The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-05-30

The Soldiers and snilOKs' Menumonp,
70 the Editor of the Press:
1 have felt good deal of interest in the To-
cation of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument
The committee having the matter in charge
may be fully trusted to procure such q design
and such an execution Of the work as win sat-
isfy all our people and do honor to the city.
Now, where shall it be located so as to satisfy
as far as possible the conditions which oaght to
surround it?
Until today, have been inclined upon the
whole to Lincoln Park as the most suitable
place. Here the monument would be sur
rounded with borders and shade, and people
strangers as well as our own citizens-could be
seated in quiet to enjoy it, because we may be
sure it will be such work of art, that all who
visit 1t will wish to linger by it and view it
leisurely from every point at which it can be
seen to advantage.
Today I went to the Western Promenade to
see II there Is any spot about it where 1t can be
placed to advantage, and without hesitation I
say there are two If not three spots there, any
one Of which will be far better in every respect
than any other. All strangers go there as mat
ter Of course to enjoy vision such aB no other
city on the continent can show except perhaps
Montreal and Quebec. A professional gentle
man who had travelled largely over the world
said it is the finest view he ever saw, and at
the time he made the remark, he was standing
on the lofty summit of the Oampahile in Ven-
ice from which the view is almost un-
equalled.
The Western Promenade is daily visited by
large numbers OF our own people, who hnger
there for hours, especially in the summer eve-
nings enjoying beyond power OF expression the
marvellous view Of the country, extending to
the hills Of interior Maine and to the White
Mountains in the distance. With charming
glimpses of water at the North, South and
East. Our people drive there in summer eve
nings in large numbers as all strangers do, rid
ing back and forth waiting for the exhibition
of the glories of the sunset, which are equal to
any to be seen in Italy.
From the Western Promenade the monu-
ment could be seen from afar, in many direc-
tions, and would attract universal attention,
and il could be seen also in vista, as It would
be approached by two streets or perhaps three
from the city. 1t would be surrounded by
green turf and the verdure of many fine trees
already growing there, which in q few years
will form a noble frame work for the monu-
ment. The surroundings will be in everyway
in harmony with 1t.
In Haymarket Square, the surroundings
will be in no possible way, in unison with the
monument and with the feelings which it
should excite in every thoughtful person. Lt
will not be too strong to say the surroundings
will be pitiful, as cGdre to such q memorial
OF great historic event and OF the self
sacrificing men who played a prominent part
in it. There will be the deafeniDg uproar Of q
heavy, incessant and constantly increasing
traffic over stone pavement; there will be
constant crowd of wagons carts and carriages
and horse cars, and dust and all other ele-
ments Of unpleasantness always inevitable in
every city IN spots where busy men of trade
most do congregate. There will be, can be,
no quiet, no rest, no repose there, because
everybody must be stunned by the incessant
tramp of horses and roar of wheels over the
pavements. Would Scollay or Haymarket
Square in Boston be suitable place for such
monument? Nothing could be mere un-
suitable except Haymarket Square in this
city.
1t is not a small consideration, think, that
while Haymarket Square would be the worst
possible place for the monument, its location
there would cost our overtaxed citizens at
least six thousand dollars annually, whilo on
the Western Promenade-the very best place
as think-it will be perpetual delight to all
of us, while the. site would cost nothing but
the expense of grading, which would be in
cluded in the foundation. II the city could
possibly afford such an outlay as the location
of the monument in HaymaTket Square would
involve the money would be we'll expended In
building noble public library to adorn the
town and greatly benefit our people.