title: Final report of the chairman of the Inaugural committee and of the chairmen of the several sub-committees in connection with the inaugural ceremonies of March 4, 1905.
text: o S SS- 1^ •o a g> > ■o H 9 a u "w ■o' a 0; o. •^« 9 ce m ^■« £ffl i; n t s tf! < o c <fl Inaugural Committee 73 APPENDIX "D." EXPENDITURES. Committee on Military Organizations. Index cards $o 75 Telegrams 97 Letter book I 00 File cases 70 Postage 8 40 Services of clerk 103 30 Services of stenographer 28 00 Printing 8 00 Lettering commmittee-room door 3 00 Relettering committee-room door 3 00 Total $157 12 COMMITTEE ON CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, Inaugural Committee, Washington. B. H. Warner, Marshal March 21, 1905. Gen. John M. Wilson, Chairman Inaugural Committee, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report as chairman of the Committee on Civic Organizations under appointment of December 2, 1904. As soon as the appointment was received, and after the designa- tion of the officers of the committee, correspondence was entered into with a view of inducing a sufficient number of civic organizations to be present at the inaugural exercises to make a dignified and attractive civic parade. Letters were addressed to members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and to mayors of cities throughout the Union and to such political organizations as it was thought might favorably consider an invitation to be present. Several thousand letters and circu- lars were sent out, and a large amount of correspondence resulted from such action. Finally, when the official program was printed, 64 organi- zations were named for position in the parade, and on March fourth 63 were in line, and also a mounted escort of 150 citizens. The only complaint made by some members of my committee was that they did not have enough to do. The work, very largely, devolved upon the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary, but I desire to express my gratification at the willingness of all the members of the committee to aid in making the parade a success in every way. 74 Final Report of the A large number of letters have been received not only from members of the organizations themselves, but from many who witnessed the civic display, giving expression of their great satisfaction at the appearance of the different clubs. The amount of $500 was asked for, and up to this writing we have expended $496.02. A detailed account of the ex- penditures will be transmitted later. I abbreviated this report in order that it may be printed with the others. For the benefit of those who hereafter fill the position I occupy I take pleasure in making the follow- ing suggestions : In order that the clubs may fully understand the regulations governing the parade, and also the desirability of drilling, I think it would be a good idea to send out preliminary instructions as to all details of the parade as early in December as possible. This would lead the clubs to perfect themselves in drill and appearance before Inauguration Day and add much to their appearance on that occasion. I would also recommend that at least two members of the Committee on Civic Organizations be assigned to receive and look after these organizations as early as pos^ sible, and that they enter into correspondence with the leaders of such organizations, so as to enable them to look a little more carefully into the desires and needs of our guests. Although a number of my com- mittee were to meet the clubs at the station as they came in, yet the departure of the railroads from the schedules laid down and the lateness of trains interfered very largely with the performance of their duties. In order to make up for the want of attention to our visitors which resulted from this cause I employed a number of men and paid them for their services to perform such duties. As will be seen from General Order No. 6, dated March 3, which I inclose, the officers of the Civic Grand Divisions of the Inaugural Parade for 1905 were as follows : Maj.-Gen. O. O. Howard, U. S. A., commanding First Division, which was made up of clubs from New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Second Division was commanded by Gen. Joseph Wheeler, and was composed of clubs and organizations from different sections of the Union. The Third Division, commanded by Hon. Judson W. Lyons, was com- posed entirely of colored organizations. The thanks of the Inaugural Committee are due to these gentlemen for their efficient services. General Howard traveled a long distance and incurred considerable expense in reaching Washington, and not only commanded a division in the Civic Grand Division, but also the military escort in the morning from the White House to the Capitol. Gen. Joseph Wheeler came from Mexico City in order to attend the parade. Hon. Judson W. Lyons spent many weeks and did a large amount of corre- spondence in perfecting the organization of his division. He relieved the committee almost entirely of this work, and his success was attested by the fine appearance of his division on the day of the parade. Inaugural G)mmittee 75 I desire to express my thanks especially to Capt. M. R. Thorpe, Chief of Staff; Thos. C. Noyes, Adjutant-General, and George E. Emmons, secretary, for the efficient aid rendered by them ; also to William T. Gal- liher, Esq., who commanded the Citizens' Mounted Escort. I might well include many others if I had not been requested to make