Evening star., 1945-03-04
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star for February %, 1885, an
editorial from Life magazine was re-

III 1Ue quar- lOI FEBRUARY 30, 1oSo, al
editorial from Life magazine was re-
produced to
Government the effect that:
Architect Ponned Consider n 6
the money it
costs and the actors employed, the big
best burlesque ever organized in this
country is the ONCE of the Government
architect. OF course, we have all known
in q general way that buildings erected
by the United States Government are
not only notifying caricatures on arch
itecture, but that their cost is always
beyond the dreams of common sense.
- 1t is also interesting to learn that
the number of buildings now in course
of construction is lis, many of them to
cost from $500,000 to 100000. And
let the taxpayer amuse himself by trying
to grasp the position of an architect
whose numberless employees hold their
positions by an influence beyond his own
control. In other words, if the architect
does not like his draughtsnan's work
he can lump it," Perhaps Life was
referring particularly to the State, War
and Navy Building recently described
as without question the ugliest, If not
the smuggest, mass Of masonry In
Washington-a universal compendium
Of architectural errors
A structure at the corner of Seven
teenth and r streets NV, which had
been the headquar-
Miss Bortons ters of Gen. Grant
Home Afome and also later the
American Red Cross and the city resi-
dence of Miss Clara Barton, came near
to being destroyed by fire about 10:30
O'Clock on the evening of February a.
1895. The Star of the following day
suggested that perhaps a servant in
the house had thrown lighted match
near can of gasoline or kerosene and
caused an explosion" But 'in less
than 80 minutes the firemen had the
flames extinguished, and the occupants
of the house were able to retire" The
damage was estimated at LESS than
$780," which was relatively reasonable
price for so much excitement.
Representative Eugene j. Hainer of
Nebraska, native of Hungary who
came to Amer
NotionoI University lea with his
Proposed parents In 1854,
explained The
Star for February 26, 1895, "has in
troduced bill to establish the Uni
versity of America, in which each State,
Territory and congressional district shall
be entitled to an equal proportionate
number Of students, chosen by means
Of open competitive examinations. In
struction in all the higher branches of
all departments of knowledge is to be
given and facilities furnished for scien-
tific and literary research and investi-
cation. The government Of the univer-
sity is to be vested In board of 20
regents" Nothing came of the plan, but
.he fault was not Mr.. Hainer's. He was
just half hundred years ahead of his
time-or more.
Brig. Gen. Eugene A. Cor b. Carr.
veteran Indian fighter, plainsman and
mountaineer, appeared
Arizona and in Washington as an
Statehood advocate of the admis-
sion Of Arizona to the
Union when Grandpa was little whis-
ting boy. The Star Of March /, 1895.
quoted him as saying: I'VE want to be-
come citizens Of the State because other
wise, under present conditions, we are
practically IN bondage. We want self
government and home rule, just as any
other people would want them" Dying
December ,. 1910. Gen. Carr did not