Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-01-09
ALEX ANDRIA, VA.
MONDAY EVENING, JAN. 8

AFTER the G1zettc's report closed on
Saturday evening it was announced be-
fore the United States court Tor the
Eastern district Of Virginia adjourned
in this city, that the government had
deposited with the court S42 600 to De
distributed among the twenty owners oil
the White House tract, near Mount
Vernon, on which it IS proposed 10
establish Il reformatory for the District
of Columbia. The money will be paid
to the claimants within :: feT days.
The amount was awarded by q jury III
this CITY in condemnation proceedings
Instituted against the land by the
United States inlSeptembcr last. Ihls
NAV close the matter though ut the
time OF the award motion was mace
to quash the proceedings. Irotes's
have been heard by the District Of
Columbia Commissioners and by the
Senate against the erection OF penal
institution so close to Mount Vernon.
The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
appealed to the commissioners without
success, inasmuch as the condemna-
ton proceedings were going on at Tue
time. The association appealed to
Congress and the Senate requested the
commissioners to explain Why they bad
selected the site. The commissioners
reply stated that it was the best avail
able site, and that the rcformatory
would be three and Il hall miles from
the old home Of George Washington,
would be screened by woods from All
view from Mount Vernon and would
not, in the opinion of the commission
cis, interfere with the patriotic senti-
mept connected with the last resting
of the first president. In Richmond
ON Saturday last the Colonial DANES
entered u protest against the erection OF
the reiormatory so near Mount vernon
and called on all the historic and
patriotic societies to take some action.
Many OF the newspapers OF the state
have taken up the matter and VIII op
nose having q reformatcry for the DIS
OF Columbia criminals not only near
Mount Vernon but any where on Vlr-
ginia soil. The Richmond journal has
the following to soy or the subject:
It is sincerely TO be hoped that the
protests against the degradation OF
Mount Vernon by the location OF con
yict camp so near to that place anu on 4
tract Of land formerl y q part OF tie estate,
will prove successful. The federal gov
eminent should have mo difficulty IN
securing a site in another part OF Nlr-
sipia or MARYLAND. near Washington,
for this purpose. Mount Vernon is re-
sarded almost as sacred ground by Nir-
pinians and should be by all loyal poo
pie of the union. 1t is the shrine at
which thousands burn patriotic incense
annually; the symbol OF American
patriotism. There should be no con-
yics camp there The proposal for It's
establishment should never have been
made. and made should be rejected
without q moments hesitation; eagerly
and with the delinitcness OF linality. IL
is wholly useless move. The land
was probably purchased for this pur-
pose becousc of the cheapneSs oil the
price and available location without
thought Of the improperly of the site
or OF the objections which would be
raised. Strenuous protests, however
should bring thought, and with thought
should come reconsideration.
Governor Mann says that the state OF
Virginia has not authorized the con-
version OF this property into the site OF
q criminal rcformatory and that he,
acting for the state, will do all within
his power to prevent the accomplish