Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
Capital Sidelights


1t Is possible for every man. woman
and child In the National Capital. and
countless visitors. to make pilgrimage
to the Library Of Congress to view the
original Declaration OF Independence,
| written by Thomas Jefferson. which
is the corner stone of our Government.
and which was promulgated ISL years
ago.
Besides the Declaration of indie.
pendence there are in the Library of
Congress two other very remarkable
documents with which jefferson was
connected. One of these is the deed
ment, with the wax Of all the signers
except Jefferson still attached, dated
March /, 1884. which bears the sigma.
ture Of Jefferson. 8. Hardy, Arthur
Lee and James Monroe, the State dele
gates in Congress. This deed convey.
ed more property than any other deed
that was ever delivered IT the great
Northwest Territory held by Virginia
under charter grant from James in
1909.
The third paper in Jefferson's hand.
writing Is a report dated March 3,
1874. from special committee Of Con.
gress, Of which Jefferson was chair.
mantle other members being Sam.
uel Chase Of Maryland and David
Howell Of Connecticut ~ providing a
plan of government for the newly &C.
quired territory. 1t Is In Jefferson's
own chirography on two small pieces
Of paper, written on both sides.
Representative r. Walton Moore,
than whom there is no more devoted
student OF Jefferson, points out that
while Jeffsrson's supreme contribution
to this Nation was spiritual, Ito i'm.
bue its national consciousness with
high aspiration" yet through his pow.
erful influence he also made these
very material contributions:
~ The cession Of the Northwest
Territory to the United States. con.
tanning nearly $4,000 square miles
and more than $1,000 900 acres. out
Of which have been carved the States
OF Ohio. Indiana, Michigan and Wis.
consin and that portion Of Minnesota
east Of the Mississippi River.
(2) Acquisition of the Louisiana Ter.
ritory from France for SIS 900 900.
the Mississippi River and the Rocky
Mountains and from Mexico to the
Lake of the Woods. on the Canadian
frontier, including the entire States of
Arkansas. Missouri. Iowa. Nebraska,
North and South Dakota and Okla.
hona, and parts of the States Of Min.
nesota, Kansas, Colorado, Montana,
wyoming and Louisiana.
Just as the continuance Of foreign
rule over the vast area In the Lou.
isiana purchase would have involved
this Nation in constant complications
OF the most serious character, SO the
retention by Virginia Of the Northwest
territory would have made difficult. If
not impossible. the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution and our present
system Of Government.
His work insured the territorial and
consequent political integrity of our
country.
And 1t Is particularly appropriate
for the youth Of the land to dwell on
JEFFERSON on this greatest of all politi.
cal anniversaries. for 1t was on July 4.
1875. just half century from the day
tn&t made him famous in all history.
that he died. By a singular comet.
dence, his old rival and political an.
tagonist, John Adams, died on the
same day.
Two families that have been ont
standing In pioneer work and food
crop explorations for the Department
OF Agriculture have just been united
In the marriage of Miss Ruth Bissett
OF Rockville and Jim" Dorsett. on
the latter's return with his father
and treasure chest of new cron
possibilities from China.
The elder Dorsett--Dr. P. His a
veteran plant industry scientist and
young Jim" made a name for him.
self with camera on their journey
OF exploration through the field of
Cathay. They brought back the most
promising material that any foreign
mission has ever brought home, ac-
cording to officials Of the Federal
department.: Their caravan moved
through China with United States
nag on every cart and each coolie
measuring a certificate that he was
United States Government.
The plant experts point out that
some very important changes in
American agriculture will doubtless
result from the Dorsetts' expedition.
We have been developing along lines
or european plants and practices.
The Dorsetts have brought back Chi
nese plants which. like the Chinese
people, have survived through the
ages against extremely hard condi.
lions. They are plants that for thou.
sands upon thousands of years have
kept healthy without the scientific
work Of plant pathologists to keen
them healthy. They represent the
most hardy strains that will be hybrid.
ICED to meet certain conditions here.
They brought back specimens of
the lucious persimmons, the exten.
sive use OF which as a breakfast food
In China amazed the American ex-
plorers. When fully ripe and frozen
they lose all astringency and are a
most delectable food delicacy, which
the Dorsetts are confident will come
into quite general use in this country.
They have also made a collection
OK 1900 varieties Of the soy bean. Of
which experimental paintings are to
be made In various agricultural
states. William j. Mores, SOW bean
specialist of the department. saws
this Is the most important variety
importation ever made. Add to this
more than 800 varieties of the Mung
bean, approximately 400 North China
wheat varieties. and barley, peas.
radishes, sQuashes, edible rourds,
Manchurian lilies Of the valley. ma
tive Wild roses and scores upon
scores OF novelty plants.