FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 1035 



Within a radius of 200 miles there are 10,000,000 people who could, if ample 

 transportation facilities were provided, reach Washington within one night. 



Washington is also a favorite resort for the tourist. It is a halfway house for the 

 annual exodus of Americans to Europe, and a stopping place on their return. 



Its climate is mild in winter, and in summer it is within easy reach of the many 

 surrounding and attractive summer resorts. 



It is the center of scenes of great historic interest, such as Mount Vernon, Arling- 

 ton Heights, Yorktown, and other places. These attractions and advantages may 

 also be seen by reference to the diagram. 



But more important than all these is its park, or governmental reservation, extend- 

 ing from the Capitol to the National Observatory, and including the Potomac Flats — 

 soon to be reclaimed and beautified — containing in all al)out 1,000 acres. Situated, 

 as it is, in the heart of the city, and within a few steps of Pennsylvania avenue and 

 the principal hotels, it has a great advantage for exijosition purposes over the parks 

 of other cities, as they frequently are 5 or 6 miles out in the suburbs. 



This park, its contents and immediate surroundings, such as Washington Monu- 

 ment, the National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, the Botanic Garden, the Capitol 

 buildings facing it on the east, the Treasury Department, Executive Mansion, Depart- 

 ment of Justice, State, War, and Navy Departments, and the Corcoran Art Gallery, 

 facing it on the north, are an exposition in themselves — a plant which has already 

 cost $50,000,000 — a magnificent nucleus for the still grander exposition of 1889 and 

 1892. 



Upon this park is ample room for a permanent exposition of all the nations of the 

 three Americas. 



In the center of the Smithsonian grounds could be located a grand American 

 museum, a building which will, in 1889 and 1892, be greatly needed when Mexico, 

 Chile, Peru, Brazil, and the other States of Central and South America join with the 

 United States in exhibits of their antiquities, civilization, and progress. 



On the White Lot could be located a State and Territorial building, with equal 

 space for each of the forty-six States and Territories to display their respective 

 resources. The expense of this building could, if desired, be borne by the several 

 States and Territories. 



On the grounds of the Agricultural Department could be* located an American 

 hall, a building greatly needed for national and scientific conventions, inauguration 

 balls, international congresses, etc. 



Also, on the same grounds an American art gallery, as the nucleus for rare works 

 of art, the portraits of the Presidents and leading statesmen of the sixteen American 

 republics, and other paintings of historic value which those governments would 

 doul^tless contribute; also the nucleus for rare collections which wealthy private 

 citizens may desire to bequeath. 



On the Smithsonian grounds could be located a patent building for working 

 models, something greatly needed for the use of inventors and others. 



On the reclaimed flats is ample room for an American zoological garden. 



On the reservation surrounding the Washington Monument could be assigned 

 space for each of the fifteen sister republics of Spanish America and the Empire of 

 Brazil to erect a permanent building for a display of its resources and attractions. 

 Each being small and highly artistic, like the beautiful Mexican mineral building of 

 iron and glass at the World's Exposition at New Orleans, they would together form 

 an appropriate surrounding for the Monument without obstructing its view from the 

 Capitol and Executive Mansion. 



Or, if preferred, these foreign buildings could be located on the north, east, and 

 west sides of the Smithsonian grounds, or on the space extending from the White 

 Lot to the National Observatory. 



On the reclaimed flats could be located the various temporary buildings which 

 will be needed for private exhil)its at tlie World's Fair in 1892. 



