Evening star., 1943-01-15
Historic Cannon to Be Drafted as Scrop

Some of the 81 historic cannon.
which so long have adorned the
lawns of the State Department
Building will give their metallic lives
for their country In the hungry
steel furnaces.
How many will make the supreme
sacrifice had not been determined
today, and spokesman at the Fed
eral Works Agency said some un-
doubtedly will be spared for the
historic record. A number were used
in the Revolutionary War.
The War Department and the Pub
lie Buildings Administration of
FWA have agreed, however, that at
least some of the ancient guns will
be turned in as scrap. Details have
yet to be worked out, it was re-
ported. A committee is expected to
inspect the cannon carefully, look
up the records SO far as they are
known and save those of the great
est historic import.
Includes CORVALLIS HOwitzer.
The pieces include bronze how
itzer surrendered by CORVALLIS at
Yorktown in 1881. Four of the
cannon were captured at Santiago,
Cuba, during the Spanish american
War, in 1898. Another piece was
taken when Fort Sumter, S. c., was
recaptured by Union forces late in
the Civil War
Some of the guns, according to
Washington historians, have stood
about the building ever since it was
built. The southern front was COM
pleted in 1875 and used first by the
State Department when Hamilton
Fish was Secretary of State. The
entire structure was finished in 1888
and occupied by the State, War and
Navy Departments. The three de-
partments continued to use 1t, at
least in part, until recent years.
Today it houses only the State De-
partment
The Army has turned over many
old guns, obsolete tanks and other
worn-out equipment to the scrap
drive. Each command has directed
its own salvage campaign, and every
military post in the country has
yielded some scrap.
Melting of Statues Opposed.
While Washington relics thus
far have escaped virtually un-
scathed, the War Department was
described as just getting around to
them. There even was talk at one
time of melting down some of the
Capitals statues, but this never got
beyond talk and was denounced
roundly. The success of the Nation
wide scrap drive has made the i'm
mediate needs of the steel furnaces
less acute, it was pointed out,
although salvage will continue
steadily.
Disclosure that some of the old
guns would be melted up for scrap
aroused immediate interest among
patriotic and historical organizations
in Washington. which indicated they
would like to be consulted in the
matter.
officials of the Sons of the Amer
lean Revolution referred the matter
this morning to special committee
WHICH DeSan study OF tne QueSIlOn.
Careful Study Urged.
John Clagett Proctor, who is chair
man of the District Committee on
Historical Sites, appointed by the
District Commission, said:
This matter ought to be gone over
very carefully, before 1t is finally
decided to melt up any of those old
cannon. Some of them no doubt
ought to be preserved. In case there
are duplicates, it might be possible
to let some 60, and save one typical
of group.
But the oldest ones, for instance
any which go back to the time of
Lafayette and the Revolutionary
War, of course should be preserved
for historic purposes"
Asks Committee Be Formed.
AS chronicler of the Columbia
Historical Society, and as acting
president of the Association of Old
est Inhabitants, Mr.. Proctor said he
thought committee of citizens rep
resentative of patriotic and historic
interests in the city and not con-
nected with the Government in any
form. should be consulted.
One request, it was learned today,
has come from the National Park
Service for some old guns which are
wanted for a park at Saratoga,
N. Y. A decision on this is to be
reached soon.