Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-02
COOPERATION ASKED
CHAIRMAN HOPKINS WRITES TO
THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
His, Aid Desired in Connection With
the Memorial Bridge Corner
Stone Laying.

| Secretary Root has received letter from
| Col. Thomas S. Hopkins, chairman of the
| committee on the Memorial bridge of the
| G. A. r. encampment committee, in refer
| ence to the plan of having the corner stone
| of that bridge laid with fitting ceremonies,
during the national encampment of the G..
| A. r. in October next. The text Of the let
! ter follows:
April 2, 1902.
| Hon. Eiihu Root, Secretary of Wars
| Sir: The undersigned respectfully invites
your attention to the following:
The thirty-sixth national encampment of
! the Grand Army of the Republic will be
| held in this city during the week beginning
| October g. 1902
| 1t has long been the hope of the Grand
| Army that there might be erected at the
national capital a fitting memorial to the
Ealor and patriotism of the American SOL
| stimulate the patriotic instincts in the
hearts of the youth of the land.
The great leaders of our armies have been
honored at the capital by statues of marble
and granite and bronze, but we look in vain
| for single memorial to the enlisted men
| of any Of our wars. though they bore the
| heat and burden Of the day. and though
more than half a million gave I'D their
young lives for God and country.
Across the river, on the heights of Ar
| llngton, is the city Of our dead, where sleep
1000 Of the country's defenders. The
Grand Army believes that a bridge across
| the historic Potomac, from the capital city
| to Arlington, might be made fitting mon
! ument to the memory of our braye soldiers
and 1t is the earnest wish of Its members
| that such bridge be constructed
Nor is this wish confined to the members
| of the Grand Army. The Confederate Vet
Grams unite with us In asking for the
speedy commencement Of this undertaking.
which will add another link to bind to-
gether the north and the south,
Some weeks since two ex-Union and two
eX-confederate soldiers called on the Pres
ident and invoked his aid In obtaining
| from Congress a small appropriation suffi-
clent to enable the corner stone of the
bridge to be laid during the week that
the national encampment is to be in ses-
sion. They were received most courteously
and were assured Of his hearty co-opera-
ton.
1t would be a gracious thing to have
this ceremony performed in the presence
and under the auspices Of the Grand Army
of the Republic. A more fitting occasion
could not be selected. Nor does 1t admit
of delay; for 1T Is hardly possible that the
national encampment will ever be held in
! washington again. The great majority of
the comrades will, on that occasion look
for the last time on the capital which they
defended and saved and for which they
have always cherished so strong an affec-
ton.
The citizens of Washington, impressed
with the significance and Importance of
the coming event, are, through commit
tees duly appointed, making extraordinary
efforts to welcome the veterans in a man
ner BETTING the services they have rem
dered their country. The laying of the
corner stone of the memorial bridge will
be the crowning act of memorable week
Our purpose in writing you Is to ask
| that you will aid the committee. which has
been appointed for the purpose IN it's eff
forts to secure prompt action in the mat
ter.
If you deem it proper we shall be glad
to have you ask Congress to select and
adopt one of the plans submitted to that
body In your letter addressed to the Speaker
of the House Of Representatives on the
9th day Of April, 1900 and to appropriate a
sufficient sum of money to begin the work
at once.
We also ask you to take such other
steps In the premises may to you seem
right and proper in the furtherance of
the plan outlined above.
This committee will not urge Congress to
make a large appropriation. 1t will be
to insure the laying Of corner stone at
the time mentioned, for then the veterans
may return to their homes grateful and
| happy that at last they have been per-
mitted to with their own eyes the be-
| ginning of that great work which has so
| long been dear to their hearts.
Believe me, dear sir. very truly yours,
| THOS. s. HOPKINS,
Chairman of Committee on the Memorial
Bridge