my report as brief as possible. A copy of each blank used by this com« mittee, and also of the General Order No. 6, giving a list of organizations which appeared in the parade, are transmitted herewith. Thanking you for your courtesy, aid and confidence manifested during our official intercourse, I have the honor to be, Very respectfully yours, B. H. WARNER, Chairman Committee on Civic Organizations. COMMITTEE ON PARKS AND REVIEWING STANDS, Inaugural Committee, Washington. March 9, 1905, Gen. John M. Wilson, Chairman Inaugural Committee, New Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C. My Dear Sir : Herewith you will please find enclosed a detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Committee on Parks and Reviewing Stands. This statement necessarily is subject to some slight variations by reason of the probability of some small items of disbursement which have not up to this time been presented to me for approval, and certain small amounts which have not been paid in to me and included in the enclosed statement. The treasurer has in his possession three hundred ($300) dollars de- posited by the contractors who bought the privileges on Pennsylvania avenue. This sum is not included in my statement for the reason that it is to be returned by the Inaugural Committee to those parties if they fully comply with the terms under which the privilege was granted to them. This will account for the excess shown by the treasurer's receipts attached to the account. My report will be, I hope, gratifying to you and the members of the committee, as it has surely exceeded my most sanguine expectations. I desire further to add that up to this time I have not received a single complaint from anyone in reference to the management of the stands. This success is due to the ability displayed by Mr. Le Roy Mark, who 76 Final Report of the had the entire control of the sale of tickets and the seating of the people on the Lafayette Square stand. I am also indebted to Mr. Arthur Peter and the corps of gentlemen who constituted his committee for the very successful manner in which our guests were seated upon the President's stand. I am, sir, Yours very respectfully, JOHN B. LARNER, Chairman of the Committee on Parks and Reviewing Stands, STATEMENT OF JOHN B. LARNER, Chairman of the Committee on Parks and Reviewing Stands. Receipts. Total amount derived from the sale of seats on the Lafayette Square reviewing stand $23,687 75 Amount derived from the sale of privileges for the erection of stands on Pennsylvania avenue, east of 15th street, N. W. . 2,204 00 Proceeds from the sale of chairs on the reviewing stands 589 20 $26,480 95 Disbursements. Expenditures as per vouchers filed at the Inaugural Committee headquarters 14.679 13 Net profit $11,801 82 Amount of disbursements $14,679 13 Amount of appropriation 14,600 00 Amount of excess over appropriation $79 13 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PARKS AND REVIEW- ING STANDS. The Committee on Parks and Reviewing Stands desires to report to the general committee the progress of its work to the present time. Upon my appointment as chairman of this committee I was fortunate in securing Mr. Glenn Brown as vice-chairman and in having him take charge of the sub-committee on design for the reviewing stands at the coming inauguration. This committee on design submitted a plan for the erection of a circular stand upon the ellipse immediately to the south of the White House. The plan contemplated making the White House the central object, around which would be clustered columns of classical design and which would be decorated with electric lights at night, giving a beautiful effect to the home of the President. The stands were to be Inaugural Committee 77 built so as to form an amphitheater, at the south end of which a stand was to be built for the review of the troops by the President. A draw- ing of the proposed plan is herewith submitted as a part of this report. The idea was for the inaugural procession to enter the ellipse at the north side and proceed by a circular or angular march around the enclosure, passing in review in front of the President and out of the amphitheater by way of an exit to be arranged at a convenient point. It was also proposed that the Grand Marshal, upon passing in review in front of the President, should return to the center of the field facing the President and there remain until the entire procession had passed in review. This plan was first submitted to the chairman of the general commit- tee and from time to time to other members thereof, including the Grand Marshal. The consensus of opinion seemed to be that the ar- rangement would contribute largely to the success of the parade, and in view of the favorable manner in which the plan had been received I presented the plan, with proper drawings, to a full meeting of this sub- committee. At this meeting, which was largely attended, it was sug- gested that there might be some difficulty in carrying out the line of march without embarrassment to the troops. After full discussion the committee decided by a vote, which was nearly unanimous, to recom- mend the adoption of the plan to the general committee. It had been my intention to present this report at the last meeting of the Inaugural Committee, but after an interview with General Chaffee. General Johnston and Colonel Bromwell a request was made by General Chaffee to postpone the report until he could give the