The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

| powers to the association and authorizing
! subscriptions from the city of Alexandri;
and the counties OF Alexandria and Fair.
/ fax.
I Few Americans know that the Genera
Government owes to the State of Virginia
the money she advanced to build the
Capitol and the White House-yet ii is q
fact-and wrong that should be righted
In the days of national poverty old Vir-
ginia, out of her abundance, cheerfully
gave to the Union the great Northwes,
I Territory, out of which has been carved
/ an empire. and loaned 1t this money
for the public need. Now that Virginia is
poor. and has been dismembered by the
ar5itrament of the sword. and the Coy
eminent that owes her so much of its
wealth and power is rich beyond an
Aladdin's dream, it would seem but just
and honorable that this debt be paid.
Virginia. however, does not ask that this
money be returned to her for her own
needs; far from it. Actuated by that same
patriotic spirit that has ever made her
famous. she donates the entire debt, prin-
cipai and interest. 20 the use of the ma
ton. by giving it to the Mount Vernon
Avenue Association, for the purpose of
building this Appian Way between the
Capitol and the Mecca OF America. AS
the debt now is sufficient TO pay the en-
tire expense of building the avenue, the
Government would not be called on to
pay penny of the cost of this great work
further than to pay debt Justly due for
money loaned.
Bill to Pay Virginia.
There is pending a bill before Congress
at this time to pay the money, and it
should pass. especially as the Government
and not Virginia would be the beneficiary.
In his very elaborate and exhaustive Of
fetal report to Secretary OF War Proctor
Col. Peter C. Hams makes the following
statement:
There are points of interest along all
the routes. Fort Myer and the National
Cemetery at Arlington are near by. The
old town of Alexandria. near which any
route must pass. abounds In objects that
were associated with the Father of His
Country, while many of the hills are even
yet occupied by the remains OF old earth
en- forts built during the. war for the
Union.
In order to determine the kind of road
way that is called for in the act the ques-
ton occurs: What is its object? Ii is not
for commerce. 1t has not military value
1t does not partake of the nature of an
ordinary work OF internal improvement
1t is true it would be of great value TO
the section of the country through which
II would pass, but TO the nation 1t has no
pecuniary value. What, then, is the OBJ
iect? 1t is to commemorate the virtues
of the grandest character in American
history. 1t is to satisfy the craving of a
patriotic sentiment that fills the hearts of
the American people to honor the name of
Washington.
Whatever tends TO keep alive the
of his character and virtues tends
to make US all better citizens of the Re-
public. A road, therefore, built from the
Capital OF the Nation to the tomb of its
founder would not be such as is built for
ordinary traffic. 1t should have the char
acter of monumental structure, such as
would comport with the dignity of this
great nation in such an undertaking, and
the grandeur of the character of the man
10 whom IL IL dedicated. The question of