Evening star., 1938-01-23
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

Impetus has been given to the revival
OF an old hobby as the work of the Ma
tional Archives becomes better known.
or course there have always been old
book and historic document collectors
in Washington such men as Frank j.
Hogan. lawyer, and Nathan Wallack,
merchant. But the United States Senate
several years ago overhauled its old
records and documents, put some on ex-
hibltion. carefully catalogued them all
and deposited many in the Archives
Building. Commenting on this last
Thursday at exercises commemorative
the chamber in the Capital where the
United States Supreme Court first met.
DR.. r. D. w. Connor. the archivist, naive
ly remarked that 'the Senate with unex-
pected wisdom whatever that might
imply-had made such deposit. Now the
House is engaged in discovering" most
important documents of which there was
no record-incidentally clearing up fire.
traps OF stored old papers in alcove
rooms and blocked-off passages. These
House papers are being sent to the
Library of Congress.
And-once in while, some historic
papers in private ownership are brought
to light and given public attention. Such
a cache-the property of Harwood Burk-
hart. who comes OF an historic family,
living in Martinsburg, w. Va, has Just
been brought to the Capital by L. H.:
Carey. Government worker. living at
" Adams street NV. In these post
prohibition days of private tap rooms
in so many homes there is special. inter-
est in an old calfskin-bound volume,
published at Harrisburgh, Pa, by John
Wyeth in 1909. This is THE Practical
Distiller,' by Samuel MHarry of Lam
caster County, Pa. 1t is An introduction
to making: Whiskey, gin, brandy spirits
&c, &c. of better quality and in larger
quantities, than produced by the present
mode of distilfing. from the produce of
the United States" 1t names such pro-
duce-rye, corn, buckwheat, apples.
peaches. potatoes, pumpions and turnips.
This little book gives directions "how
to conduct and improve the practical part
OF dlstilling in all its branches; together
with directions for purifying, clearing
and coluring whiskey, making spirits SIM
liar to French brandy &c, from the
spirits Of rye, corn, apples. potatoes &C."
There are appended sundry extracts Of
approved receipts for making cider,
domestic wines and beer. 1t purports to
teach how to make spirits resembling
Jamaica rum and Holland gin out of rye
whisky.
Tribute was paid to the three first
Commissioners of the Capital City, who
on January 20, 1901, formally wrote
asking Congress to provide meeting
place in the Capitol for the Supreme
Court. They were William Thornton,
Alexander White and William Cranch.
Thornton. like Alexander Hamilton was
an immigrant from the West Indies, edu-
Gated at Edinburgh, the University of
Aberdeen. and extensive continental
studies. He won the competition for the
design of the Capitol although not being
q professional he was involved in con-
troversies over structural details. He
lived in Georgetown. declined the post of
superintendent of the Capitol Among
other buildings he designed are the
Octagon House. Woodlawn, below Alex
andria, and Tudor Place in Georgetown.
Jefferson consulted him on plans for the
University Of Virginia. He was in charge
of the Patent Office. associated with
John Fitch in pioneering development
of the steamboat, was one Of the found
ers of the Columbian Institute. fore
runner of the Smithsonian Institution.
and the Botanic Garden. He raised
merino sheep. trained race horses, paint
ed, promoted gold mines, proposed a
Union of North and South America, was
active in abolition and colonization
Alexander White was born in Fred
erick County, Va, son Of q surgeon in
the British Navy. He was successfully
Kings or States attorney, served In the
House Of Burgesses an able coadjutor Of
the policies Of Madison. He led the
proratihcation forces in the battle over
the Constitution and served In the first
two Congresses-where his was one Of
the two votes which fixed the present
location Of the Capital City. He was
appointed Commissioner when Daniel
Carroll resigned.
William Cranch was native of Wey-
mouth, Mass, nephew Of President
John Adams. He was legal representa-
tive of firm dealing in real estate in
the new Federal city. He served as Com
missioner only two months, and was
then appointed a judge of the Circuit
Court for the District. He was also re-
porter of the Supreme Court and pub
lished nine volumes covering the ses-
sions-180l- President Jefferson
made him chief judge and he held that
post for so years. Only two of his de-
cisions were ever reversed on appeal.
He was m accomplished musician and
played the organ In the Unitarian
Church.