proposed plan further investigation. On the 14th instant a meeting was held by these gentlemen, and General Chaffee reported that, because of the narrow streets and roadways surrounding the White Lot, it would be impossible for him to make a proper entrance and exit to the proposed amphitheater. He said that he had, on full investigation, found that the greatest width of any of the streets approaching the ellipse, excepting Pennsylvania avenue and 17th street, did not exceed 35 feet, whereas he would require at least 48 feet to enter with his troops, and especially with the artillery branch of the army. In view of the conclusion reached by General Chaffee, the plan which this committee has recommended cannot be carried out. It is a source of great regret to me that the plan cannot be adopted, because I have always believed that in a city of this magnitude and beauty, with so many large public parks, there ought to be some place where a national func- tion could take place other than the public thoroughfares, and especially in front of and oq public grounds and reservations not adapted to this purpose. It is unfortunate that at this (ime. which appears to be most auspicious, that the new departure which has been suggested and advo- cated should be thrown aside for reasons over which we have no control. It will be a matter of universal disappointment and regret that this scheme, with so much to commend it and so greatly in advance of any- 78 Final Report of the thing which has preceded it, must be abandoned because of the inability of the military to approach a central place which, by reason of its loca- tion and the clear purpose of its formation, was intended as a public parade ground. The ellipse proposition being abandoned by necessity for the reasons above given, there seems to be no other alternative for this committee but a reproduction, so far as practicable, of the stands erected at the' last inauguration and along the lines adopted for many years past, and I desire to obtain from the general committee an expression of views on three questions : First, shall stands be erected on Pennsylvania avenue between 15th and 17th streets, on the White House grounds and on Lafayette Square as heretofore? second, shall privileges be sold for the erection of stands by individual contractors at the two points on Penn- sylvania avenue, namely, the Municipal Building site and the Market Space site? or, thirdly, shall stands be erected on these sites by the com- mittee, or no stands whatever be erected at these points? I might say that I am opposed on general principles to the erection of any public reviewing stands whatever along the line of march. These are unsightly even at the best, and there is always more or less risk to government property from fire and accident. It is greatly to be regretted that there is no available plan to prevent the President's House and Lafayette Square from being obstructed and obscured by stands which, no matter how well built and decorated, will be a constant eyesore during the inaugural ceremonies. As chairman of the Committee on Parks and Reviewing Stands, how- ever, I am willing to adopt and carry out any course which may meet with the approval of the general committee, and ask that instructions may be given at this meeting on the lines mentioned. My committee will then at once proceed with the work. Respectfully submitted, JOHN B. LARNER, Chairman of the Committee on Parks and Reviewing Stands. COMMITTEE ON STREET DECORATIONS, Inaugural Committee, Washington. March 20, 1905. Gen. John M. Wilson, Chairman, and Members of the Inaugural Committee. Dear Sirs : Acting in accord with your invitation and commission, early in De- cember, 1904, as chairman of Street Decorations, 1 invited 60 willing colaborers, which constituted a working committee, to engage in the work of street decorations, and after three months of pleasant labor and Inaugural Committee 79 the final execution of the work we have the following report to make, which I trust will have your favorable consideration : The work of street decorations was divided up into lo subdivisions, with a chairman of each sub-committee — Legal, Architecture, Sculptors, Publicity, Avenue Decorations, Flags, Shields and Color, Historical Ref- erence, Property, Floral Tributes, Transportation. The former reports from our committee give a fair statement of progress at the time, and I confine myself now to the final results. The street decorations proper were under the guidance of four sub-chairmen — Mr. Philip Walker, Pennsylvania Avenue Display ; Mr. Sydney Besselievre of the Commitlcc on Property ; Dr. W. L. Wirt, Committee on Publicity, and Frederick D. Owen, designer of the Court of History. Through the energetic labors of these gentlemen and their associate committeemen I am pleased to report that double the number of flags was given out than ever before, which helped to decorate the line of march with a most gratifying display of color. I hereto attach the report, which contains the record of the loaning of flags, and take pride in explaining that out of over 3000 flags that were handled in our committee-rooms, both going out and coming in, not one flag remains unaccounted for. This is an unprecedented record and one to be proud of. On the other hand, it cost in actual dollars and cents more than was possible to estimate on at first. I am therefore obliged to report that the total expenses of our committee will exceed the