Evening star., 1914-12-14
ANDERSEN'S SPLAN NOT
NEW, SAySL.S. PERKINS
Heartily Commends "World Center
of Communication" for
Washington.

| To the Editor of The Star:
| The New Jerusalem" exhibit so
handsomely described and illustrated
in your issue of last Sunday will carry
far and wide an idea that ought TO
sink into the minds of thinking peo,
| pie of all countries. The world would
be better off if 1t had common center
of information and communication
This is not intended to make light OF
Mr.. Andersen's work, but to praise II
and push 1t along as the best tang OF
| its kind in existence. Ability, industry
and other capacities of a high order
are shown in the tremendous progress
he has made toward providing sucn a
world center. and, busy as 1t is with
other cares and interests, Washington
cannot afford to ignore the efforts OF
this clear headed, wide-awake dreamer
The writer has no desire to enter into
a controversy with Mr.. Andersen or
! any other person, but simply states
fact when he says that the idea OF
world center was fully covered years
ago by the writer in communications
printed in your own and other papers.
He visited number of the embassies
and legations in this city in the fall
of 1906, showing the diplomats draw
ings of plan for permanent buildings
at Washington representative OF each
try of the world with whom we
have dealings. Earlier in the year the
idea had been fully set forth by him
in local paper The diplomats gem
some thought the scheme might bet
ter apply to a city larger than this.
In The Sunday Star of February "a.
1907, on page 13. appeared three
ter idea at length, and foreshadowing
many of the features shown in the
plans of Mr.. Andersen; with the I'M
portant difference, however. that the
the capital of our nation. Copies Of
that and similar articles properly
marked were mailed to the leading
newspapers in most capitals OF the
globe.
The statement was made therein, and |
there has since been no occurrence to
weaken the force of the statement,
that no other country but ours could
manage such an affair, and that no
other city than our National Capital
could be considered as site for it.
The attempt to establish elsewhere
a permanent. all-embracing center OF
be met by objections of one nation
against another, which cannot be
urged against US, as we are at peace
with all. and very likely so to remain.
all agree to take part in a permanent
exposition or center of communication
in any one state. but all could and
would agree to unite at the capital
of their country.
Four bills. three in the House and
one in the Senate, have been introduced
in Congress within the past three
years, to give government encourage
of permanent state exposition build |
ngs at or near Washington. and it is
re ported that more than $50 COM
mercial organizations and the gev-
ernors of more than half the states
have approved the general plan of a
pc rmanent national exposition in this
city. Several foreign countries have
shown interest in the proposition.
Mr Andersen designs great fountains
and other attractions which could be
provided here as perhaps nowhere else
A canal has been projected, to be
made between the head of the eastern
branch of the Potomac and the head of
the Severn river, for ship passage from
the Chesapeake pay to Washington
Here we would have the necessary water
connection with the sea, at a safe dis
tance from any place where warships
might take their station.
Mr.. Andersen correctly SurniSeS that
the present war has fastened. and not
retarded, the ripening Of this idea. The
close of the war will see a strong and
general desire for some safe focthold
upon this terrestrial ball for commerce
and thought to have it's clearing house
and center, and balance-wheel to
steady international trade and make for
lasting peace.
This idea belongs to humanity. 1t
more than ten years; possibly many
others before him have had the same
dream. But certainly no one has done
SO much for it's realization as has Mr..
Hendrix Christian Andersen, who has
devoted to it his fortune, his time and
his best thought 1t is well for the idea
and for the nation that there are men
in high place willing to give him and
his plans air show, and 1t will be still
better if our leading men in Congress
take time to look into them and give
them the recognition and encouragement
| they deserve
| The writer believes that nerhapa plapc
| embodying less ambitious scope and less
outlay of money might more readily find
adoption, but does not want to throw
Geld water on the scheme at any point.
| The American statesman who secures for
Washington the world center of COM
munication" "a term which perhaps first
saw the light in your columns), will build
himself monument which will outlaSt
| the pyramids. LINDSAY S. PERKINS.