The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-07
STATEEXH|BIT
BUILDINGS TO
BEGIN IN YEAR
Col. Harper Predicts Common
weaIths viii Wage ''Friendly
War" to Erect First Structure

with all civic and business or
CARNATIONS Of Washington co-operat-
ing in behalf Of the States exhibit
buildings project in the National Cap
ital. the cornerstone Of the first OF the
foEty-eight proposed buildings viii
be laid within a year.
This prediction was made today By
Col Robert n. Harper. president OF
the Chamber OF Commerce and one
of the many Washingtonians actively
interested in the States buildings
plan
Colonel Harper announced this
afternoon that a meeting OF the
States Exhibit Building Committee
will be called some day next week to
inaugurate the campaign for action
on the plan by the new Congress.
Colonel Harper also stated that i'm
mediately Congress appropriates suf-
hcient money to pay for the sites Q
friendly war" will be waged between
the States, each striving for the priv
ilege Of erecting the first building.
"The most feasible plan at present.,
said Colonel Harper, els one proVfd-
ing for the payment OF the cost OF
the land by Congress and the cost OF
each OF the buildings by the respee-
tive States.
states Eager to Start.
II am able to cay with certainty
that several Of the larger States are
eager to start work as soon a. pos
sible on their permanent exhibit
buildings in the National COpitaI, and
after Congress furnishes the land the
difficulty will not be to induce the
states to build, but to decide which
States shall be the first to be per-
mitted to build.
Necessary legislation must be got
ten through Congress however, before
the States exhibit buildings can be
started, so for the present the best
thing to do is to organize complete
cooperation to obtain the needed
"As far as the Chamber Of Com
merce has been able to ascertain, thu
sentiment among the States Is heart
ly in favor of the States exhibit
The farmers realize that the quail
ity OF the grain, and other farm pro-
ducts will be displayed and advertised
10 visitors from all over the world
IL their State building; the manufac-
turers know that the articles OF ma
II.
well as the natural resources Of the
State.
Idea Born In 1904.
Il first thought OF the feasibility Of
the plan in 1904. while visiting the
worlds fair at st. Louis. Going the
rounds OF the State buildings, I was
struck with the great waste in ex-
penditudes for temporary building
where the natural resources Of the
states were displayed. The buildings
were to be torn down in q few
In January. 1908. as president Of
the Chamber of Commerce, 1 prepared
the following report which covered
the work OF the Chamber of Com
merce on the States exhibit project
NO little agitation has been in
1ulged in during the past year by the
press, and likewise by individuals, re-
Sarding the Rdvisability Of the Gov
eminent purchasing the south side Of
pennsylvania avenue from the Botan-
&c Garden to the Treasury and oe-
;upying the entire space by build
ngs for Government purposes or
buildings erected by the various
states OF the Union and maintained
by them for the purpose Of displaying
n the National Capital the natural
resources OF their own.
The Chamber OF Commerce urzea
upon Congress to take practical steps
10 consummate such a proposition for
The Identification OF the National
capital and education OF our peopIs.