The Washington times., 1901-09-29
THE M'KINLEY ARCH.
A Conference Relative to the Mem
orfaI Bridge at Arlington.

| A committee consisting OF the officers
and members of the National Bridge AS
| sociation called upon Commissioner Mac
farland yesterday to set before him
the objects of the association and to ask
the cooperation OF the officials OF the
District therein. The committee was
composed of Judge Robert E. Doan,
president; Gen. Floyd King. vice presi-
dent; Capt. ]. P. W.lter, Fulton r. Cor
dan. and Capt. Hiram Buckingham
Judge Doan stated to the Commissioner
that the association which they represent
ed has been in existence some time He
stated that they had been in correspond
ence with civic organizations in all parts
| of the country and that they had received
much encouragement in their efforts to
secure the construction of the Memorial
Bridge across the Potomac River. Mr..
Doan stated that it had been their pur-
pose at first to help along the enterprise
i of building the bridge by agitating the
matter and placing such representations
! before Congress as would induce that
body to act Now. Mr.. Doan said, another
object has been added to the plans of
the association. Mr.. Doan told of a con-
| versation he had had with President Nc
Kinley before his departure for Canton
| last summer, in which the President had
| spoken of his great interest in the project
| ard had stated that he would make a
| strong plea for the bridge in his forth
coming message to Congress.
| Owing to this interest of President Nc
| Kinley in the Memorial Bridge, Mr.. Doan
said that it was now cne of the purposes
of the association to erect a Mckinley
| arch as one of the accessories of the
, bridge Mr.. Doan stated that it was the
1
missioners of the District should co-ope-
rate with them in bringing about large
mass meeting of the citizens of the Dis
| trict to discuss the matter and to con-
slider plans for the realization of the OBJ
| jects before the association.
| Commissioner Macfarland replied to the
| committee saving that he is on record as
| fayoring the construction of the Memo
! rial Bridge He thought 1t was very much
| nee ded and that it was one of the things
| whic., would most beauty the city and
| add to its grandeur He said he was
ready to aid the project in any practical
bic way. Mr.. Macfarland told the COM
mittee that. in his opinion. the building
of the bridge and of the Mckinley arch
should be separated far as the raising
of the funds was concerned.
Let Congress build the bridge" he
said 'and let the people of the United
States, by their voluntary contributions,
build the memorial arch
He though the arch should be the low
ing tribute of the people to the memory
of the late President, and that money for
its construction should be given by
them.
Commissioner Macfarland stated that
he would promise the cooperation of the
Commissioners, provided the committee
would also secure 'he activities of the
Board of Trade, the business Mems Asso-
ciation. and other organizations. The
Commissioner thought the movement
should be general, and that the meeting
should not be called until all these varied
interests were in line. In that way, he
said, there would be the best chance of
success.