amount allotted to us by about $400. The flags have all been returned to the War and Navy Departments, and the bond should therefore be released and returned to your hand. The preparation and installation of the Court of History of the souve- nirs from the World's Fair at St. Louis was more pleasing and successful as judged by the public at large than was possible to estimate at the outset. Following is a list of plaster pieces : Eight portrait statues, one portrait statue loaned, six urns, eight symbolic female figures. There were some expenses attached to this display, which, from the nature of the case, could not be foreseen or estimated on accurately at any time, viz., the amount of labor required in arranging all the component parts in their respective places. I have one item in this statement which will require some days to adjust. It is the freight rates from St. Louis, which were, unfortunately, billed from the other end and in a different manner from that arranged for at this end, as a letter which I have from the agent of the C. & O. R. R. will show. Therefore a saving is expected in this item alone. As to the matter of assets on hand, 1 will state that there is very little that can be turned into cash. T send herewith a list of articles. H an auction on these was required, the result would hardly pay the expenses of handling them. I have hopes, however, of selling, by your permission, during the spring and summer months a large number of the bamboo poles at private sale; also some small flags of 100 or so, some flagpole tops and some green laurel bands that were carefully preserved. Mr. Chairman, if I may be permitted to sell these carefully in the 80 Final Report of the manner indicated, I will be able to return much more money than by an auction at this time, and I trust that I may be permitted to do so. According to deed of gift by Governor Francis the statues which were so much admired in the Court of History were given to the Inaugural Committee and afterwards to the parks of Washington, while one of them, the statue of Monroe, was to be given over to the University of Virginia when our display was concluded. I wish to state, Mr. Chairman, that all of these have been carefully removed without expense to us, and all are resting safely in their re- spective places along the driveway of Potomac Park under the care and direction of Col. Charles S. Bromwell, in charge of Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, and the statue of Monroe has been forwarded to Charlottesville, Va.. by J. M. Page of the University of Virginia. I am pleased to state that, with all this handling of material of different sizes and weights, not an injury has been reported to any of our work- men, and from first to last I think we can say with some satisfaction that our committee has had more men engaged with more kinds of work under their charge than has been generally known or heard of in inaugural work before. And now, Mr. Chairman, allow me to thank you and the members of the committee for hearty co-operation and support and enabling the Committee on Street Decorations to accomplish such pleasing and grati- fying results, which have received nothing but praise from the public both at home and abroad. I herewith submit the minutes of the final meeting of this committee, held on the 14th inst., to which are appended the reports of the various sub-committees. As these reports cover quite fully the details of the work done and results accomplished, I desire to make them a part of this report. Submitted herewith is a list of the remaining assets of the committee and also a brief of all vouchers that have been forwarded to you for payment. There have been no receipts of cash other than cash collected for flags lost, which has been turned over to the Quartermaster Depart- ment, U. S. A. Again thanking you for many courtesies, I am sir, Yours very truly, FREDERICK D. OWEN, Chairman Committee on Street Decorations. Inaugural Committee 81 Memorandum of Vouchers Forwarded to Inaugural Committee for Payment on Account of Committee on Street Decorations* DATE VOXJCHERED 1905 Feby. 3 " 25 " 26 " 26 March i " 2 " 7 " 7 IN FAVOR OP PAYMENT FOR F. D. Owen, Traveling expenses $54-5o F. D. Owen, Refund P. cash items, Dec, '04 12.69 F. D. Owen, Refund P. cash items, Jan., '05 19-25 J. Werner, Overseer in St. Ivouis, Mo 25.00 F'. D. Owen, Refund P. cash items, Feb., '05 22.89 W. H. Dyer, Pedestals 344.00 Chicago Ho. Wreck. Co., Handling and packing slatues.... 417.00 F. D. Owen, Refund wages sculptor and labor 142.18 8 Armor and Co., Signs 9.00 8 Wm. J. Zeh, Coal 7.00 8 B. S. Adams, Printing 26.00 8 Morrison Paper Co., Stationery 5.50 8 Wm. Allen, Sign painting and lettering 14-25 9 F. D. Owen, Refund R. R. fare, etc 45.tJO 10 F. D. Owen, Refund P. C. item to Mar. 10 21.94 10 F. D. Owen, Refund pay roll 240.07 10 Koster and Co., Rental of State shields 102.37 10 F. D. Owen, Refund of type, bills 14. 