Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-25
CLAIMS OF THE CAPITAL CITY
THEME OF ADDRESS BY COM
MISSIONER MACFARLAND.
Duty of the Country Toward Ma
tional Municipality Outlined
at Kansas City Banquet.

Commissioner Mcfarland returned
this morning from a visit to Kansas
CITY, Mo, where he went to make an
address at a banquet Of representative
business men, His theme was the Ma
tional Capital and the duty of the coun-
try toward it. John Barrett, director
of the bureau of American republics.
addressed the same audience on the re-
lations between this country with Latin
America. Both Mr. Barrett and Mr..
Macfarland also took part in the dedi-
cation of the 100000 building Of the
Young Mems Christian Association
there.
Mr.. Macfarland was impressed with
many features of municipal improve
ments in the Missouri city.
He and Mr.. Barrett were taken over
the park system of Kansas City, upon
which sS,000.0O0 has been spent in the
past ten years. and also to see the fed
eral penitentiary and military post at
Leavenworth, near Kansas City. Mr..
MacfarIand also examined the new
100000 high school building in Kan
sas City and the Kansas City audito-
rum, both of which he thinks should
be duplicated in Washington.
Responsive to Appeal.
Mr.. Macfarland said today that the
300 men at the banquet. representing all
the interests of Kansas City, were very
responsive to all that was said in be-
half of the National Capital, and had
an especial appreciation of plans for Its
Identification because of what had been
done in Kansas City. Kansas City, he
said. like Washington, has great natural
advantages, because of It's hills, ana
they had been improved to the utmost
hv 10 mark hOa r6 engineer. MT, kGS-
Ter, who laid out the ST. Louis world S
fair grounds. He said the boulevards
and parkwayS and trees were all re-
markable, and that the plans for the 1u-
ture when carried out would make Kan
sas City second only to washington.
Kansas City, he said. was fortunate IN
being Il city of homes surrounded by
lawns, without blocks or houses, anu
for the most part OF tastelui aich'
He said the visit to the federal prison
was of special interest to him because
of the task the Commissioners now nave
i'm hand, for providing suitably IoI tne
District WorkhouSe and the Dlstrict re-
formatory for the Improvement OF the Dis-
trict penal system. By utilizing the prison
labor under skillful direction the warden,
Mai McClaughry, had constructed al
ready buildings worth at least t~its Dc
much as the money expended on thein
and when completed they will he worth
$5,0OONOO. without having cost IN money
more than half that amount. Tho prison
conditions are such as TO encourage Tue
men to do their best to obey the rules
and do their work. The prison he re-
garded a model one.
District Prisoners There.
Mr. mcfarland was impressed by the
ample provision for light and air and by
the cleanliness of the whole place, espe-
cally in the great kitchens, the finest In
the country. and the dining room and
chapel, each OF which seats 2,OOO. He
thinks 1t is fortunate that so many Of
the prisoners from the District have been
placed in Maj. McClaughry's care, about
$50 being there at present.
While they were together at Kansas City
Mr. mcfarland had a talk with Mr.. Barrett
about the proposed Pan-American feature
of the safe and sane celebration of next
Fourth of July. and Mr.. Barrett assured
Mr. mcfarland of his hearty sympathy
and interest, and promised to cooperate
In bringing about the desired result.