Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-01
GROUND IS BROKEN
FOR AMPH|THEATER
Daniels Turns First SpadefuI
OF Earth for Arlington
Memorial.
JOHN McELROY ACTS
FOR G. A. R. OFFICIALS
Structure of White Marble Will Cost
$4,000 and Be Finished
in Two Years.

Josephus Daniels. Secretary of the
Navy. this morning turned the first
spadeful of earth that marked the be-
| ginning of work on the memorial
| amphitheater and chapel in Arlington
| national cemetery. for the erection of
which Congress has authorized the ex-
penditure of s75o.00O Secretary Daniels
is one of the three commissioners in
| charge of the memorial.
| Although the weather was not nearly
so severe that which accompanied
the ground breaking ceremonies for
the Lincoln memorial last winter, high
winds and low temperatures were
especially noticeable on the plateau
just east of the Maine memorial and
the new bronze Confederate monument,
on which the amphitheater and chapel
Will stand. Each one present had an
active part or interest in the proceed
ings, which. though brief and extremely
simple, were none the less impressive.
1t was shortly after IL o'clock when
the two dozen or more officials and
private citizens concerned lined up at
the spot where it is intended to place
the corner stone of the marble building
which will stand at the eastern end of
the ampitheater and which will contain
the chapel. stage and a special entrance
for high government officials and distin-
SuiShed visitors. Immediately they be-
came targets for a dozen ca meras and
movins-picture machines. which caught
in the act the various handlers Of the
ribbon-bedecked spade.
Others Turned Earth.
Following Secretary Daniels. Ivory G.
Kimball, former judge of the Police Court,
past department commander of the G.
and vice chajr of tho Arlfpo-
ton memorial amphitheater commission,
took his turn Judge kimball expressed
his keen pleasure over the fact that he
was participating in the inception Of
project in behalf of which he and all
members of the G. A. r and other patri-
otto organizations have worked for a
anticipation of the day when he should
witness the completed structure
Secretary Daniels son also lifted a
spadeful of earth, as did Mrs. Daniels,
and the final participant was John
McElroy, past senior vice commander
ln-chlef of the G. A. r. AS the earth
was lifted by each in turn, some of it
was placed in flower pots containing
shoots Of ivy: The intention is to grow
these vines in the governmental con-
servator1es and. on the completion of
the amphitheater. plant them around
the corner stone.
ent were H. A. johnson. past depart
ment commander, &. A. r.; J. Tyler
Powell, commander of Post No. IL g.
A. r., and Hazard Wheeler. senior vice
department commander and acting
commander, G. A. r.
Inspectors and Builders.
Col. W. W. Harris, United States en-
gineer officer in charge of the Office of
public buildings and grounds, accom-
panied by Capt. j. A. O'Connor, his as
sistant. was present, and with other
officials of the same department were
F. F. Gillen. chief clerk. and ]. f. Be-
thune, chief engineer; Fred D. Owen.
c. s. Proctor. inspector attached to that
Office. and j. A. Brown, inspector for
this particular structure.
James Baird, vice president of the
George A. Fuller Construction Company.
| which has been awarded the contract for
the building. represented that organiza-
ton. Edwin Schneider of this city has
been designated superintendent of con-
struction for the memorial and was pres
ent this morning, as was also R. S. Swim
ton of the same company.
| The scene. with the towering mast of
| the battleship Maine and hundreds of
headstones of known and unknown de-
tenders of their country in the back
Slouiid, Will VIC pIOdu river and P0fn-
mac Park and the white of the capitaI.
public buildings below and beyond, and
| with the brightest of blue skies overhead.
was one to hold the memory
Two Years to Build.
| The time specified for the completion
| of the amphitheater is two years II
| will be built of white Dandy, Conn.
marble and its dimensions will be 2s4
by 274 feet. The building containing
! the chapel at the eastern end will he
| fifty feet high, while the remainder of
| the structure is to rise thirty-six feet
above the ground. The form of the
amphitheater proper will be nearly
| circular. and it will be open to the
sky.
1t is intended to supply the long-felt
need of suitable edifice in which to
conduct Memorial day exercises and
| other patriotic functions which are
held at the national cemetery from
time to time.