11 10 W. B. Moses & .Sons, Covering columns of pylons 20.00 10 A. Gude and Bro., Decorations 238.26 10 Merchants T. and S. Co., Handling and cartage statues 208.90 10 M. G. Copeland, Decorating 36.25 10 M. T. Pollock, Sand and ballasting 100.00 11 Lippman Printing Co., Prtg. and pasting insert 8.00 13 Rudolph, West & Co., Hardware 27.82 13 J. T. Walker & Sons, Supplies 14-35 13 F. D. Owen, Refund sculptors and mechanics 91.68 13 L. J. Carmod}', Services in Committee rooms 22.50 13 Geo. F. Muth, Supplies 111-25 14 W. P. Van Wickle, Heat, light and janitor service 35-oo 14 E- T. Bates, Services 375.00 14 Wm. H. Dyer, Pylons less credit 404.00 14 Littlefield, Alvord, Cartage 5.00 14 W. P. Van Wickle, Telephone service 5.00 16 L. F. Ruoff, Services 25.00 20 F. D. Owen, Refund, as per pay roll 38.50 20 Adams Express Co., Expressage on palms and smilax 40.85 20 Caldwell the W. Co., Palms and smilax 56.00 20 Merchants T. and S. Co., Freight paid C. & O. R. R. Co.... 441.00 20 F. D. Owen, Refund to U. S. J. Dunbar 7.05 20 Henry Cooper, Typewriting 6.00 20 U.S.J Dunbar, Services 25.00 20 F. D. REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON PROPERTY. Mr. Frederick D. Owen, chairman of the Committee on Street Decora- tions of the Inaugural Committee, appointed the following members of the Committee on Street Decorations as a sub-committee on property : Sidney I. Besselievre, chairman; Edward T. Bates, Edward R. Combes, Charles M. Staley, John L. Wirt, F. G. Smith, Jr., John D. Carmody, Benjamin Miller, Mark Wilmark, T. P. Randolph, Andrew B. Graham, Maj. I. Wm. Littell, H. C. Gauss, John Paul Earnest, Frank B. Wheaton, Philip Walker, R. R. Bennett, Warren R. Choate, Henry W. Samson, George B. Pitts, Edwin A. Hill. The duties prescribed for this committee were to receive and arrange for the distribution of the flags loaned to the Inaugural Committee in pursuance of the resolution of Congress, approved January 17, 1905, "for the purpose of decorating the fronts of public buildings and other places on the line of march between the Capitol and the Executive Mansion and the interior of the Reception Hall." The committee organized and discussed the method of procedure, and a form of bond (sample attached) was prepared and printed. A card of instructions as to care and preservation of flags was also prepared and printed for distribution with the flags. The active work of the committee commenced on the morning of February 27, 1905. The chairman had previously communicated with the War Department and arranged for the delivery of the flags in lots as required, and had written to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Depart- ment, and obtained the detail of Chief Boatswain's Mate C. H. Petersen and of two seamen, W. I. Sims and A. H. Ellis. The chief boatswain's mate and his assistants were charged with the opening of the boxes of the flags, keeping count of the number received and of those issued. The method of distribution was as follows : (a) Bonds when duly executed were presented to the chairrnan of the Committee on Property, Mr. Sidney I. Besselievre, or to its secretary, Mr. Edward T. Bates. (b) The principal was then given an order for the number of flags called for on the bond. This order was presented to the clerk, who had same filled by the seamen, they making out a blue slip with the number of flags issued stated thereon. The flags were then counted in the presence of the principal and checked back on the order. The order was then receipted on the back by the person receiving the flags, and, together with the blue slip, was placed on stub file. Entry was afterwards made in a memorandum book from the slips, showing the actual number of flags issued on each order, with the name and address of the receiver and bond number. A total number of 3241 flags, covered by 187 bonds, were issued, namely: Army, 2974 (2119 storm, 659 post, 196 garrison), and navy, 267 — total, 3241. Inaugural Committee 83 The distribution of flags continued until late Friday evening, March 3, and the return of flags loaned commenced on the morning of March 6 and continued until March 13, when all flags had been returned or accounted for. Appreciating the amount of work involved in examining, properly wrapping and packing nearly 3500 flags, the chairman applied to Brig.- Gen. C. F. Humphrey, Quartermaster-General, U. S. A., for a detail of experienced laborers. This request was courteously granted, and Mr. C. S. Lawrence, foreman, with Messrs. F. H. Helm, Walter Redding, Clarence Donnelly and Eugene Foster were detailed. On the return of flags they were presented to the clerk, who had the number verified. They were then taken to the flag room and each one opened and examined, the number again counted and report made on blue slips as to their number and condition. This report was handed to the clerk, who made out another slip, which was presented to the chairman of the committee or secretary, who, if the flags were returned in good condition, canceled and returned the bond for the flags, or, if in damaged condition, gave a receipt in lieu of bond, subject to further consideration as to action to be taken with reference to damaged flags. Fifteen storm flags were not returned, eight of which were stolen from the Treasury Department. Reimbursement has been made for all flags not returned. The following flags, excepting in one or two cases, were damaged but slightly : 2 storm, 10 post, 8 garrison — total, 20 flags. In conclusion, I desire to acknowledge my appreciation of the good work done by the following members of the committee : To Mr. Edward T. Bates, secretary of the committee ; Mr. Philip Walker, Mr. H. C. Gauss, Mr. T. P. Randolph, Mr. R. R. Bennett, and also to Mr. L. L. L. French, who, although not a member of the Sub-Committee on Property, assisted materially in its work. The thanks of the committee are also due to Messrs. L. F. Ruoff and L. J. Carmody for efficient services rendered. SIDNEY I. BESSELIEVRE, Chairman Committee on Property. March 15, 1905. No. 3. March 15, 1905. Mr. Frederick D. Owen, Chairman Inaugural Committee on Street Decorations, Washington, D. C. