Evening star., 1919-04-04
WAsH1NGT0N's POSSIBILITIES
Capital Should Be Developed as a
Truly National City.
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 the Editor OF The Star:
1t certainly was refreshing to read
in your columns the other day the
broad. patriotic views of Senator
France of Maryland as to how Wash
ington should be treated by Congress
II the other members would only
realize that, although it is the capi
tai of the richest and most useful ma
tion on the globe. Washington is out
stripped in size and appropriations
FOR its maintenance by about twenty
other capitals of countries. There is
no excuse for this. and American
always stand for it.
Several points in the statement or
Senator France were worth noting. \
department of sanitation and educa-
tion is called lor and the two inter
ests might well be combined to pre-
heavy. 1t is not logical to bestow
more culture on our apple trees than
upon our children and show more So
licitude for the health of our pigs
and chickens than for the physical
well being OF our human family.
The idea of providing a great ma
tional university at Washington is
something to dwell upon, and to push
to realization. Let the details be
worked out and presented to Con-
gress. We aspire to lead the world.
and we do. too. in many things. but
let us prove it by putting brains
above money and regarding human
understanding as something better
than the beasts Of the field.
Reference has often been made to
the value OF the museums and gov
ernment buildings. and of Congress
itself, as adjuncts to a great national
university. Let US suppose that in
addition there were buildings at
Washington representing all that is
best in the thought, handiwork and
Union and Of every country worth
while in the world, on perpetual ex-
hibitfon and accessible to all inuuir-
ers. as well as institutions for the
cenfering of the latest discoveries in
all branches of human endeayor. Moth
ing worth knowing left to the imagi-
nation: no fruit, plant or product of
value without a sample on view: no
part of the explored world without its
map and written description and his
tory; no worthy line of business or
trade unrepresented-nol line Of valu-
able information closed to tho in
Quire1.
In order briefly to show how this
may be brought about it may be
stated that in July. 1914. Mr. Andrea
Brasa: special commissioner Of the
Brazilian department of agriculture
commerce and industry, appeared be-
fore the Washington Chamber OF
Commerce and outlined a plan for es-
tablishing q Brazilian building for
permanent exposition purposes at
Washington. His plans included a
large hall. finished in native woods
representing each Of tho twenty
states Of Brazil. standing exhibits OF
raw materials and finished products.
moving pictures representing scenes
and doings in that country, a green
house large enough to house hun
dreds Of trees of coffee, cacao, rubber
and various fruits and economic
plants, the cultivation, harvesting
etc. of each to be shown in the nat
ural condition as at home; maps Of
st4tes and smaller land divisions
statistics and all other pertinent in
formation. cafeteria for showing
samples Of Brazilian cofYees, etc. The
site for the building 70 be provided
by Congress-: all tho rest to be done
by Brazil. which country would be
repaid By exhibitors and by paid en-
frances. The chamber of commerce
approved tho plan.
VINO can minimize the cultural
scientific. commercial. social and DO
ntical importance of such a gather
ing Of the nations at Washington and
who will say that IT cannot be real
1zed? LINDSAY S. PERKINS.
New York city.