The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-02-18

pointea and instructed them as to where they
should locate the permanent capital. Those COM
nissieners named the city for the man who had
led the victorious armies Of the colonies In the
Revolution and who then serving as Presi-
dent Many fairy stories have been written about
how Washington personally selected the site for
the capital even driving some Of the surveyors
stAkes," etc. The unvarnshed truth II that he
merely carried out the will Of congress by ap-
pointing q commission which was instructed by
congress to do a certain thing.
From the day the tract ten miles square
staked out Washington's impress has been In the
c1ty and its environs. That impress stands out
clearer the years pass. More than million
persons. Americans by birth or adoption gain
new inspiration every year merely BY looking
upon the material things that connect the days
when Washington was moving about there in the
hesh with the present time. Thousands OF for
eigners benefit in the same way. There 10 never
any pause In the stream Of pilgrims to Mt. Vernon
q In the throng that Is always on the way to the
top Of the Washington monument. Winter and
summer. through sunshine and storm. the homage
paying to the Father Of his Country" goes on.
Every recurring anniversary Of his birth seemingly
Increases the interest In his memory. On these
anniversaries floral decorations are invariably
piled high In the tomb at Mt Vernon. and neither
branch Of congress fails to provide that his
farewell address shall be read
Probably because the point has never been en-
phasized many persons have the idea, 1t seems
that Washington lived for a short time in the
city that bears his name. There is also popu-
lar belief that the Washingtons at one time oc-
cupied the White House. Washington was never
q resident Of the permanent capital. The seat
of government was in Philadelphia when
gress voted locate the capital where 1t is. and
Washington had a temporary home in that city
On returning from Philadelphia at the close Of
his second term President he gave consider
able personal attention to the early developments
Of the new capital. He frequently rode up from
Mt. Vernon on his favorite Dlack morse TO see
how things were coming
Who would undertake to say that he did not
visualize the national capital in some such form
az It stands today? If he did, he saw in his
Imagination the Capitol building on Capitol hill,
the Library of Congress with its golden dome In
the rear of the Capitol, the magnificent office
buildings for senate and house Of representatives
the expansive Mall extending from the Capitol to
the Potomac, with the monument to his own men,
ory. the most conspicuous thing it: and he
also saw the splendid memorial to Abraham Lin
COLI which has just been completed, as well
the memorial to @. s. Grant which Is almost
ready to be turned to the government And
who again would say that he did not have vision
OF the resident section of the city extending far
beyond the White House to the northwest?
Washington never the White House occu-
MED To some extent it represents his Ideas of
what a combined home and business office for
the President should be-the original idea was
that the President should make the house his
residence and also his workshop. Washington
a Mason assisted in laying the cornerstone Of
the White House. That formaty was conducted
by Masonic lodge in Alexandria of which
washington a member.
IT ia certain that he deeply interested In
the work of construction. AT the time OF his
death the house was practically ready for occn-
nancy The furnishings were being placed In
position Only few days before his death he
and Mrs Washington went through the entire
0nildng and. according to the chronicers Of the
fpe were keenly interested In every detail Of the
nlsce which was to be the home Of future Presi-
dents.
Today, as 1t has ever been 1t is not 80 much
she things with the Washington stamp ON them.
as those in the nearby districts that interest the