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen : Herewith is submitted the report of the operations of the Sub-Com- mittee on Publicity of your committee. To the committee was delegated, as its chief labor, the work of gaining co-operation of the citizens of Washington in the general display of the national colors from their residences on Inauguration Day. The whole 84 Final Report of the city, exclusive of the actual line of march, was the objective field for our labor. Your committee presents the belief that its work was not entirely barren of results, for "Old Glory" kissed the breezes from many houses on the side streets that otherwise would not have shown by the sign such patriotic interest and loyal sentiments of the dwellers therein. Through interview and correspondence the active aid of the Board of Education, the clergy, patriotic societies and the secretaries of the vari- ous Executive Departments was sought and to a gratifying extent obtained to the better and more general dissemination of the commit- tee's endeavor that all citizens of Washington enter into the spirit of the occasion and hang out their flags. The public press also aided the committee in its flag crusade, but not with the earnest or full support it was thought possible to obtain. Vari- ous articles were submitted to the papers for printing, and we believe a number were accepted for publication. The week prior to the 4th of March the press work was so divided that some member of the committee assumed for a certain day that work, thus injecting as wide a personality as practicable in material furnished and up to the last possible moment the public agitation of the propriety to decorate. Your committee also attended to other work of a public nature in connection with other committees. It may be well to mention that certain work outlined in the meeting of organization as to methods to be followed in committee work did not on actual application encourage a continuation of such procedure. In closing, and asking its discharge, we take satisfaction to ourselves in the thought that where much work of the Inaugural Committee has been transitory, either in nature or effect, the seeds of patriotism to venerate and love the "Stars and Stripes" we have succeeded in planting in the breasts of our school children and the direct awakening of the latent interest of their sires will bear in its future fruition sufficient compensation and reward for any labor we may have individually or unitedly performed in the furtherance of our work. Very respectfully, WM. D. WIRT, Chairman; HENRY E. COOPER, HARRY O. HALL, EDWIN A. HILL. Inaugural Committee 85 No. 4 March 14, 1905. Fred. D. Owen, Esq., Chairman Committee on Street Decorations, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir : In compliance with your request I herewith submit report of the labors of the Sub-Committee on Pennsylvania Avenue Display. The first thing done was to canvass the merchants and residents on the ave- nue between the White House and the Capitol, and this was done by apportioning two or three blocks apiece to members of the sub-committee, who personally saw these merchants, and after ascertaining their inten- tion as to decoration, gave such advice as they desired, pushed up the laggards and assisted those who desired government flags to get them. In general the response was favorable from the first, and gradually the interest grew under the pressure of repeated visits until practically every building on the avenue wore its quota of color. The plan of the committee to adopt some general scheme of decoration proved a failure, owing to the disinclination of the occupants of the buildings to follow it, and, as we believe, to the urging of many itinerant decorators, who were in town with a good deal of old and shabby mate- rial which they wished to use. In recommending the use of bunting for all mural work, and that all flags should be flown from staffs, we were put in a position of minimizing the distribution of government flags, many of which were only useful for draping. The result was that individual ideas were everywhere followed, and the quantity of decoration used made the avenue a mass of color such as it had never borne before. The large supply of army flags on hand determined the committee not to use the naval flags, as they were more difficult to account for. One exception was made in the case of the Geological Survey, which was beautifully decorated with naval flags. We had at our disposition 3000 storm flags, 1000 post flags and 300 garrison flags. For these orders were issued to the Property Committee and honored for 21 19 storm flags, 659 post flags and 196 garrison flags — a total of 2974. It will be observed that the proportion of all of these kinds was about two-thirds of our supply. On each of these orders bond in the sum of $100 was taken with some responsible person as surety, usually a neighboring merchant. One hundred and eighty-seven lots of flags were issued. Although the statute proscribed the use of government flags on the avenue between the Executive Mansion and the Capitol, we honored requests from persons between 17th and 20th streets, although we did not canvass that district, and we also construed the law to allow us to use flags on government buildings off the line of