above the city's roofs and rustled the
bunting that was festooned on walls OF
brick and granite.
During the early morning there was a
Sunday stiffness upon the city, but this
slowly gave way to the murmuring OF
crowds srd the climax was reached when
bands and soldiery appeared in the streets.
Probably the earliest scenes Of activ-
ity in connection with the Centennial
were in police circles. squads of men be-
ing shifted from point to point. Prepara-
tions were also early making for roping
in the streets through which the process
sion was to pass.
At the White House
At the White House there was an air
of quiet until perhaps a little after $50.
when some of those who had received in
vitatsoHs to attend the reception given
by the President to the visiting Govern
ors began tc arrive within the grounds.
That reception began at 10 o'clock.
AT the conclusion Of this, Col. Theodore
A. Bingham, United States Army, exhi-
bited the models and drawings Of the
proposed extension Of the Executive Man
sion, and when these had been duly in
speeted, Col. Bingham delivered an ad-
dress in which he told the story of the
White House, giving its history from the
inception OF the design till today, and
garnishing his address with suggestions
as to how the building should be improved
and enlarged
Following Colonel Bingham, District
Commissioner MacfaTiand spoke OF the de-
velepment of the District of Columbia dur
ing the nineteenth century, and Leslie II.
Shaw, Governor of Iowa, spoke of the
development of the United States during
the same period. These exercises took
place in the East Room, the speakers
standing with their backs to the middle Of
the east wall and between the portraits Of
George and Martha Washington The
room was comfortably fIied with the
guests.
There was genial glow in the room,
she light Of incandescent lamps falling
through frosted glass In the gold ceiling.
This light was sharpensd by the mirrors
that sparlIled as crystal and restful tone
was given to the briIIiancy of the light,
direct and reflected. by the ferns and cro-
tons banked on the manteis and on the
broad sills of the windows, Daylight was
excluded by the heavy siiken tapestries.
When the addresses had been made the
President and Mrs. Mckinley entertained
tbs visiting Governors, the eha5rmen Of
the Centennial committees, and the mem
bers of the Senate and House Committees
on the District of Columbia at luncheon.
When this had seen concluded the time
had come for the Governors and gentenni-
al committees TO take up their positions
in the procession, the various divisions of
which had been forming at their respective
rendezvous since neon.
The Parade.
Before aoon the neighborhood Of La
fayette Square was noisy with the sound
of marching and counteEmarching men,
champing, paving horses, and many mill
tary bands. These sounds Increased in IN
tensity tin short while before the route
Of march was taRen UP. The procession
escorting the President and visiting Gov
ernors. headed by platoon Of mounted
police moved at 1:90 o'clock, the start be-
ing made at the grounds Of the Executive
Mansion. The swinging mass OF men, keep
ing step to the ringing and the booming OF
the bands moved east 70 fifteenth Street,
south to the Avenue, and thence east TO
the Capitol.
At 80 o'clock President Mckinley and
the reviewing party comprising the Cabi-
net, the Governors Of States and Terrific
ries, the chairneH Of the Centennial coz-
mittees. and distinguished guests took
their station in the reviewing stand on the
stairway Of the central building at the
east front OF the Capitol.
The procession moved through lanes OF
happy and enthusiastic people who pressed