The Washington herald., 1909-01-12

The ST. Matthews Church property
was conveyed yesterday 20 the Southern
Commercial Congress and viii be used by
that body as the site for the new Office
building which is 10 De erected in wash
ington as the headquarters Of the con-
gress- Title 10 the property IS taken
BY John NJ Parke-. OF New Orleans
president Of the congress.
The negotiations for the purchase were
conducted by Charles Hail Davis, in be-
half Of the executive committee OF th6
congress. through the attorneys. c. 4
Douglas, r. II. Mcneil. ard a E L
Lecke. representing the owners.
The property was sold oa December g
10 Mcneil & Mcneil. attorneys. through
Alexander Mcneil, representing Cardinal
Gibbons and Mgr. Lee for 81. Matthew
Church. The transaction yesterday con
veyed the property from Mcneil & Nc
Mel 30 the Southern Commercial Con
gress. The consideration involved Is heId
confidential. but IS understood 20 have
been about $1,000.
Father of the Enterprise.
Charles Hall Davis. representing the
congress, has been the moving spirit
in the building enterprise. which de-
veIoped while the congress was in ses-
sion here last December. Mr.. Davis
Is president Of the Appomatox Trust
Company. OF Petersburg. Va. president
Of the Chamber OF Commerce Of Peters
burg. and is director u the United
States Trust Company, of this city He
belongs 10 the active element Of young
Southesn bushes men. and IS regarded
by his associates as the father OF the en-
terp-ise TO give the congress a permanent
hone in this city.
1Ir. Davis yesterday gave In outline
the general plans 0f the congress in
regard TO the proposed building. The loi
purchased Is nearly square. being Il,
feet on II street by 80 feet on Fifteenth
street The proposed building VIII cover
the entire lot. VIII be probably ter
stories high. and viii be designed as one
OF the hands0mest and most costly build
iugs OF the kind in Washington Plans
are now well under way 20 raise an en-
dowmen- fund for the Southern Conner
ciaI Congress OF Sl.e060l As much as
nav he necessary VIII be used in the
purchase Of the site and the erection
Of the building
General Plan Of Structure.
The Southern Commercial Congress
building viii have on the ground floor
p banking room and rooms for otner busi-
ness purposes. Upon one floor viii be a
large auditorium. with lobby and COM
mittea rooms adjoining One floor viii be
devoted TO the Southern Commercial Con
gress. where il IS hoped TO arrange q
series OF rooms. which shall form a per
n1aneut exhibit Of Southern resurces
There will also be Office rooms for The
congress. a library. and other features
connected with its work The rest OF
The building vii b. given over TO Office
PURPOSES. the rentals 10 be devoted tC
the uses Of the congress.
VIII Raise Endowment Fund.
Nh. Davis said yesterday that arrange
ments for raising the endowment fund
wouId he completed az a meeting Of tht
executive and finance committees Of The
congress TO be held in Atlanta, January
l5. While the property has been pur-
chased for the congress. it has beer
done through the executive committee
re2resented by President Parker and Mr.
Davis. and az the Atlanta meeting steps
viii be taken to give the congress q lega
charter and then the property VIII bC
conveyed 10 the corporation
The endowment fund has already beer
largely pledged. and Jhe money is praC'
ticauv in sight 70 finance the enterprise
The general plan Of carrying out the pro
5ect Is 10 give each subscriber who pay:
8. 90 a life membership in the Southern
Commercial Congress. Subscriptions 81
ready made by commercial bodies viii be
divided among the membership Of thes,
bodies in the manner indicated. The idea
is "a give the ownership OF the building
as wide a clientele as possible. It i
also the purpose of the promoters to winC
the matter up once for all. have tn
building paid for when completed. anC
the congress. put upon self-suppOrtinl
basis from the start
VIII Start Building Soon.
After the meeting in Atlanta. on Janu
ary %. a commission viii be given 10 {
competent architect &c make the desigI
of the building. probably through com
petitions. and operations upon the struc
tllre will be started as soon as the pre-
Hminaries can be carried through
With reference TO the location Mr.
Davis said yesterday that IT had appealed
TO him and the other members Of TIT
committee from the start Before le2v
Ing Washington last December. he sal,
plans were set on foot 10 acquire th'
n-opertv. He said it was on the bank
ing street" in the heart OF what va
destined to be the financial district o
washington.
The site is convenient TO all the ca
lines of the city. and so far as he or hi
committee could see. was the one spot il
Washington providentiaiIy lett for tn
very project which the congress purpose
to realize at the Capital It is within
sight OF the United States Treasury.
lS Two DUCKS liolA ACl-iiss . e'-'io- sAfS4is4e
and the same distance from New Yorl
avenue. It stands upon the air line ave
nue. OF traffic from the new Union Sta
ton. and is opposite one OF the fines
hotels in the Capital City.
The details OF the purchase were worke,
out yesterday afternoon IN the office
Of c. a. Douglas. and the deeds viii b,
placed on record as soon as they hav'
been passed by q local title company.