The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1900-03-30
THE CAPITOL wHEN FIRST OCCUPIED.


THE CAPITOL WHEN FIRST OCCUPIED.
brate the one huhdredth anniversary
OF the establishment OF the national
capital here. The celebration will not
take place until next December, but
considerable time will be required TO
make the occasion such as will be sat
isfying To the people OF the country as
well as To the citizens OF Washington,
and the preliminary preparations have
been under way for some time.
In February, 1890. congress passed
and the president approved an act pro-
Yidlng for the appointment OF n COM
mittee To represent the country NJ large
In the proposed anniversary celebra-
ton. Under the authority contained
in this act ana in conformity with his
expressed idea. concurred in by the To-
cal committee. the president appointed
on Nov. d. 1890. the governor or each
state and territory as member OF the
committee ut large. IL Is, OF course,
understood that the greater part Of the
work in connection with the celebra-
ton will fall 10 the local committee,
and the limited attendance OF govern
Ors at the recent meeting OF the com
mittees Indicated that they So under
stand IL. However. In arranging the
programme opportunity will he given
for each state and territory 10 partici-
pate I'm the celebration, and undoubted-
" most of them viii be represented.
So much of the plan Of celebration as
was agreed upon at the recent session
indicates that il Is the Intention Of the
committee To make the affair an elabO-
rate one. Both branches OF congress
will participate, there will Ice militia
ry and naval parade during the after
noon. AMI the celehation will close at
night with a grand reception and ball
IL is also expected that the exercises
will include initiatory ceremonies in
connection with the memorial bridge
which is intended 10 connect the city
with the national cemetery 1T Airing
tom.
The fact that there was centennial
celebration In Washington In 1873 has
occaSiuned some doubt in the public
mind about the actual date of the es-
adjustment of the seat of government
i'm this city. The facts in the matter
are that the permanent seat of tie fed
rral government was fixed on the Po-
tunac 10y an act Of congress passed
July lei. 1870. Ia lT9l the site was Sc
lrcI,d 10y President Washington ami
commissioners were appointed to lay
out the city. The government was cs-
tabliShcd here in lSOO. hut the author
a. La IL
ana tile committee has had tu adopt Il
sort OF compromise. The cornerstone
of tile capitol WAS laid in September,
lI.r;. AMI il was i'm Cummcmoration Of
this event that the celebration OF lS!Ii
WAS held. IL appears that during the
year 1900 the archives were being
moved To Washington. AMI thee were
several dates haVin. some interest coy
ering a period from May Ia December.
Congress decided that il should AS
sumo, ,harg, and direction Of this ter
ritnry at its meeting in December,
1Suu. The first meeting uf congress.
however was an extra session which
met here i'm November. 1904. ana no
special Significance appears Ia have
hrru attached Ia that meeting. The
committee having this years cclchra-
ton in charge il ~ the opinion that. III
aSmuch ~ there are - many dates
from which Ia choose. that date should
Lee chosen which would meet most ful-
IL all the objects to lee attained. II
was agreed that il was essential that
il should Ice al II time whcn congress
was in session. and the committee
deemed II wise Ia make IL sufficiently
remote To allow ample time for prepa.
ration; hence December WAS selected.
Ii is both Interesting ana appropriate
at this time 10 recall something IF the
history OF the early days Of Washing
ton, for, while the schoolhooks. historic
and other witnesses IN the field OF lit
erature contain full records, yet the
people are probably not 50 familiar
with IL as not 10 read with interest al
that may be written about IL. Ii il