Evening star., 1922-11-12

was the center Of Great Hunting
creek, south Of Alexandria. The
board of commissioners appointed by
Congress. of which Gen. Washington
was adviser, commenced at the light
house at Alexandria to make their
survey Of the ten miles square. It
is unwritten history that after that
survey was made defining accurately
the boundary Of tho ten miles square
the commissioners met to determine
where the public buildings would be
located. They held thei7 meeting on
4 plateau west of Alexandra. over
looking the town. and it was the con-
census OF opinion. that there was the
ideal place to erect the federal suild-
ings. Gen. Washington objected, on
the ground that he was the largest
landholder in Virginia-nearly 10000
acres, running from Mount Vernon
practically to the corporate limits OF
Alexandra. In order that no, one
could ever charge him with having
Influenced the commissioners to Sc
lect a location which would enhance
tho value Of his own holdings he ad-
vocated the selection of site oq the
north side Of the Potomac river ana
to preserve tho south side as tho fu-
ture Industrial region for the ma
tion's capital.
At Alexandra there 10 being erect
ed today as q memorial to Washing
ton the most magnificent Masonic
temple in the world. on approximate
~ the very site on which Washington
stood when persuading the commits
sioners to turn from Alexandria and
his holdings and to locate the federal
buildings on, the north side OF the
Potomac. The Masonic fraternity all
over the country has already appro-
priated $2,5oo, 900 for this temple and
the. ablest landscape architects have
been employed to lay out the grounds.
Here will be gathered many memo
rials and relics Of Washington.
It fs planned that the Mount Yer
non memorial boulevard will pass by
this magnificent memorial temple.
Second Memorial Bridge.
A second memorial bridge is to be
erected across Great Hunting creek,
q tributary Of the Potomac. This sec
ond bridge is designed as memorial
to La Fayette. De Kalb. Rochambeau
and other distinguished foreign ofi-
GERS and soldiers who rendered such
valuable aid in securing our inde-
pendence as a nation. Passing over
that bridge, the boulevard would en-
ter a beautiful plateau Of about eight
miles, and pass through lands that
originally belonged to George WASH
ington until the lodge gates at Mount
Vernon are reached.
Those who are behind the project
advocate condemnation of all the land
that is needed sp that there may be
no profit for any one in this. develop
ment Of q magnificent memorial ap-
proach to the capital. They are pre-
pared to show Congress that 1t Is q
question Of only q short time before
SPECTATORS would start to destroy
the historic landmarks and the match
less natural scenery. Along the en-
tire route Of the boulevard from
Great Falls is q. magnificent panor-
amic view of the capital and the Po-
tomac. The route lies over 4 beau
tiful ridge, and volumes could be
written about the many places of
historic interest which could be seen
from the highway. The purpose Ii to
preserve for the nation this dominat-
ing height now threatened by de-
spelling speculators.
The President Of the United States
IL by virtue Of the charter honorary
president OF the Mount Vernon Ave-
nue. Association, and the governors
of the states are honorary vice preaa-
Sssse o. ssss. as .:;ss ss:E ~ e s