The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-15
GREAT MEMORIAL BUILDING IN
THE CAPITAL CITY WILL HELP
TO DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE.
CONGRESS GIVES THE LAND
Association Headed by Mrs. Henry F.
Dimock Is Raising the Money
Beautiful Structure Will House Con-
yentions and National Societies.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

been long time coming. In larger
sense the building will be devoted to
educational purposes, the end to be
reached not by the direct teaching of
things that the schools teach specifcal-
ly, but by the diffusion of general
knowledge of all things worthy.
In his farewell address George
Washington said: knowledge Is in
every country the surest basis of pub
lie happiness" He also expressed
the wish that his country would pro
mote institutions for the general
diffusion of knowledge" For years
almost out of mind there have been
attempts, some of which died a-born-
ing, to carry out what may be called
the educational wishes of the Father
of his Country. Comparatively re-
Gently proper project has been for
INFLATED and 1t is to be carried
through to the end of success. Wom-
an, as is quite the usual thing in these
days, will have the main hand ana
heart In the patriotic plan.
Some time ago congress agreed to
give the land upon which the George
be erected. The land given is a part
of the Mall which lies southwark OF
Pennsylvania avenue between that
thoroughfare and the river. Before
many years have passed 1t is probable
that all buildings, not given over TO
government uses, which are located
between the great avenue and the
river will be removed ana then the
country will have a great open space
occupied by nothing but the trees and
flowers. and the lawns which belong
there together with beautiful struc-
lures devoted to governmental or
memorial uses.
Mrs. Dimock's Successful Efforts.
Mrs. Henry F. Dimock of 1901 Six
teenth street, Washington, is the pres
ldent of the George Washington Me
mortal association. Mrs. Dimock is the
sister of William C. Whitney. who was
Grover Cleveland's secretary of the
navy and who frequently is called the
father of the modern navy. for 1t was
under his direction that the first mod
ern warships were built anC put into
service.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Dimock
$3.50, 900 have been raised already for
the memorial building purposes. More
money is to be raised, for the build
ing will cost a large sum and the ex-
pendltures necessary to make it meet
in beauty and utility the demands of
its purposes will be great.
The city of Washington never has
had worthy hall in which the vari-
GUS conventions which are held in the
capital might meet. 1t Is the inten-
ton to open the memorial building for
the use of conventions which, whether
they are for business or for scholastic
purposes, are in the highest sense edu-
catlonal. Thus it is intended to carry
out the views of George Washington
concerning the necessity of promoting
constitutions for the general diffusion
of knowledge"
Features of the Building.
The plans for the great structure
have been approved by the fine arts
commission and by congress. The
main feature of the building is the
large auditorium which will be a me-
orial to the signers of the Declaration
of Independence. The floor area of
the auditorium will be $500 square
feet with gallery of 10000 square
feet and a stage of 5000 square feet.
The hall will seat nearly s 900 people.
1t will be used for all national and In
ternational conventions and all other
great public welfare functions.
Grouped about the auditorium will
be six or seven convention halls hold
ing from 600 to $500 people, and each
hall will have two committee or re-
ception rooms connected with 1t. There
will be a great banquet hall, large and
small reception rooms, and in addi-
ton there will be permanent quarters
for national associations and societies.
Societies of the proper kind may Sc
cure halls In permanency by the pay
ment of $4,000 toward the building
fund.
The building proper will be but
tressed by two memorial structures
one to the memory of the boys of 1776
and the other to the boys CT 1917.
Gas in Warfare.
The future historian may write
April o., 1915, in letters of red.
If the maker of coming encyclope-
dlas is given to setting forth events In
combinations because of their common
interest, Crecy and Ypres will appear
In close conjunction.
At Crecy, on August &c, 1916, gun
powder first was used In battle; while
on April %, 1915, gas first appeared as
a poisonously offensive weapon of war
fare.
Gunpowder has come to stay. The
hopes Of thousands may be to the con-
trary, but the dominating opinion in
military circles is that gus also has
come to stay.