The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Mile of Government Buildings.
The Grand Yosemite Park-A
Real Japanese Play.
Especial Correspondence

The movement TO erect government
buildings on the south side OF Penn
sylyania avenue from the treasury 70
the capitol has been revived within
the last few weeks and meets with
general favor among congressman.
Senators and representatives who are
obliged TO visit the various depart
ments In behalf OF constituents find
that II takes an immense amount Of
time and physical labor now, as the
buildings are 10 widely scattered. The
plan proposed Is for the government
to purchase the ground on the entire
south side Of Pennsylvania avenue and
to erect there n continuous chain or
magnificent new public buildings.
There are several bills before congress
providing for the erection or govern
ment buildings Since the new post
Office building has been opened this
scheme has received many advocates,
and II the bill passes for the creation
OF a new department OF commerce ana
manufactures undoubtedly the new
building will be erected on Pennsyl-
yanIa avenue. 1t Is proposed TO give
each new building a square by itself,
and thus by gradual process the one
mile between the treasury and the cap
itol will become a grand boulevard
lined with official palaces.
The Grand Yosemite Park.
"There are $4,000 acres OF the most
beautiful forests ever seen by man
within the confines OF the Yosemite,
General Grant and Sequola National
parks Of California" said Representa-
tive De Vries OF that state. THE trees
are magnificent sugar pines, some OF
them eight and ten feet in diameter.
But a large portion OF this fine timber
is held by patent In the names OF diff
ferent individuals. We are trying 10
get authority from congress to allow
these owners to relInqulsh their tracts
and 10 receive therefor scrip, emitting
the holder to select other vacant LAND
owned by the government
The Yosemite Is little understood by
the people OF the country" explained
the Californian, although II is proba-
bly more beautiful than the far famed
Yellowstone park and Is visited each
year by quite as many tourists. No
railroad has yet been built to It, but
last year | had bill passed for com
mission 10 inspect the roads and trails
I'm the park and make recommendations
for a permanent th0roughfare Ihat
commission has completed its work,
and the report is about to be printed
by direction OF the senate. shall now
ask an appropriation for n good road
through the Yosemite"
4 Real Japanese Play.
The Japanese minister lately has
treated Washington society TO novel
" In entertaining He gave two re-
ceptions at the japanese legation and
turned that house into a miniature
Japanese theater. giving his guests a
glimpse OF the dramatic world OF ia
pan and furnishing a complete ORA
matte performance by native artists
To accomplish this Mr.. Komura, the
minister, engaged company OF Jap
anese actors who are on their way to
the Paris exposition. The minister
had a stage erected at the rear or the
second drawing room OF the legation
and fixed up the first parlor as the
auditorium OF the theater. The room
was decorated in pink and white bios
SONS after the style OF Japan, and the
walls were hung with native paintings
and photographs. AS the plays were
not only Of japanese plots, but spoken
I'm that language, the host had prepar-
ed printed TRANSACTIONS. inclosed In
dainty white covers and tied with
large bows OF white satin ribbon, and
these were presented to the guests 80
they could follow the performance.
Popular Public Docs"
III you doubt the continued popu-
larity OF the horse book or the book on
the diseases OF cattle, both OF which
are published by the government you
should see some OF the requests that
come to me for copies" said Repre-
sentative Brownlow Of Tennessee, who
has introduced resolutions for the pub
lication OF 100000 copies Of each book,
200 to be allotted to senator's and
1OS. 900 to members OF the house.
81 have 1000 requests for those pop
ular publications now on hand" con-
tnued the Tennesseean, "and am In
formed that the agricultural depart
ment hasn't a single copy left My
quota of the last publication ordered
| by congress was 112 books. l receiy-
| ed 100 requests for them from one
postoffice. and there are 500 postohices
| in my district. There are many gov
eminent publications that are good for
nothing, but these books are so excel
lent that l think congress should vote
the money for them"
Too Much For Proctor.
Representative Boutell Of Chicago
made bright little speech at the Har-
ward dinner, and one Of the best things
he said was lost in the printed account
OF the affair. He followed Civil Serv-
ice Commissioner Proctor, who was
twltted q good deal In the course OF
the evening. Speaking Of the troubles
Of congressman, Mr.. Boutell said: Il
find myself constantly involved In trou-
BILE on account of the civil service com
mission. and should like to PROFOUND
this question to Mr.. Proctor: How can
I be serviceable to my constituents and
civil to the commission Mr.. Proctor
gave 1t up. CARL SchofiELp'