The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-04

OF government only from 1873. So that
II IS one of the youngest governments
in the nation.
Tribute to Governors.
The names Of Governor Shepherd.
whose statue, the gift OF the grateful
people, win shortly stand here. and
Governor Cooke, under whom Governor
Shepherd directed The Board Of Public
Works, as IL drove the pIowshare Of
preparation through the principal
streets. planned by Washington, and
made possible all hat has come since.
rise before US as We think OF the be
ginnings OF modern Washington. All
honor to these governors and 10 the
Commissioners OF former years. TO
whom we owe 50 much And while the
blowing went on under the governors,
most Of the seed-sowing as well as the
cultivation and the harvesting has gone
on under the Commissioners. The tree
is known by It's fruits We have thirty
years OF practical solid success 10 re-
port You who remember the COndi-
lions Of 1873 have only TO look around
you to see what has been accomplished
The doubling OF the population, the re
duction OF the death rate, the quad
rupling Of the financial resources, the
transformation Of the transportation
facilities. the multiplication OF beauti-
ful buildings, public and LTtvate- OF
paris, bridges, bOulevaTds, trees These
are only ne visible signs Of the great
change which appears most striking
when we C0amine-our present intel
iectual and spiritual resources. our
educational and religious institutions,
the Improvement in our laws and Gus
toms.
1T Is all typifed IN this District build
ing, this typical District construction,
the outcome Of the efforts Of the Com
missioners and citizens through all
these years, now delighting our eyes
with rs beauty within and without, and
its great possibilities Of usefulness. In
this as in all other things, we are en-
tering into the labOrs OF other men
We are fortunate IN having what they
worked for, but saw only with the eye
OF faith. We are fortunate in having
had the opportunity to make the final
efforts which brought the thing to pass.
Purchase Site.
IN June. 1903. when Mr.. Ross and
Colonel Biddle were still Commissioners
we got the first legislation from Con-
| gress providing for the purchase Of this
site and the erection of a building. the
total cost limited 70 $3.50 900. and the
site was purchased for SO. 900. and the
! work begun under the contract au-
| thorized for the building. We had told
| Congress that il would cost, including
| site, S2,5O0.000. and We subsequently sue
! ceeded IN getting this limit Of cost
/ raised, first IN 1903 70 g, 10000. and then
| in 1905 TO s.. 10000. That latter year nc
| new Federal building was authorized
and no limit OF cost of any Federal
I building was increased throughout the
! United States; SO that the difficulty OF
| getting the limit Of cost OF this Dis
! trict building increased in order TO make
| II beautiful with marble instead OF
| having II a common brick structure
can easily be imagined.
Progress In Harmony.
Commissioners and citizens working
| together IN harmony. have won the
/ progress which we see today. There
I are greater victories for them ahead
/ II they continue together to strive in
! the same spirit. Who can fully foreses
| the triCmphs of the next fifty years
/ when Washington will cover the Dis
] trict Of Columbia with a mighty popu
/ lation a splendid beauty of architecture,
! and landscape. a marvellous intellectual
/ and spiritual life. when II will be in al
/ respects that most perfect capital FOL
/ which We are willing 70 make sacri
! fee with the best Of cur lives