Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-17

and are detected by what is known
here as the American accent.
memorial avenue it is proposed to
make a decided improvement at the
entrance to Mount Vernon.
An indication of the feeling of
members of Congress on the subject
is found in the remarks of Repre-
sentative Edward B. Almon of Ala
bama, who said:
Il have often wished that all the
American people could visit Wash
ington because there are SO many
things here of national interest that
l believe would give them better
idea of our Government and it's or
sanization and make them better
Americans, and a visit to the Ma
tional Capital without visit to
Mount Vernon, of course. is incom-
plete. There are more tourists COM
ing to Washington now by railroad
and over the roads in cars than ever be-
fore in the history of the Nation. | have
been here for the last 10 years, and
know there has heen far more tour
lists here this year than at any time
during those 10 years. and no doubt
they will continue to come.
II have often heard it said by a
great many of my constituents that
they had only short time here. and
that 1T took so long a time to go to
Mount Vernon by the present mode of
transportation that they would have
10 cut that out. For those reasons,
1 think 1t is highly important that
the Government take some steps to
improve the method of transporta-
ton between Washington and Mount
Vernon"
Proposed by NJ. b. Harlow.
Two score years ago this me-
mortal boulevard was conceived by
NJ. B. Harlow, who recently appeared
before the House committee on roads,
and who at that time was treasurer
of Alexandria, His idea was that the
people of Virginia and the United
States should unite in erecting a
tribute to the memory Of the founder
of this Nation. He proposed that. the
most useful, lasting and beneficial
memorial which could be built to the
memory of Washington as President.
soldier and states man would be to
link the city which he laid out with
his tomb by a great highway combin-
ing the idea of the Appian Way at
Rome and of London's Westminster
Abbey, with bridges over the various
streams along the route as memorials
to the great foreign soldiers who
fought to aid the American revolu-
tionists.
The historic and sentimental rea-
sons for memorializing the region
through which the road passes were
emphasized by Mr.. Callahan, who
graphically pointed out the many
points of interest for tourists, con-
spicuous among them being the tow
ering pyramidal Masonic memorial at
the entrance to Alexandria, where
room has been left for the Mount Yer
non avenue to lead directly to this
structure.
He described the scenery along the
road which is to start from the south
end Of the Memorial bridge across the
Potomac, and skirt the hills known
as Braddock Heights and Arlington
Heights. 1t would extend along what
is known as Braddock Heights, where
Gen. Braddock's army wintered In
1855, and from which point it started
on its disasterous advance in the
Monongahela campaign. There. Brad
dock was killed and his army re-
turned Washington. who was made
major on Gen. Braddocks staff, re-
turned with it, This road will extend
a short distance below the site Of
Rraddocks camp at this temporary
site. The northern road leading by
it and diverging from it was known
as the Leesburg Turnpike, the first
toll road in the United States, con-
structed in 1856.
PASSES Historic Spot.
On Shooters Hill, on the site oc-
cupied by the temple, or within 100
yards of it lived Ludwell Lee, eldest
of Richard Henry Lee, the Vir-
ginia patriot and author of the resolu-
ton that brought on the Declaration
of independence.
The road leading out on the south
side of the temple is the Kings high
way. Just beyond the temple it turns
across what is known now, and was
known then, as Cameron Farm, which
was owned and occupied by Charles
Broadwater, the colleague of Wash
ington in the House of Burgesses.
Alexandria has a great many places
of interest and leaving Alexandria
one passes into the Cameron Run
Valley, in which are numerous his
toric places that are plainly visible
from the route, which follows the
Kings highway. One of them is
Mason, of the Mason Slidell affair.
On the south side of the valley is
the birthplace of Gen. F'itzhugh Lee;
the home of Gen. John Mason, the son
of George Mason of Gunston Hall, and
also, by the side of the road, in a
house called Cameron, lived and died
Gen. Samuel Cooper, adjutant general
of the United States Army before the
War between the States and adjutant
general of the Confederate army dur
ing that war.
Crossing over Cameron Valley and
pursuing the old Kings highway, tbs
tourist will pass by Mount Eagle, the
home of Bryan. the eighth Lord Fair
fax-the last house visited by Wash
ington before he died; and Bryan Fair
fax, the last visitor TO Mount Vernon
before the generals death.
From this point the visitor will be
able to locate and see part of the
home of Gen. Thompson Mason of
Revolutionary fame, son of Virginia.
great statesman, George Mason,
author OF her bill Of rights and first
constitution.
Going on. you come to Gum Springs,
right by which lived DR.. Humphrey
Peak, Washington's nearest neighbor.
The old house has been destroyed, but
1t can be easily located.
Bearing to the left at Gum Springs,
the tourist can 60 straight ahead and
arrive at what is known as the postern
gates or the western gates of Mount
Vernon. This was the favorite and
historic road travelled by Washington
In going to his home during his lire-
time.