Evening star., 1934-05-20
Plans Miniature Government ~
For Children IN Alexandria
Mrs. Valrie McMahan
Makes Arrangements
for Play Project.
President, Vice Presi.
dent, Cabinet and Houses
to Be Elected.

Plans are under way for construc-
tion of a miniature Capitol building
across the river from the big Capitol
at Jones Point, in Alexandria, Va.
There, on the grounds of the his
toric Jones Point Light House, Mrs.
Valrie McMahan is planning to set
up a group of buildings, including a
copy in miniature Of the Capitol
building, to serve as headquarters
for baby government, replete with
children serving as president" T." "vice
president" the cabinet" and the two
houses" Her plan is one for play
time for children with a political
slant. 1t Is to be financed by the
manufacturer of toys, to take place
in a building designated as the de
partment of agriculture" in the baby
government.
Already the water mains, gas mains
and electric power lines have been
connected with the property, and
Mrs. McMahan expects to get her
project under way on full-time basis
before long. The children will attend
to their affairs Of state only after
school hours and during vacation Pc
RODS, although Mrs. McMahan is
planning special all-day activities at
Easter, New Year day and Thanks
giving holidays.
The manufacture of the toys will
be in the hands Of adults, but the
children will be allowed to watch the
toys made. and perhaps to learn how
to make them.
Mrs. McMahan, who lives at 1107
Sixteenth street, is already expert
menting with her political playtime
for children idea. She now has a
staff of government officials" rang
ing from Jimmie Baxter, Z years old.
the president" to Harold Rowland,
IL secretary Of state" Volney Chase,
8, is "vice president" and Louise
Roberts, z, is first lady"
These young officials" are serving
by appointment. All are Washington
children. She plans, however, to have
national elections for all Of the gov
ernment" Offices, conducted by corre-
spondence throughout the country.
The property upon which the min
iature government buildings are to be
built abuts that Of Jones Point Light
house, which has not been used for
several years. The former land, which
during the war was used as head
quarters for the Alexandria navy
yard, is now being purchased by Mrs.
McMahan, while the latter was turned
over by the Government in the form
of a grant to the Mount Vernon
Chapter of the D. A. r. This chap
ter is responsible for the maintenance
and upkeep Of the light house prop
erty, and for the past few years has
experienced difficulty in finding q
tenant who would live up to the terms
Of the agreement. Now they have
turned the grant over to Mrs. Nc
Mahan, who plans to light the beacon
as in the days past.
This point is of especial historic in
terest because In 1891 when Mai. An
drew Ellicott made the original sur
vey of the territory for the proposed
Nations Capitol he started from Jones
Point at the direction of George
Washington. There he placed his
first stone marker Of the District. To-
day this stone is in q cement cage in
the seawall.
The light house which adorns the
tip OF the peninsula was erected In
1887 after its need had been agitated
for years. For several generations 1t