Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
SHEPHERD MEMORIAL
AN APPEAL By THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
Signed by the Subcommittee of Fifteen
Reasons for Honoring the
Late Governor.

An address to the people Of the District
of Columbia, setting forth the general de-
sire for the erection OF a suitable memorial
to the memory Of Alexander r. Shepherd.
and the plan by which this memorial is to
be provided, was formulated and approved
yesterday afternoon at a meeting Of the
executive committee of fifteen Of the me-
mortal fund finance committee. The meet
ing was held in the ONCE of Mr. Theodore
w. Noyes. and besides the issuance OF the
address, Chairman Warner of the commit
tee was authorized to appoint such subcom-
mittees as might be necessary to carry on
the work. Subscription books for the record
ing OF sums given for the memorial were
also authorised to be issued by Chairman
Warner.
The address. which will be printed and
freely circulated, reads as follows:
"A suitable memorial should be erected
to the memory Of Alexander R. Shepherd,
to show appreciation by the living Of the
illustrious dead.
In 1859. when but thirty-four years OF
age, having previously served as a mem
Der Of the common council and board of
aldermen Of the city OF Washington. he
city worthy Of being in fact. as well as in
name. the capital Of the nation.
He consulted few friends, with the
result that IN January, 1870, committee
auspices OF which the act Of Congress of
February. 1871. was prepared, and its pas
sage procured. This act abolished the
three municipal bodies governing the Dis
trict Of Columbia and consolidated the
government OF the District under a gov
ernor. legislative assembly and a board of
public works, and secured for the District
a delegate to Congress. Shepherd was first
made vice president oc the board Of public
works, and Its executive officer. and after
ward, In 1873, was appointed governor Of
tina District.
AT the time of the passage Of the act,
the city was in every way in deplorable
condition. Its population was but lit
tie over 100000, and agitation for the re-
moVal OF the capital was rife. In three
years the board Of public works. under
the initiative and guidance of Shepherd.
and in the face of vigorous and weighty
opposition. performed a work of such
marvellous magnitude in the way of pub
lie Improvements as to re-create the city
cause all agitation for the removal of the
capital to cease, and make possible the
new Washington of today. In these three
brief years. under the controlling genius of
this man, public works were accomplished
of such magnitude under ordinary cir
cumstances would have required at least
half a century.
"A native of Washington. and it's greatest
benefactor he sacrificed his private fortune
in promoting the public good, and on the
eve of returning to his home to spend the
remainder of his days in merited respect
and honor died foreign soil:
The residents of this District ought to
perpetuate his memory by the erection of
permanent memorial worthy of the man
and worthy of the nations capital. The
committee heretofore appointed. therefore,
earnestly appeals to all such residents to
aid in the work by sending to Crosby s.
Noyes, chairman, or Charles ]. Bell treas
urer, such subscription as they may desire
to make and thereby render unnecessary
any general or prolonged canvass for funds.
1T Is the hope and belief of the commit
tee that In recognition of the incalculabe
services Of Governor Shepherd to the Dis
trict of Columbia promptness and gener-
osity will characterize the response to the
committees appeal
The signatures Of the committee Of fif-
teen were affixed to the address as follows:
B. H. Warner. chairman; Franklin T.
Howe, MD, secretary: II. B. F. Macfar-
land, William F. Mattingly. Theodore w.
Noyes. w. P. Van Wickle, s. w Curriden.
Barry Buckley, L. P. Shoemaker E. South
ard Parker. George H. Harries, Andrew
Gleeson. Alex. T. Stuart w. H H. Hart
and Henry E. Davis.
Amount previously acknowledged. -. s., 973
Henry F. Woodland. 10