The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-22
Washington.

mitted to Congress by this Commission on
( the first of February las, having been re.
( turned 10 them at their request for amend
ments has received further study in matters
OF detail, and is now presented in more
matured form.
THE THREE PRINCIPAL PARTS.
! From the architectural point OF view it Is
composed of three principal par,s--lirst, Il
/ base, which, with in stvlobate and ITS pedi-
ment>, i 81 feet high, and occupies an area
SO feet square upon The ground; second, a
/ hishly->cuipturcd podium 2j4 feet high and
l3 feet in diameter, IN the form Of drum,
supporting then column 90 fceI high, and
at the base = feet in diameter. Thi, shaft,
for tic sake OF economy. j. composed Of a
succession Cf drums or courses Of masonry.
which give practical reason for a departure
from the conventional treatment whjch be-
longs 10 mOnolithic >haiis, the joints being
masked by four baud, decorated with
laurel-lCayes, and .ip>tiicd by decoration
OF stars symmdriclliy disposed upon them
and breaking The outline OF the column.
The fittings Of tie shaft appear in the
lowest aud hicbes; sections oniy.
IT'S CHARACTERISTICS OF DETAIL
are also devised 10 give poetical interest
and significance - an architectural form,
which without them would be too formal
and cold for memorial uses. 4 column with
ont decoration, bat bull, IN strict conicrmi-
" with the cOnSccratcd convention of pro-
portions, j suited TO sustain an cnlablaturP.
and play its part in the facade OF Il temple;
but when conceived on a colossal scale and
set up alone a a monument it becomes
meaningless and bald. When 50 used 1t is
necessary for the architect not to content
himself with making its proportions and
details conform TO the accepted formulas,
and with iuSlifying its existence by causing
il TO support statue, but 10 lavish upon It
all the thought ana invention at his COM
mand, with the object OF making it a monu-
ment, or, as the Germans have it, denk-
maoi-a thlnk-place.
THE IDEA OF THE MONUMENT.
From the point OF view OF sentiment ibis
monument is intended TO convey in archi-
tectural language the idea set fOrth'in the
dcdicatOry inscription, that by the victory
at Yorktown the independence Of the United
States Of America was achieved or brought
to final accomplishment. The four sides Of
the base contain-iirst, an inscription dedi-
eating The monument a. 4 memorial OF the
victory; second, an inscription presenting
Il succinCt narrative OF the siege, prepared
In accordance with the original archives in
the Department OF State; third, the treaty
OF alliance with the klDg OF France; and
fourth, the treaty Of peace with the King
of England. In the pediments over
these four sides respectively are presented.
carved in relief-iirst, emblems Of national
ity; second, emblem, OF war; third, EN-.
biemS OF the alliance; and fourth, en-
blems Of peace. The base is thus de-
voted to the historical incidents OF
the monumental composition, which are
intended solely TO appeal to the imagi
nation. The immediate result OF the hiSto
ricll events written upon the base was the
happy establishment OF a national union OF
States. To celebrate the joyful union The
sculptor has represented upon the circular
pOdium which arises from the base a SOL
emn dance of thirteen tyI cal female fig-
ureS, hand in hand, encircling the drum,
winch bears upon a belt beneath their feet
the woIds. "One Country, One Con,litu-
ton, One Destiny"
IT IS SYMBOL OF THE BIRTH OF FREEDOM.
The column which springs from this po-
dium may be accepted u the symbol Of the
and prosperity Of the nation after
a century OF various experience, when
free and independent States are
shining together in mighty constellation. !
IL j. the triumphant sign OF the fuiiilRent |
Df the prOmi>e-an expression OF the |
strength and beauty Of the Union; but the |
powerful nation does not forget the remote |
beginning OF its prosperity, and, in the
midst Of its shining stars, bears .aloft the
shield OF Yorktown covering the branch OF
peace. As the existence Of the nation is a
proof OF the possibility OF q Government Of
he people, by the people, for the people,
he column, thus adorned, culninates with
liberty herself, star-crowned, and wclcom-
ng The people Of all nations 10 share equally
With us the fruits Of cur peace and pres
,erity.
THE MONUMENTS OF TIE WORLD.
TO illustrate more completely what this
eport endeaYOrs TO set forth. we submit
crewith a comparative view Of several OF
he principal memorial columns OF the
world, drawn TO the same scale, and with
hem a comparative view Of the proposed
yorktown column presented in two sizes
ne l44 feet high, aud the other - feet
Ugh in the former the area OF each side OF
be base bearing inscriptions is % feet by
Os feet, III the hitter the corresponding
rea is II feet by 81 feet; in the former the
eight OF the browning figure is 10 feet, in
ne latter 8 feet. The former is fitted to
and in the open air and be an object Of ,
istoric scene; the latter is better fitted for ,
De central adjournment OF an enclosed space ,
Ike great hall, where IL would not be SUBJ
,ct 10 the dangerous competition OF natural ,
ould not interfere with It's dignity as
work OF art and with its importance as a 9
ational monument.
wO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WANTED. I
According TO the most careful approXi-
ate estimates we have as vet been able 10