Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-21
Washington Memorial Hall
Plans Next in Order.
MRS. DIMoCK OPTIMISTIC
Says Architects Will Submit Their
Designs This Spring.
INTEREST IN PROJECT GROWS
officers of Association Read Reports
at Annual Meet-Tribute to
Mrs. G. D. Walcott.

A competition of architects for plans
Of the George Washington Memorial
Convention Hall, which it is proposed
to erect in Washington at a cost of
$2,500,000. will have been begun before
the coming of next summer. according
to Mrs Henry F. Dimock of New
York, president Of the George Wash
mgton Memorial Association. Mrs
Dimock presided at the annual meet
ing Of the association this afternoon
at $3.50 o'clock at Rauschers.
With more than half million dollars
pledged to the building fund, and with
100000 already paid into the treasury.
Mrs. Dimock declared today that the
society was in a position to begin
work. and the first step taken will be
to obtain plans for the building. She
proposes that the competition of
architects for the design for the build
ing be placed under the supervision
of the national fine arts commission
which has been established under act
of Congress.
To Work on Building Plans.
'As soon as the bill introduced by Sen
square at 9Th and B streets, formerly
depot, has become law, and we have
site for the memorial hall, we are
going to work on the building plans" said
Mrs. Dimock. She said that she had no
doubt that Congress would authorize the
use of the land, which belongs to the
government. for building which would
in effect be q public institution. belonging
in part to each state in the Union and
used by all.
AT the meeting Of the George Wash
ington Memorial Association Mrs Dimock
and the other officers submitted their
annual reports. Mrs. Dimock in her re-
port spoke of the enthusiasm for the
project which is growing steadily
throughout the country She said that
the list of life members in the associa-
ton has been increased to fifty-nine
Each life member pays 800. Fifty new
associate members also have joined the
association during the last year.
She told of the good work being done
in Ohio, largely under the influence of
Mrs. Joseph B. Foraker. who is taking
great interest in the project. In Massa-
chusetts. particularly in Boston. the work
of the association Is progressing rapidly.
elected an advisory COUNCIL of its own
to aid the national society, consisting of
John Davis Long, Frederick Perry Fish,
DIR. Charles Francis Adams, Edwin CHM
and DR.. Maurice Howe Richardson.
Art School Offers Prizes.
The Boston Art School. to arouse in
terest in the memorial, has offered three
prizes to pupils who submit the best
copies of the original Stuart portrait of
Washington. They will be awarded in
March. when Mrs. Dimock will be pres
ent to deliver an address dealing with
the merits of the George Washington me-
mortal project. The Hebrew societies in
Boston also are taking keen interest
| in the work of the memorial association.
said Mrs. Dimock.
The Medical Association of New York
city and the Colonial Danes were among
other organizations which Mrs. Dimock
mentioned as taking an active interest
in the plans.
The bill introduced by Senator Root
building was read by Mrs. Dimock.
She urged that every influence be
brought to bear upon Congress to bring
about the early enactment Of this meas
ure iEto law.
Mrs Dimock paid a high tribute to the
late Mrs. Charles D. Walcott, formerly a
vice president of the George Washington
Memorial Association. who was killed
in a railway wreck last year 1t was
| largely due to Mrs. Walcott's enthusiasm
and aid. the speaker said. that she had
persevered with the project for the
George Washington memorial.
Officers Elected for Year.
Officers of the association for the en-
suing year were elected as follows:
President, Mrs. Henry F. Dimock:
vice presidents. Mrs. Daniel Manning,
! Mrs. Joseph B. Foraker. Mrs. Charles
j. Bell. Mrs. Henry r. Mallory, Miss
Bessie j. Kibbey and Mrs. Frederick
MCGUIRE; trustees. Mrs. Susanna p.
Gage and Mrs. Frederick X. Thompson;
| recording secretary. Mrs. Nelson H.
\ Avery; corresponding secretary, Miss
| Florence Guernsey; treasurer, Mrs.
| Frank Northrop; trustee of permanent
fund, Charles j. Bell; advisory council,
| Senator Elihu Root, DR.. s. Wier
| Mitchell. Philadelphia, Pa; DR.. William
| WEIGH. Baltimore Md; Gen. Horace
Porter, New York; DIR. Charles d. Wal
| cott DIR. Edwin Alderman, president
| University Of Virginia; Prof. Alexander
| Agassiz, Cambridge, Mass; DR.. Ira
Remsen, president Johns Hopkins Uni
versity. Baltimore, Md; Prof. H. Fair
| field Osborn. American Museum Natural
| History. New York: DIR. Charles w
| Dabney, president University of Gin
cinnati: CT ,rles J. Bell, Washington
d. c.; DR.. John A. Wyeth, president
New York Academy of Medicine, and
DIR. Thomas Nelson Page, Washington.
D. C.
All