march. This was taken advantage of by the Department of Commerce and Labor, the Geological Survey, the Civil Service Commission and the Bureau of Insular Affairs 86 Final Report of the Annex. Flags were also furnished to the George Washington Univer- sity, which, while off the line of march, was in sight of it in a prominent position. As this is the first occasion on which the Committee on Street Decora- tions has ever done any active work beyond the mere distribution of government flags, we feel that a step has been made toward beautifying the thoroughfare over which the parade traveled, but we do not think, however, that the best results will ever be obtained until some scheme may be worked out by which a comprehensive plan of the decoration not only of the buildings, but of the street itself may be carried out. The details of such plan we must perforce leave to future committees. Respectfully submitted, PHILIP WALKER, Chairman Sub-Committee on Pennsylvania Avenue Display. No. 5. March ii, 1905. Sir: In accordance with your direction, I have the honor to report on the work of the Sub-Committee on Flags, Shields and Colors. The question of a scheme for the uniform decoration of the avenue was submitted to the sub-committee, and, after consideration, a plan was outlined which is embodied in the attached circular, which it is recommended should be made a part of the records of the Committee on Street Decoration. Very respectfully, H. P. GAUSS, Chairman Sub-Committee on Flags, Shields and Colors. Mr. F. D. Owen, Chairman Committee on Street Decoration, 1225 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir : This circular has been prepared by the Inaugural Committee on Street Decorations to enable decorators on Pennsylvania avenue to follow, as far as practicable, a general plan in their work, and by so doing help to make the decorations a harmonious decorative whole. The main feature to follow in the decoration is the adoption of a two- line effect when viewed in perspective. The accompanying sketch is solely to illustrate the general effect desired with relation to these two bands or lines of decorations, other matter detracting therefrom being for convenience omitted in the picture. The lowest line of decoration should be elevated not less than eight (8) feet from the sidewalk, and should be of blue with white trimmings. The main body of the top of the second or principal line of decora- Inaugural Committee 87 tions should not exceed thirty-five (35) feet above the sidewalk. This upper line should be of white with red trimmings. All temporary supports for balconies or stands should be wrapped in white. Private stands should have a palm-green background, with lattice or cross work of white. American flags should, where possible, be displayed from poles, and the more flags thrown to the breeze the more pleasing will be the effect of their patriotic wavings. Above all, use material that will not run their colors or fade. Study the picture for general effect and details, and there will result our mag- nificent avenue in a gala dress never before equalled. By order of the chairman. W. D. WIRT, Chairman Sub-Committee on Publicity. PHILIP WALKER, Chairman Sub-Committee Avenue Display. H. C. GAUSS, Chairman Sub-Committee on Flags and Color and Sub-Committee on Architecture. The great, unbroken sky space which forms the background for the Washington Monument and the magnificent parade formed by Penn- sylvania avenue from the Treasury to the Capitol constitute two great decorative assets which are held in trust by the city of Washington for the benefit of the whole country, and which impose a responsibility to use them effectively on the occasions of great national gatherings. The first named is so evidently a place for the display of fireworks and other illuminative effects that there is no danger of going wrong in its treatment, but it is worth while considering whether the best possible result is secured in the treatment of the avenue. It may be premised that the question is not a small or unimportant one. On every great occasion Pennsylvania avenue is and always will be the one important gathering ground. For a vast number of people it will in effect constitute the city of Washington. It is and will be compared with the displays made for the benefit of visitors by other cities, especially with the decorative effects secured at the great expositions. It should be remembered that the decorations of Washington are now compared, not with the couple of hundred flag festoons of the smaller cities, but with the carefully worked-out decorative schemes on which exposition companies have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that taste and imagination count more now than the total number of yards of tri-colored bunting displayed along a given length of thoroughfare. It is not to be said that the appearance of Pennsylvania avenue on 88 Final Report of the Inauguration Day was ineflfective. Considering the manner and method of treatment, it was excellent. The large number of new and good flags made available by the committee distribution, added to the private own- ings, made a sum total that would have been epochal 20 years ago — a source of national comment. Its faults consisted of the wearisome infini- tude of the exclusive use of tri-colored bunting — the same yesterday, today and forever — and the meaningless jumble of incoherent and broken lines. There need be no fear of monotony or