Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-01

after condemnation proceedings the final
| steps to secure possession of the property
| were taken just before Christmas.
An appropriation was made for the coma
| structiop of a new building for the Departs
| ment of Agriculture In February, and ac-
| ton was taken by the regents of the Smith.
| sonian Institution on the proposed new
| building for the National Museum at their
| annual meeting( also in February.
superintendent Elliot Woods of the Cap-
itol prepared and presented to Congresa
elaborate plans for the extension of tho
| Capitol building.
! The new government printing Office was
| finally completed and is being occupied az
rapidly as the various divisions Of the ofilc6
can be moved.
Judge Love Of Alexandria county, Va,
| decided in June that the reservation at tho
| south end of the Aaueduct bridge Is a gov.
eminent reservation and must be given po-
lice protection by the United States A guard
| of soldiers from Fort Myer was placed on
the reservation for a few days until deputy
| United States marshals could be sworn in
| and installed in office
The square between 18th and 10th and ID
| and streets northwest was agreed upon
| as a site for a hall of records and stepa
are to be taken to secure possession by
| the government.
| A bill was introduced In Congress Novem-
| Der n providing for a new building for tho
| patent Office. and bill with a similar obs
| ject for the departments of State Justice
and Commerce was introduced Decem<
| Der IS.
| 1uc army.
The most important event in the army
during the year was the assumption of con-
troll Of military affairs by the new general
| staff, with Lieut.. Gen. s. B. NJ. Young as
chief of staff. The change was made on
| the retirement of Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles, August 8
The corner stone of the army war college
was laid at the Washington barracks. Feb
ruary q. by President Roosevelt, attended
! by cabinet members.
| The Sd Bsttalion Of Engineers, stationed
at the Washington barracks since January,
| 1902, and the I'd Squadron of the I'd Cav
| airy, stationed at Fort Myer for two years,
were both ordered to the Philippines. The
| first two companies of the Engineer Bat.
talon moved in the summer, and the last
two few weeks later. The I'd Battalion
| of Engineers arrived from the Philippines
to take station at Washington barracks,
the movement being completed within the
past ten days The cavalry detachment
departed from Washington. Friday De-
cember 49, The I'd Squadron of the 18th
Cavalry arrived in Washington Sunday.
December 70, from the Philippines and
| took station at Fort Myer.
The bodies OF several hundred soldiers
who died from disease wounds in the
Philippines were brought to this country
during the year and inferred at Arlington
cemetery with appropriate ceremonies.
The Navy.
Rear Admiral Higginson. one Of the cap.
tains who fought at Santiago, succeeded
Rear Admiral Silas Terry as commandant
| of the Washington navy yard, July 1.
| On July the announcement was made
| that Col. George F. Elliott, U. 8. NJ. c.,
| would succeed Major Gen. Haywood as
| commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen.
Haywood retired in October, and Col.
Elliott was made a brigadier general the
same day.
| Many improvements were made in the
Washington navy yard during the year,
and estimates were made on the contem-
plated enlargement Of the naval gun face
tory.
A large company of marines under tho
command of Capt. Robert F. Wynne left
the Marine barracks, this city, for League
Island navy yard, where they were em-
| barked for Panama early in December.
| Another detachment Of ninety-two men left
short time afterward with Gen. Elliot and
his personal staff, bound for the Same
place. via League Island
Charitable Institutions.
The various charitable institutions of the
District of Columbia have continued to
carry on their work of relief during the
past year. Several new projects have been
started and have met with success.
| The Associated Charities organized a com.
| mittee on public play grounds early in the
| year which took charge of these grounds
in the city. Many improvements have been
made in the way Of amusements for the
cred in prosperous condition. The result
of the investigation into the affairs of the
Washington Asylum made under the direc-
| ton of the board of charities. and begun in
September 1902, was announced in August
last. The report charged the intendant
with a lack of executive efficiency. Lieut.,
Gen. Nelson A. Miles. retired. president Of
the board of commissioners of the National
Soldiers Home reported in September that
the institution was caring for $50 beneficial
ries; he recommended several new buildings
mn nfo In, to
Der the Salvation Army opened one Of its
| industrial homes on Pennsylvania avenue
| northwest. and this. although not yet self
supporting, has been successful as was
expected.
The annual report of the board Of chari-
ties was made November %. 1t recon-
mended the discontinuance of the gratuity
system with respect to private institutions
| urged action upon Congress in regard to
District charities. and recommended va
rious improvements and appropriations for
the reform school, the almshouse the in.
venile court and the new municipal hospi-
tai.
Fairs and Exhibitions
The Pythian fair opened at Washington
Light Infantry armory April g. Com
missioner mcfarland made the address of
welcome.
The fair. Of the Washington Canton of
Odd Fellows was opened at the hall of the
order. on It'll street. on April g. the address
Mcfarland.
Alt Deutschland was opened at Conven-
ton Hall on the evening of November "A
by the President of the United States who
pressed button in the White House and
inaugurated the festivities.
Distinguished Visitors.
General William Booth. head of the SAL
walton Army, was In Washington in the
early part of February. He was entertain
ed at luncheon by President Roosevelt and
at dinner by Senator Hanna, and made the
opening prayer on one morning in the
United States Senate.
General Baden-Powen the distinguished
English soldier. visited the city on April IN
He was received by the President, inspect-
ed the cavalry corps at Fort Myer, and waa
otherwise entertained.
Budget Meakin, the English sociologist,
made tour of the District In the latter
part Of April, inspecting the housing con.
ditions.
On May a party Of forty four German
land owners. making a tour of study In the