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Ansd
Oct 2nd

243

September 25, 1916.

[[left margin]]SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
WASHINGTON[[/left margin]]

Dear Mr. Freer:

The steam shovel has not yet put in an appearance, but is expected every moment.

I am only writing now to announce the sending, as an enclosure, of three photographs of the site from as many points of view, taken on Saturday, September 23. You will notice the fence under construction, some piles of lumber and other evidences of thrift.

There is also a fourth picture snapped by the photographer, though I had admonished him not to do so, as such scenes look rather ridiculous in a picture. However, I am sending it. It represents the orator at his remarks before taking the spade, which lies on the ground at the lower left-hand side of the photograph. There were no notables in Washington, as they have all gone into the campaign, and so we made it just a Smithsonian affair, and all got together in a circle. The photographer made a later attempt, as the digging began, but the first digger worked faster than the camera and spoiled

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-03-28 14:53:42 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-03-28 14:53:55