Evening star., 1921-04-02
ERECTION Of STATE
BUILDINGS IN D. c.
AGAIN PROPOSED
Chairman Harper Issues
Call for Various Societies
to Take Up Old Plan.
CONGRESS MAY BE ASKED
TO SET ASIDE BIG PLAT
Site Across Potomac Near Highway
Bridge Suggested for Erection
of Forty-Eight Structures.

Revival of the pre-war proposal for
erection in Washington of permanent
state buildings is expected to grow
out of meeting of presidents of state
societies and other citizens of the
capital. to be held in the Chamber of
Commerce rooms next Wednes esday
evening.
Robert n. Harper. former president
of the chamber. today issued the call
for the meeting. The presidents of
twenty-five state societies have been
invited.
Mr.. Harper is chairman of perma-
Eent states exposition committee
which was formed eight years ago.
at the time of the first inauguration
Of former President Wilson. The war
came on and upset the plans which
= were formulated at that time.
Plan to BE Worked Out.
Now it is proposed to effect strong
working organization and take up the
matter in determined Iashion. Effort
will be made to bring a workable
plan to the attention of Congress at
the special session. if possible.
There have been numerous confer
ences during the past few months be-
tween Mr.. Harper. Mrs. John b. Hem
derson and others interested in the
project. 1t is believed conditions as
to the building trades have sufficient
1y approached normal basis to jus
tify the renewing of agitation for this
big development program, in which
every state will have hand. Two or
three years. at least. will be required
for the preliminary work. it is
In a general way. the plan is to ask
Congress to set aside a tract of not
less than 200 acres. on which the pro-
posed forty-eight state buildings may
be erected This site would be select
ed under the direction of a national
committee to be appointed and the
Fine Arts Commission The cost OF
erecting the buildings would be borne
by the several states.
Site Across Potomac Suggested
Mrs. Henderson is understood to
have suggested as a site the Agn,
culture Department. experimental
grounds across the Potomac river. not
far from the Highway bridge. 1t is
pointed out Congress could donate
this ground. which would make an
appropriation unnecessary. The build,
ingS. with a central heating and
lighting plant, would constitute al
most a city within themselves.
1t is assumed the states would draw
upon their own resources of raw ma
represent them. Tennessee. for exam
pie, might employ Tennessee marble
and Vermont. no doubt. would use
Vermont granite. California, IT is as
sumed. would draw heavily upon her
redwood.
Many states showed their interest
in the exposition project by sending
delegates to the exposition meeting
held eight years ago. which was pre-
sided over by Mr.. Harper. One or two
governors and several members of
Congress attended this meeting.
Mr.. Harper said today that he had
attempted to get the name of every
president of a state society in WASH
ington, and that il any organization
had been overlooked ii was extended
a general invitation to have q dele
gate present at Wednesdays meet
ing.
Letter to Societies.
The letter sent out by Mr.. Harper
10 as follows:
The subject of erecting in this
forty-eight states has been occupy
Ing the attention of many citizens of
this city. as we'll as those from the
states. for many years.
Belief that such buildings will be
of inestimable value to the state. as
well as TO the nation at large. has
caused me to look into the matter
seriously and discuss it with many
persons who look upon it as a move
in the right direction.
AiS SuuSat4oidt anu commercial VAL
ue to the country at large. and par
ticularly 10 the state itself, can be
only family imagined when the natural
resources as well as its manufacturing
and agricultural developments are prom
erly housed and displayed in a building
at the nations capitaI-buiIt and owned
by the state-where the people of the
world at slight inconvenience pass upon
each states resources.
Expects to Take Steps.
Believing this subject to be of such
material Importance has persuaded me
to call meeting OF a substantial rem
resentation of several states for the
purpose Of discussing the subject in
greater detail. with the object in Wow
Of building up d substantial and de-
termined organization for the purpose
of inducing Congress and the states to
take proper and prompt steps to make
the project a practical realization.
II therefore take the liberty of re-
Guesting YOU TO attend a meeting called
for this purpose to be held at the rooms
OF the Washington Chamber of Com
merce. Homer building. 18th and G
streets northwest. at s o'clock pm
Wednesday, April S.