Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-31
Meeting to Promote the Move
ment for Preservation of
Barber Estate.
RECOMMENDED AS HOME
FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
Option May Hold the Property Until
Matter Can Be Presented
to Congress.

The movement to prevent Belmont, the
wooded estate formerly owned by the
late Mrs A. l.. Barber from being made
the site of number of apartment
houses, and to have it become the prop
erty Of the government. took definite
form today at meeting of men and
women interested in the project held
at the New Willard Hotel. 1t was de-
cided to hold a mass meeting on the
estate next Saturday afternoon at
o'clock to raise sufficient money to Sc.
cure an option on the property until
Congress can take some action concern
ing il.
Mrs. John \. Logan. widow of Gen
Logan. and owner of Calumet Place
now occupied by Secretary Bryan, sug-
gested at the meeting that Belmont be
purchased by the government as a resi-
dence for the Vice President of the
Uni led States She said there is A de-
| cided sentiment in the Senate and House
| that the Vice President be provided with
home in Washington. The definite
purpose for which the place should be
| used was not decided on. however.
Rev. George Fiske Dudley, rector of St
Stephens Episcopal Church. presided
and William II. Saunders. president O
the Columbia Heights Citizens Associa
| ton: RS. Clara MacNaughton, Mrs
| Logan. Miss Catherine Dabney ant
movement.
All of One Accord.
| All agreed that Belmont should be pre-
| served in its present state for many rea
| sons the chief being that Columbi;
Heights needs large public park. ant
that such beautiful estate with sucl
magnificent trees should not be de
| stroyed
! Mr. saunders promised TO bring tn
/ matter before the Columbia Height
Citizens Association at a meeting to D
held Tuesday night. to which all per
be invited. At this meeting Snowde
| Asnlord. the municipal architect. is I
give a talk on the new Central Hig
School to be located on 11th street. nea
Belmont
| Harry Wardman. the present owner Q
| Belmont. attended the meeting thi
| morning and told those present that n
| was willing to make as many conces
sions toward helping the movement .
he could. He said thatshe had airead
work Immediately on the place. He o.
fered to defer the work of tearing dow
the present building If $4,000 can 2
raised in the near future. he SAID ne
| holding the estate at $-OJ,OU WillC
those present seemed to agree was IA
price. He also promised to attend tn
| mass meeting next Saturday to again ea
plain his position in the matter.
Ideal Home for Vice President.
Mrs. Logan said it would be a sham
if Belmont were destroyed The pei
pie of Washington and members OF til
Senate and House should rally to the d'
Tense OF the estate. she declared. ST
mentioned the low salaries paid by tt
United States government. to its publ
omc,als, and said that the estate wou
| be an ideal home for the Vice Presfden
Mr.. Saunders spoke Of the long time
takes to grow such trees as are found
Belmont. and agreed with Mrs. Loga
that it will be an irreparable loss If III
estate is destroyed and used as si'
for apartment houses.
Several of those present told of cor
versations with both Mr.. and Mrs. Bal
ber in which they had expressed tn
wish that the estate might become
public park. Mrs. Logan spoke of thi
and said that at one time 1t had bee
the intention of Mr.. and Mrs. Barbe
to present the place to the city. bl
that they found it impossible to do SO.