The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-02-07

ment, so that all will be in readiness
for the National Capital for the great
celebration two years hence.
The commission has also undertas en-
to assist in the restoration of Wake
field, Va, the birthplace of Washing
ton. The Wakefield association pro.
poses to add to the 20 acres which it
now owns 800 acres more which are
necessary to treat the home and it's
surroundings properly. John d. Rookie
Teller, Jr., has made a provisional gift
in this connection and congress will
be asked to appropriate 100000 to COM
plete the restoration.
Although these are the principal
projects in which the bicentennial COM
mission is interested. they are not the
only memorials to Washington which
may be completed and may be the
scene of special observances Of his
birthday in 1882. On beautiful knoll
overlooking the historic city of Alex
andria, Va, Is rapidly rising the
George Washington Masonic National
memorial, 100000 structure, erect
ed by the Masons of the country to
an honored fellow member, which is
virtually certain to be completed with
in the next two years. The TERED
temple is surrounded by 30 acres of
land and surmounts the uppermost of
seven terraces. The building will stand
235 feet high. The main building is
1771a feet wide by 1861 feet long.
When completed the memorial will be
visible for many miles. The land on
which it stands was owned by the Fa-
Their of His Country and was once Sc
lected by Jefferson and Madison and
favored by John Adams as the site of
the National Capital.
An effort is being made also to fin
ish the George Washington Memorial
building in Washington so that it will
also be ready for the 1882 celebration.
The idea for this building came from
George Washington himself who pro-
vided in his will for national univer-
sity and emphasized in his last mes
sage to congress the Importance Of
"the general diffusion of knowledge"
through proper institutions.
The movement to give life to the
dream of Washington was started
more than thirty years ago by Mrs.
Henry P. Dimock, sister of William
G. Whitney, who was secretary of the
navy in President Cleveland's first cab.
met and who is today remembered an
the father of the modern navy"
Mrs. Dimock is president Of the
George Washington Memorial associa-
ton, which was Incorporated in Sep
TENDER, 1893.
BY an act of March 4, 1913, con-
gress gave the land for the building.
The site consists of a whole square
on B street between Sixth and Sew
enth Streets Southwest. Activities
that were to have followed this grant
Of land were largely suspended be-
cause Of the World war, but on No
vember IA, 1921, the cornerstone was
laid with President Harding as the
principal speaker.
A center such as the memorial will
provide Is now lacking in Washington.
According to plans, the building will
have not only large auditorium with
a large organ, but several smaller
halls seating from 500 to $500 people.
To emphasize the permanent char
acter of this memorial to Washing
ton. it is planned that the building
shall provide suitable quarters for all
patriotic organizations and offer them
a place for their archives, flags and
treasures. Rooms would be provided
for the meetings and exercises Of the
state organizations of the 4S states.
as well as for the organizations Of
the territories.
The building would be made Access
sible to conventions of every charac-N
ter that may select Washington as a
place of assembly, whether the con-
ventions be international, state, inter-
state or territorial; or whether their
character be business, political. religi-
Gus, patriotic or social. The memorial
Will be center, in fact, for "the diff
fusion of knowledge" 1t will be suit
able for inaugural receptions and balls,
and especially for conferences between
nations, as congress intended it to be
when 1t gave the ground.