Evening star., 1940-06-30
Former Was
Author of
Document
Memorable Events
Associated With
Great Holiday
By John Claget Proctor.

ton on Independence Day can only
be assumed Today the world is
going through the most serious pc
riod in its history, and we, in this
great Land of the Free and Home
of the Brave, are meditating on the
outcome and solemnity and rever-
ence w.--~ndoubtedly prevail at any
and all meetings on July 4.
John Adams, the second Presi-
dent of the United States, expressed
his views on the kind of celebration
we should have, generally, in a let
ter he wrote to a friend on July S,
1776, when he said:
Yesterday the greatest question
was decided which was ever decided
among men. A resolution was passed
unanimously, That these United
States are, and of right ought to
be, free and independent States
The day is passed. The 4th of
July, 1776, will be a memorable
epoch in the history of America.
! am apt to believe it will be cele-
brated by succeeding generations
as the Great Anniversary Festival!
1t ought to be commemorated as
the day of deliverence. by solemn
acts OF devotion to the Almighty
God. II ought to be Solemnized
with pomp, shows, games, sports,
guns, bells, bonfireS and illumina-
tlons-trom one end of the CONT
hent to the other from this time
forever! You will tank me trans
ported with enthusiasm, put I am
not. I am well aware of the toll
and blood, and treasure it will cost
to maintain this declaration and
support and defend these States:
yet, through all the gloom, I can
see ray Of light and glory. can
see that the end is worth more than
all the means, and that posteritv
will triumph. although you and I
may rue-which I hope we shall
not"
Thus, 1t seems that Mr.. Adams
gives us much latitude in which
TO celebrate July 4, though this great
patriot, with all his knowledge and
vision, could not visualize universal
conditions as they are today, vet his
Idea that 'it ought to be commeno-
rated as the day of deIiverence. bv
solemn acts Of devotion to the AL
mighty God" is suggestion well
worth needing.
Great Falls Visits.
In the early days Of Washington
independence Day was a great oc-
caslon for picnics and excursions
ana the practice still prevails. For
many years one of the most attrac-
1--WE places to go on this day was
TO Great Falls by way of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal, which, after
a lapse OF many years as a COM
merclal waterway, is now being re-
stored and put in condition for
recreatlonal purposes entirely.
Inc flrSt Spadeful of earth on this
project was dug on july 4. 1923 bv
PRESIDENT John Quincy Adams
amidst the shouts of the multit,1de
ana enllvening strains of music y
the spade being handed to the
FfeSldent by Col. Mercer, president
~ |iAC IOIllkJdIlN
FOR the purpose of participating
IN these ceremonies a processio,7
was formed at the Union Hotel m
Brloge street, and moved on IN
Hlgh Street Wharf, where it is said
they embarked on board the
steamboat Surprise and other hoats
ana coursed their way up the Po-
tomac until they reached the ter
minatlon Of the old Potomac Canal
Where they landed and marched a
lew hundred yards to the canal
boats prepared to receive them,
after being seated in these boats
tAey gllded along until they reached
tte point OF destination, where the
Old powder magazine formerly stood,
On landing from the boats the pro-
ceSslon formed large circle, in the
center OF which was the spot for
the commencement of the work %
Here the president of the canal
company addressed the President
OF the United States in a brief
speech. After he concluded, he
handed to Mr.. Adams the spade bv
which the sod was to be turned
The President, on receiving the
implement, stepped forward and
addressed the multitude in an elo-
quent and able speech, which fol-
lows:
Friends and fellow -laborers: We
are Informed by the Holy Oracle of
truth that at the creation of man.
male and female, the Lord of the
universe, their Maker, blessed them
ana SAID unto them: BE fruitful
and multiply and replenish the
earth and Subdue it. To subdue the
earth was, therefore, one of the
Hrst duties assigned to man at his
creation; and now, in his fallen
conCltlon, it remains among the
most excellent of his occupations,
To Subdue the earth is pre-eminent-
ly the purpose of the undertaking
TO the accomplishment of which the
f1rst stroke of the spade is now to
be struck. That it is to be struck
by this hand I invited you to wit
ness
Water From Feeder.
1t Is said that by the Fourth OF
July, 1881. the water was let in
from the first feeder to the Co.
lumbar Foundry.
AS constructed there were in al
73 locks on the canal, measuring
100 feet long and Is feet wide, with
an 8-foot lift. They are built ot
cut stone and laid in cement. Money
was not so plentiful in the United
States then as it is now, and Rich
ard Rush was empowered bv tbs
citizens of Washington, Georgetown
and Alexandria to borrow for ths
purpose $1,500,0O0, and this amount
Mr.. Rush secured. In 1886 this in.
debtedness was assumed by the
Federal Government.
One of the projects which result.
ed from the building of the cana
was the construction of the Aque,
duct Bridge in order to provide &
passageway for the canal boats di