The Evening critic., 1884-11-28

An interesting chapter Of the city's his
tory is afforded by the following statement
of the appropriations made by Congress for
works of art in the District of Columbia
from tho foundation Of the Government
until the present time
1t is to be regretted that no record can be
found of the date of tho act or resolution
authorizing tho purchase for $500 of Henry
Lees portrait of George Washington, which
hangs in the East Room of tho White
House. CHAMPS.
The earliest expenditure by Congress for
an artistic purpose that can DO found In its
records was that looking to tho Ornamental
ton Of the Capitol building by patriotic
paintings, and FIRST Of these measures was
the resolution adopted by Congress in 1917,
authorizing the employment of John Trum-
bull to paint the four large pictures now
in the rotunda, representing important
events during the revolution
The total amount paid for these four
paintings was $4,000, tho last instsllment
Of which was not paid until 1923. 1t was
not until 1887 that the other four paintings
were appropriated for. The first expendi-
ture authorized by Congress for a statue in
the District of Columbia appears to have
been bill passed in July, 1882, ITO enable
the President of the United States to con-
tract with skillful artist to execute in
marble pedestrian statue of George Wash
ington to be placed In the centre of the
rotunda Of the Capitol" For this purpose
$4,000 was then appropriated, aud two sub
sequent payments Of the same amount were
afterward authorized. u1ut
This however, by no means terminated
the legislation about the Greenough statue.
In 1910 bill was passed providing for
foundations for the statue. In 1911 a bill
passed providing that the expenses of
freight and many other expenses be au-
dited by the Secretary Of State and paid,
and $4,000 was appropriated.
Another bill in 1871 appropriated 50 600
for the freight, detention of ship aud an
iron railing. Another the same year pro-
vided for the statues removal from tho
Navy Yard and its location in the rotunda
under direction of the Secretary of the
Navy. In 1912 its removal under Joint
committee was provided for, and in 15i3 a
bill was passed for another removal to a
proper pedestal and covering it tom.
porarily in the Enclosure and cultivated
grounds east of tho Capitol" In 1916 a
bill passed providing for the removal of the
building surrounding tho statue and the
erection of fence around it.
In 1870 bill was passed appropriating
.~,Oou " COMPENSATE Uuo WluOW Oh tue lhte
w. j. HUBBARD for the statue of Wash ing
ton executed by him.
In 1852 $1,000 was appropriated to COM
mence and in 1858 $4,000 to complete a
pedestal for the equestrian statue Of Andrew
Jackson, to be placed in La Fayette Square.
In 1853 $4,000 was allowed to compen-
safe Clark Mills for the statue, provided
that $4,000 thereof be invested for the
family of said Mills, and after his death to
be given to such children of said Mills as
may survive him."
In 1853 the President was authorized to
employ Clark Mills to erect colossal
equestrian statue of George Washington in
some public reservation, aud $4,000 was
appropriated for the purpose, subsequently
increased by 1000 for the transportation
and erection of the statue, and "the cere-
monies appropriate to the occasion"
In 1867 the Secretary of War was di-
Iected to contract with Henry X. Brown
for an equestrian statue of General Win
field Scott, to cost not more than $4,000,
and to be made of the guns captured In the
Mexican war and to be placed in Franklin
Square or such other place as the Secretary
of War might designate. Subsequently, the
amount was increased to $35 ,000,and $4,000
allowed for the pedestal.
In 1866 contract with Miss Winnie
Ream for life-size statue of Lincoln not
exceeding $4,000 in cost, was authorized
and the amount subsequently increased to
| $4,000.
| In 1875 the contract with the same sculp.
tor for the Farragut statue, at cost Of
$4,000, was authorized. In 1872 $4,000 was
appropriated for life-size statue of General
John A. Rawlings, to DO placed as center
piece of fountain In Franklin Square
Two years later $4,000 was given for {
foundation and pedestal and the location
made discretionary with the Secretary O
War. ~
In 1874 the bronze statue of Jefferson
presented by Lieutenant Levy, was ac
knowledged and accepted by Congress aut
its erection in Statuary Hall provided for
In 1875 law was passed for the construc
ton OF pedestal at q cost of $4,000, thu
acceptance from the Society of the Army o
the Tennessee, and tho erection in Scot
square OF the statue Of General MCPHERSON
The bill provided that the square SHOULD
be thereafter known as Mcpherson Squar
and the carriageway through it connecting
Vermont avenue discontinued.
In 1873 $4,000 was appropriated for al
equestrian statue of Nathaniel Greene, pro
Vided for by Congress in 1885, OF thi
amount only $1,000 was expended.
The first bust purchased by Congress wa
that OF Chief Justice Ellsworth, bought il
1854 for the Supreme Courtroom, and cost
ing $1,000.
In 1886 bust of Chief Justice Marshal
was provided for BY an appropriation o
$1,000, of which $500 was expended.
In 1857 bust of Chief Justice Ruttledg
was bought for $500.
In 1874 busts of Chief Justices Tame,
and Chase were provided for by an appro
priation of $500.
The bust of John Jay was bought il
$4,000
The bust of Pulaski cost 81 900 in 1867
the Lincoln bust, by Mr.. Ames, $500 Il
1865
The Brady collection of photographs O
the war were purchased in 1875 for $4,000
For the two statues by Luigi Persico a
the east front of the Capitol $4,000 wa
appropriated between 1929 and 1888. Flo
the Persico and Greenough groups o
statues for the east portico and their trans
portation and erection $4,000 was give
between 1887 and 1852.
In 1887 the first and In 1871 the last ap
preparation Of series aggregating $4,000
was made for payment for the services O
Nanderlyn, Wier Chapman and Inman 70
four historical paintings for the rotund
to complete the collection commenced i
lSl7. Four thousand dollars Of the amour
was transferred from Inman TO w. II
Powell and increased to $4,000, in pay
ment TOR his artistic services.
In 1856 $4,000 was appropriated for
contract with VIM. III. Powell for tn
"Perys Victory on Lake Eric" picture fc
the head of grand staircase in the Cap