lack of variety in any decora- tive treatment of Pennsylvania avenue. While many of the buildings leave much to be desired individually, the sky lines on both sides of the avenue are probably more satisfactory than would result if both sides were lined with comparatively modern commercial buildings. In addi- tion, the breaks where the lettered streets intersect the avenue offer advantages and sometimes difficulties that at least guarantee against monotony. It must always be the case that any celebration for which Pennsylvania avenue would be elaborately decorated would be of a national character, enforcing the use of red, white and blue, so that there need be no fear of a lack of strong color, and the conclusion is enforced that any effort made to improve the character of the decorations of the avenue would be in the direction of securing regularity of line and repressing rather than stimulating color. The first question that arises is, naturally, as to the practical means of directing the decoration of the avenue by individuals so that the work of each shall be a part of the whole. The whole matter depends on the proposition that Pennsylvania avenue, instead of being a collection of individual buildings, is a vista which is the common property of the resi- dent and the visitor, and that the right of eminent domain is applicable so far as it applies to the use of the avenue as a spectacle and without infringing on the use of the individual buildings by the owners. The attempt to have individual owners decorate in accordance with a general plan is impracticable. Where the material for decoration is owned by the owner of the building, or a contract has been let to a pro- fessional decorator, it is hopeless to expect that other than the regulation and uniform flag and tri-color matter will be used. Decorations will be put along the window lines of each building, irrespective of the adjoin- ing window lines, because it is a task of some difficult)' and danger for the amateur to attempt to decorate beyond window reach. Uniform and satisfactory decoration of the avenue as a whole can only be effected by co-operation under a single head. If individual merchants and owners and tenants of buildings would subscribe to a fund for decoration, placing their decorative material at the same time in the hands of the committee having the matter in charge, then, given a reasonable time to work out the details, Pennsylvania avenue could be given a dress for a gala occasion that would again attract the attention of the country to its great parade avenue. Inaugural Committee 89 The universal use of three-colored bunting in the United States as a decorative background for floating national flags is one of the greatest of decorative mistakes. The flag of the United States is unequalled among the flags of the world for its snap and sparkle and buoyant grace when floating from a staff. But when it is draped, or when the tri- color in comparatively narrow bands is draped, it is far less effective than flags of solid color with figures or flags of wide bands of color. In addition, the draped flags kill the effect of floating flags. The narrow stripes of red and white in the flag of the United States make a color tone that changes incessantly with the motion of the flag in the wind. A class of pink and rose color tones is evolved that is entirely different in quality from the tone of the stationary tri-colored bunting and inharmo- nious with it, so that the lines of color of the waving flag are broken and dominated by the less delicate and less mobile lines of the flat decoration. How far this modification of the tint of red in the flag will go was very well shown by one of the marching clubs in the parade. Each man had a small national flag, and as the club receded from any particular view- point the character of the red diminished through many shades of pink, very few of which had harmonic relations with the characteristic red of the flag at close view, which is, of course, a red modified by its juxtapo- sition with white stripes and a different effect from the red of a mass color. That a flag which is floating with a background of tri-color seems to lose its individuality, its peculiar crisp and exhilarating effect is a com- mon perception, and the reason is probably that which is suggested above. That it is strengthened immensely by a background of a single mass color or by white is probably also a common perception. In the solitary instance in which an attempt was made to meet the suggestion made for the recent decoration of a horizontal line of a single color the effect on floating flags in the immediate vicinity was most apparent. The first inquiry of a committee charged with carrying out of a gen- eral scheme of decoration for Pennsylvania avenue for a national cele- bration would, of course, be as to the most effective use of the national ensign. The simplest use, and probably the most eft'ective, would be to fly a flag of uniform size from each window, with an ensign from a staff of uniform height at the top of each building. The sky line would be carried in the same variety as the height of the buildings, and a base line of considerable uniformity would be established by the fact that the store fronts are approximately of a height along the avenue. The space between would be filled by masses of waving, tossing flags, creating impulses of color that would be entirely harmonious because of their similar origin. 