The Washington herald., 1920-01-28
$20,16O GIVEN
G. OF G. HOME
Business Men Subscribe to
Fund for Association Of
Commerce Building.
SPRING STARTS WORK
Cass Gilbert Completes
Plans for Structure to
Cost $2,5OO,OOO.
SPRING STARTS WORK

Rallying TO tho support Of the 2.7o0,-
ooo-fund being raised throughout the
country for the erection here OF a
new home for the Chamber Of Com
merce OF the United States, Washing
ton individuals and business nrms
have subscribed s0.I5o. It was an
nounced last night
Work on the building will begin
in the Spring. 1t will be erected on
the old Corcoran place. in the heart
OF the city. just across Lafayette
square from the White House. at n
cost of $4,000. The eight lots pur-
chased for the building site cost
S6o.0oo. bringing the approximate cost
OF the new headquarters Of the ma
tons business. including the furniSh-
ings. up to s3.20o.0oo.
Five Stories High.
Cass Gilbert. who designed the
Woolworth building and the United
States Customs House. New York: the
L. S. Treasury Annex here. and other
notable edifices, has completed plans
for the Chamber of Commerce build
ing. which will be five stories high.
An interesting history attaches to
the site of the new structure. w. w.
Corcoran. founder of the Corcoran Art
Gallery. purchased the properly from
Daniel Webster in 1Sf7, after Webster
retired from public life. Corcoran and
Webster were close friends. II is said
the house and lots were presented to
Webster by friends. 1t was transfer
red to Webster by Robert Swami in
1884. 81 being mentioned as the con-
sideration.
In 1852 the property was assessed at
81 a square foot. The property then
was a part of the town of Port Royal.
The Original proprietor of the tract
was Samuel Davidson, whose title
came in 1770 by authority OF the Lord
Baltimore grant. He willed ii TO Gen.
James Breckenridge in 1877. Thomas
Swami bought it in 1927 and seventeen
years later sold 1t to Webster.
Francis Scott Key lived in the old
house at one time. 1t will be razed
to make room for the new structure.
Committee Starts Campaign.
The Washington committee on
finance for the building. which includes
James F. Oyster. Robert n. Harper.
Joseph A. Berberich. L. C. Graham
and John Joy Edison. announces the
following subscribers to the fund:
John Joy Edison, $1,000; National
Electrical Supply Company. Mr.. E.
C. Graham, president, $1,000: Ma
tional Geographic Society, Mr.. Gill
bert Grosvenor. $1,000: Harry
wardman. $1,000; Woodward and
Lothrop. Inc Mr.. Donald Wood
ward, $1,000; Washington Railway
and Electric Company. Mr.. W. F.
Ham. president. $1,000: Evening
Star Company. Mr.. Frank Noyes.
$1,000: the Washington Post ST.
600: the Capital Traction Com
pany. $1,000; $. Kann Sons Com
pany. $1,000: Hotel Mems Associa-
ton of Washington. Mr.. Frank 5.
Height. president, $4,000; A. Lisner.
$1,000; General Anson Mills, $500;
Mills Building, $500; Christian
Heurich, $500: F. n. Shepherd,
$500; Washington Gas Light Com
pany. $500; r. p. Andrews Paper
Company. 500; Robert n. Harper.
$500; Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company. $500; c. A.
Snow. $500: NJ. Goldenberg, $500:
chants Bank, $500; Washington
n. l.. Sansbury. $3.50; r. Berberich's
Sons. $3.50: Norfolk and Washing
ton Steamship Company. $3.50:
Gilbert Grosvenor. 5000: Gus Buc-
holtz (additionaD. $3.50; Arthur
Carr. 800; Frank r. Jelleff. me,
500. Total. s20,15o.