Evening star., 1935-11-24
AVENUE Of STATES|
MOVEMENT BEGUN
Lincoln Park Head to Ask
East Washington Civic
Cooperation.

y,
vice president of the Lincoln Park
Citizens Association, announced yes
terday.
Calvert said he would seek this
cooperation to back the plan Of Col
Robert NJ. Harper, who few years
ago was prominent and active in civic
affairs.
So impressed was Secretary Of the
Navy Claude A. Swanson, then Sena-
tor from Virginia, with an address
Col. Harper made outlining his plan
for the States exhibits buildings that
he had it printed in the Congressional
Record in order the members Of Con-
sress might read it.
Here is what Col. Harper had to say
about his plan:
Purpose of Suggestion.
my purpose in suggesting the erec-
ton of permanent States buildings
in or near the District of Columbia is
intended solely to maintain for all
times at the seat of our National Gov
ernment a creditable exhibit of the
natural resources as well as the man.
historical developments of each State
from the time it first became part of
the Union to the present day, and
onward, year by year, as the creative
power of man may develop.
MY greatest ambition at this time
and in this connection is to attract
trusted to them, to use their official
life and influence who are looked upon
by those they represent as capable, by
intelligence and responsibility in
trusted to them, to use they official
positions to foster and promote the
best interest of today and tomorrow
which has been made possible by
the accomplishment or development of
yesterday.
If our national, State and local
legislators would recognize this one
responsibility, then our future great
ness IS not only assured, but immeas-
urably enhanced.
No Such Museum Existent.
"Our National Museum deals with
our civilization, from the standpoint
OF the archeologiSt, as a dead thing.
These States buildings would be DEM
onstration that our civilization is q
live and going affair, something to
work for, to live for; something to
develop and strive to perfect. No such
museum now exists, and it would be
of incalculable value to all our citi-
gems in showing to the world at one
central place the achievements of the
American people and to be an inspira-
tion to each succeeding generation.
THE question might well be asked,
How is it to be Accomplishment My
answer is that the exhibits would
show, in a practical way, how many
of the States have moved forward,
step by step, from barren prairie to
wealth through gifts of nature de-
Veloped by man; how the fertile agri.
cultural land has been made more
potent year by year as mans ability
to develop has become practical, and
how the unbroken wealth beyond the
sight of man has been brought forth
and converted into dollars, and, in
addition, practical biographical
sketch Of the men and women of the
States who have contributed so mag
n1ncently to Its development.
Each State Has Building.
1.-THE proposition which I feel ap-
peals to the wisdom Of the thinking
people, and the one that I have been
advocating, Is that each State and
Territory shall erect separate and
permanent building along lines that
would present most strikingly the
States individuality In comparison to
the other States.
i am not unmindful of the probable
variance in opinions Of the most
honest men of ability and the ne
cessity to guard against rivalry and
Jealousy; therefore, conscious of this
fact and to overcome conflict in
tastes and possibly unmatured ideas
by persons inexperienced in such mat
tiers, and to insure proper harmony
OF construction and best results, my
thought is q commission to direct
the architecture of the buildings,
landscaping and the general layout
OF the plat, with the idea always
foremost that each building should
be constructed of material recognized
as direct and native product Of that
State.
To illustrate, Vermont would prob
ably erect its building of its granite,
with the interior trimmed with va
rlous native Vermont marbles, while
Indiana should favor limestone Ten
nessee, doubtless, would have its
building beautifled by an assortment
OF her marbles, interior and exterior;
and the same with Georgia, Alabama,
Colorado and others.
Woodwork of Redwood.
California native redwood, which
might be used with great advantage
in trimming the interior of its build
ing; the Northwest its hardwood, the
Southern States their white and
yellow pine, and so on throughout
the different States where there Is a
being marketed or which the State
desires to market, but in each instance
peculiarly indigenous to the State and
worthy Of State pride and consider
alton.
THE importance of carrying out
the object In view demands that
neither pains nor expense should be
spared to guarantee that these build
tngs will be especially designed for
properly exhibiting, in addition to what
] have already mentioned, the educa-
tional progress, climatic advantages,
and general display Of the indig- |
enous plants, flowers, fruits, vegeta-
bles, checked with seasonal changes
throughout the year and properly |
displayed to present in a most i'm
pressive manner the greatest possihili- |
ties along these lines. Bird, animal
and fish life should be prominently |
featured. Rainfall and temperature. !
properly and regularly recorded by
comparison, should be featured by per-
manent records and scientific charts. |
Assembly Hail Fitting.
"A desirable assembly hall, of proper
size, In each building, where meetings
Of local State societies or conventions