The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1932-01-07

Mr.. Lewis also declared that
America has smaller capital city
than other great nations, and he ex-
pressed the hope that the future will
see Washington developed to be the
equal of any capital in the wrold. l
cannot go along with the bewhiskered
gentleman from Illinois on that line
of talk. / would like to see this city
grow in quality as much as possible
and in quantity be kept down as
much as is consistent with progress.
If Senator Lewis dream of mann
moth capital city comes true, the
United States government will have
to take some steps about expanding
the district of Columbia, for it will
not be many years before there will
be as much of the Washington metro
politan area outside of the District
as there is in it. Let me now be the
first to suggest that it would be an
excellent idea for the federal govern
ment to so expand the District, in
order that better control of all of the
real area be made possible.
When Washington and L'Enfant
planned the federal city, hey thought
that the extent of the District OF Co.
lumbia would be ample, ten miles
square. Visions of more than lo1
years ago could not picture the phe-
nomenal growths of cities of this
age.
1t seems difficult now to realize
that Washington was ,nce known as
1.-THE City Of Magnificent Distances"
because the buildings were so few
and far between. Now they are piled
up along the streets, row after row,
more frequently than not, with no
space between two houses. This, in
my estimation, is the one great OBJ
lection to your capital city and mine.
There can not be much beauty in
rows of houses. There can not be
be much suggestion of ''homeiness"
without front yards and plenty of
space to the sides of dwellings,. Most
houses in the District of Columbia
have no such things, but we get used
to conditions after we live here for
while.
1t is well that people may not arise
out of their graves to view develop
ments long years after their burial.
What would happen to David Burns
were he permitted to take look at
large part of northwest Washington
that used to be his. Burns owned
great farm here in the district and
when the federal city was being
formed, Burns haggled long over the
price to be paid him for his holdings,
but finally gave in. On his farm to-
day are such structures as the White
house; the State, War, and Navy
building; the Corcoran Art Gallery,
the Red Cross headquarters, the home
of the Daughters of the American
Revolution, the Washington Auditor
ium, the Navy Building and the Mum
itions Building; also the wonderful
Lincoln Memorial, located on a spot
where once there was swamp land in
Davy Burns day. And then, of course,
there is the Pan-American Union
building which rests on the exact
spot of the cottage in which the
thrifty Scotchman lived. The value
of Davy Burns farm today would run
into millions on millions on millions
of dollars.
And then the value of the furnish
ings and equipment Of some of these
buildings would represent another
tremendous fortune. For instance,
there may be mentioned the furniture
and art treasures of the White House
itself. No one knows what all the
things in the government residence,
which is leased for four years at
time for nothing, may be really
vdued at, so along comes Senator
Simeon Fess of Ohio to express the
belief that there should be a reliable
history Of the works of art in the
presidential mansion, and that there
should also be an evaluation placed
on these things. For that purpose he
has introduced bill in the upper
house of Congress, providing for an
appropriation of twenty-five hundred
dollars to make proper study of the
White House equipment.
Things have gradually accrued to
the home of presidents until now
there is no saying just how much
material there is in the place. Just
recently Mrs. Herbert Hoover receiv-
ed the first insignia of membership in
the American Red Cross, pin per-
sonally worn by Miss Clara Barton,
founder of the organization.
Certain articles which will one day
be worth untold prices are now being
turned out by a group of girls. They
made wall scenes and candle holders