Evening star., 1932-12-11

Fifty years ago w. w. Corcoran,' one
of Washington's most eminent citizens,
Refinement Of letter to
John Howard Payne. tsrS tns Of Sstase state
the disinterment Of the remains Of
John Howard Payne, author Of Home,
Sweet Home" at Tunis, Africa, where
he died while serving as American
consul The Star Of December 5, 1882,
prints the correspondence between Mr..
Corcoran and Secretary Frelinghuysen
and says editorially:
"In another column will be found
the correspondence which has passed
between Mr.. Corcoran and the Depart
ment of State in relation to the re-
moval of the remains Of the late John
Howard Payne from Tunis to this city,
and their final interment here. In this
correspondence 1t will be seen that Mr..
Corcoran proposes not only to defray
all expenses attending the intended re-
moval and burial, but also to erect an
appropriate monument over the grave.
The place chosen for Mr.. Payne's last
resting place Is one OF the finest, If not
the very choicest, in the beautiful GEM
etery at Oak Hill, and the monument
as proposed will be found, when placed,
to be one in every way worthy its OBJ
iect and its surroundings The fact
that the British government has been
asked to cooperate in the matter will
doubtless attract attention and provoke
comment. In one point Of view, 1t
would seem to be a subject for melan-
choly reflection that Nation 30 rich,
generous and enterprising as ours
should be dependent upon another pow
er for friendly Offices in the discharge
of duty so peculiarly domestic and
sacred as this; but in another aspect it
is rather matter for congratulattonS
since the occasion affords an opportp
nifty for display of the fraternal fee1-
ings which will always exist between Gl-
lightened peoples, Of whatever blood,
and furnishes a new illustration of the
power Of that touch Of nature which
makes the whole world kin"
The arrangements were effected and
in 1888 the body Of the actor, author
and American consular representative
was returned to the land Of his birth
and given burial at Oak Hill. In George
town, where 1t rests beneath an i'm
pressive monument capped by his like
ness in stone.
The problem Of the proper arrange
ment of the tracks of the railroads en-
tering Washington and their
Unlon junction at a union station
n.ro+ was agitated so years ago,
'pS" though 1t was not solved for
more than a quarter of q century later.
The Star of December 8, 1882, says:
"The Senate Committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbia has determined to
press the union depot question upon
the attention of Congress at the present
session, in the hope, and with the pur-
pose, If within their power, to have the
subject finally disposed Of by appro-
pirate legislation. The committee and
no doubt both houses of Congress will
be guided in their action very much by
the recommendations made by the Dis
trict Commissioners last year, after q
thorough examination of the entire
subject by direction Of Congress. The
late Maj. Twining devoted considerable
time to the study of the question and
his report will have much weight, 1t is
believed, in the final settlement Of 10
cation. He maintained that the passage
OF the Potomac River was an important
point to be considered in connection with
the matter of locating union depot,
and after rejecting the suggestion OF q
railroad bridge at Analostan Island and
Observatory Point, he declared In favor
Of the present site Of the Long Bridge
as the most convenient point Of cross
ing. In reference to the Long Bridge,
however, he said: The present struc-
ture is in many ways objectionable and
should be removed and replaced by o
properly constructed bridge, with sucn
lengths of span as will offer the least
possible objection He recommended
the selection of site west of Sixth
street and south Of G street southwest
for the union depot, and suggested the
intersection Of Maryland and Virginia
avenues, or some spot between that in
tersection and the head Of Long Bridge.
The Commissioners freely expressed the
opinion that the public interests would
be best promoted by common station
for the several railroads that now enter
or may hereafter enter the District, and
the members of the District Committee
who had inquired into the matter agree
with them on this mint 70