Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-05
NEW HOME HURRAH
FEATURE OF FOURTH
District Building Dedicated
With Appropriate Exercises.
THOUSANDS CHEER FLAG
Crowds Enthused Over Speeches of
Prominent Men.
CITY'S GUESTS ENTERTAINED
Fresh Flag Raised Over Building
Gift Of Chamber Of Commerce.
Story Of the Day.

Yesterday was the 1880 historic glorious
noisy Fourth this country has known, and
with more enthusiasm, patriotic and
otherwise. that has been seen and heard
in Washington for long time. the ma
tional Independence day was observed and
the beautiful new District building at 14th
street and Pennsylvania avenue was
formally opened to the public.
To those who have reached the age
where their ears no longer welcome the
caress of exploding dynamite. the shatter-
ing boom of cOntraband cannon and the
devilish racket of assorted noise-pro-
ducers, the exercises in connection with
the opening of the municipalities new
official home was the one great feature Of
the day.
The ceremonies were notable, one of the
most impressive features being the raising
of the new American flag to the top of the
tall staff on the building while the ma
tional salute of twenty guns was fired
from mortars on the roof of the structure
the last two bombs bursting high in air
and releasing American flags, suspended
from parachutes of red, white and blue.
Crowd Sings National Anthem.
A few minutes before the flag raising
the Marine Band. under the leadership of
Lieut. Santelmann, struck up The Star
Spangled Banner" and at a signal from
f. II. Droop, chairman OF the music
committee, most OF the several thousand
men and women present joined in singing
the words of the national anthem.
The day was one on which Fourth of
July oratory played a prominent part.
Cen. John NJ Wilson, U.sA, retired.
former president of the Board of Trade,
which organization, with the Chamber Of
Commerce, took a prominent part in the
ceremonies, read the Declaration of indie
pendence and Charles B. Hanford. the
actor, recited THE Star Spangled Ban
ner." The great audience was appreciative
and enthusiastic.
The oratory was also of a patriotic and
inspiring nature. Speaker Cannon, al
though not on the program for a speech,
was compelled by continued vociferous
demands from the audience to make a
brief address. He spoke eXtempOraneOusly
and in characteristic vein. When he had
concluded the crowds cheered, the band
played patriotic air and the prominent
officials and guests who occupied seats on
the spea kers platform FASTENED to COM
pliInent him and shake his hand
The other speakers during the exercises
in front of the building were President
Macfarland of the board of District Com
missoners, Secretary of the Treasury Cor
telyou, Chaplin Brown of the Chamber Of
Commerce and Adds B. Browne Of the
Board of Trade. John Joy Edison, chair
man of the executive committee In charge
of the celebration. presided.
The exercises were begun at 10 o'clock
but before that hour the seats In the
Enclosure in front of the platform were
filed. Those of the general public who
did not have tickets came still earlier.
Sixty policemen were on hand, under the
command of Inspector Francis Cross and
Capt. Williams.
Reception Follows Exercises.
Seated on the platform with the speak
ers were members of the Board of Trade
the Chamber of Commerce, the Oldest In
habitants' Association. prominent officials.
visitors and private citizens. Prior to the
opening of the exercises the principal
topic of conversation was the new build
ing Its magnificence and artistic beauty
We're admired and commented upon by
every one.
While most OF the crowd was standing
out front admiring the exterior of the
building, others were maxim tour of in
spection of the interior. James l.. Par
sons, the contractor, who built this new
home of the District government, was one
of the proudest persons anywhere around.
and he made many trips about the build
ing. showing its fine points to the visitors.
Immediately after the conclusion of the
dedication exercises in front of the build
Ing Commissioners Mcfarland, Henry l..
West and Maj. Jay j. Morrow entered the
building and stationing themselves at the
!, foot of the west stairs in the main hall
way. held a reception to the public. Scott
c. Bone. chairman of the entertainment
committee stood with the Commissioners
in the receiving line.
For fully an hour a line Of men. women
and children filed past the reception COM
mittee. shaking hands and cOmplimenting
| the Commissioners and every one else
connected with the construction and
opening of the building. After passing by
the Commissioners those who had not
been in the building previously made a
tour of inspection of the various floors.
Prominent among those attending the
reception were Mayor j. Barry MahOol
of Baltimore. Mayor Pan of Alexandria,
Mayor Carlton Mccarthy of Richmond.
Mayor ]. p. McCaskey of Lancaster and
Mayor Wells of Annapolis, Judge VII