Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-10-03
Capital Sidelights

Washington. has the distinction ~
| originating the project. rms S'd'e
ment has been challenged. II Was
! based on a booklet published nH nv
Mount Vernon Avenue Assocla'I'" w
! 1919 and on an introduction Oh III
Harlow nv former RepresentatlNe
Charles c. Carlin of Alexandra 'ts'
wear before the House committee ""
roads. ,,i.,o,i.
There now comes to hCht hIstpl
caI1,. valuable and interesting letter ON
~ ircention of this boulevard project
written to Mr.. Carlin Is years ~.
| while member Of Congress 10 Nj
! Harlow. as follows; - We.
| Realizing the uncertainty OF nv
and of human recollection. any
lievine that the construction Oh
! houleyard from Washington 70 Moui',
Vernon is soon to be accompilen,e
feel il but A simple act or Justio
Won to write this letter IN orueI w W..
| future generations. when enjoS h ,nS
| pleasure Of drive from "asnIns w..
| 10 Mount Vernon. may know tne III
| man above all others who IS entltlen
~ tho credit not only of having ofisi'
mated the patriotic i,.ea hut or neVIns
done more 10 bring about inc
plishment of the plan than any o'"e'
man. ,,.,o,,. NJ
J u am familiar with the his'oiH w
the purpnsed avenue from Us nh IN,
ton to the present date. ~
! recau that | was a deputy t-eSsule
| of Alexandria city when you W oes
trea surer in the year 1883 or lSeo.
when in conversation in your "it'te
Won stated that YOU had Tor some
months been considering the aoN Is
ability Of asking some puo'lsher ~
| give publicity to your views loI ti-
! construction of a memorial hlgn"aS
10 he $50 feet wide, beginning IN
City Of Washington. the Guy Witt
bears the name Of the Immortal WASH
inCton with a memorial bridge across
| the Potomac River and nlsnwaE
extending 10 Mount Vernon, the 1omn
where rests his immortal remains
"a few weeks later you ASKED me
| 10 GO with YOU to see Mr. r.. w. I'm
the editor Of the National Repuphcah
pa per then published in the tlly W
| Washington and circulated in AleXan'
dria. The object Of your WISH w.
| two fold-viz.. 10 recommend m! en-
| poyment to Mr.. Fox as the A.eHH".
| dria reporter for his pal per and to lay
before him vo,r scheme for the con
| str,,ctjon of the memorial highway
| went with YOU to the office Of Mr..
Fox and heard yo, unfold to him your
| ideas and plans. Mr.. Fox thought the
! scheme worthy Of the attention OF the
American people. spoke NJ 1t as
! patriotic project that ought to he I'M
| mediately promoted and promised to
give It publicity through the columns
Of his paper.
| MIR. Fox did all that he promised
! to do. and more, and during his
! ownership Of that paper never lost
An opportunity to strike blow In be
| half OF the project Many or his edl-
| torials were exceedingly able. ana
| from time to time had the effect or
| arousins various individual members
Of the House OF Represe ntattVes ana
| the Senate to patriotic speeches IN
| dorsing the project. From that gay
! to this there have been many steps
taken toward the construction Of this
avenue. all OF which have been either
nv YOUR initiative or with your most
earnest cooperation. The CharterinC
| Of the Mount Vernon Avenue Associa-
ton. the securing Of the first appro-
| pria ton from Congress for the plans
! and specifications for the Memorial
Bridge and for the surveys which
| were made by the Engineer Depart
ment. L. S. A, under Col. Peter {.
| Hams. were all intimately associated
| with your individual efforts.
Since my election to Congress In
1 i y
| effort that has been exerted by my
| self and others in behalf of the prof.
| cot has not only been in thorough
| accord with your wishes and views.
| hut with your earnest and unselhsh
cooperation. ] know that YOU have
given not only ahunda ntlN and Law
| ishlv Of your time and energy. but also
! If your means. and this letter Is writ
| ton in order that Justice may he done
and to preserve the testimony of a wit
ness familiar with the project from
it's origin.
Mr. rarlin also commends MI. Fox.
editor and owner Of the National Re'
nuhlican. who was the first to give
any real support and assistance to
Mr.. Harlow In this work: and the
late John r. Smoot Of Alexandria.
who was the first president OF the
| Mount Vernon Avenue Association.
and who. Mr.. Carlin says, gave freely
Of his time. energy and means to pro
mote the project; also the late Frank
Hume Of Alexandria County. who
was one Of the first TO enthusias lily
and industriously give every aid and
assistance in his power.
| 4
For nearly a quarter Of century
Renresentative Richard Yates Or Ill
nois has treasured message received
bv him while Governor Of Illinois.
from his father ~ years after
the latter's death. One day In 1903
while Mr. Yates sat in the governor 6
office in the mansion provided by the
state for its executive. secretary
sought a note book in hurry. The
governor said: I'm that corner over
there YOU will find pile of blank
hooks. left by my father They are
40 wears old hut some of them have
excellent paper The secretary
brought one and. hastily hippinS
through il To see if there WAS any
thing in il that should he preserved,
Mr.. Yates was startled to hnd In the
very center NJ the hook Just one raEe
with writing on it. and that in his
fathers chirography. The latter had
previously heen governor. and died In
ts73 when the present ConEressmsn
WAS 13 years old.
Mr.. Yates read: "ro my son-To
urge you to close attention TO busi-
ness. TO economy and sobriety. to he
good and do good in Christian faith,
~ work hard and always 70 keep W
a good heart and hope for the world
that is before vou.'
Commenting on this treasure trove
Mr.. Yates SAYS: How like A message
from beyond the grave: ave. from the
realms Of light. 1t seemed 70 me that
dav' II still seems so. love 10 he
lieve that no one saw these words
until did that my father was sitting
alone. in the midnight hour which
brings that rare and radiant moment
when the wrought.up brain conveys
high thoughts 10 shining pen: that he
wrote these words and then closed the
book. and wrapped the curtains Of his
couch about him and laid down II
pleasant dreams-and that the next
eve to behold these lines was mine.
so help me. it has always seemed
Ike an oath Of peculiar sanctitV. ad