Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-22
The Site for the Ice Monument.
To the Editor of the Dispdtck /:

The Site for the Ice Msuument-
To the Editor of the Dispatch
Permit q suggestion as TO suitable
site for the Lee monument, none OF
those hitherto spoken of appearing to
be without objection. The Capitol
Square is too limited to accommodate
it; Libby and Gamble Hills are both
too remote from that public prominence
needful to give honor to the subject,
while that to the west of Richmond
College is SO much open to this latter
objection as to appear to the present
generation ridiculous. The proper place
is where gathers the greatestconcourse--
the most public ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the lesson Of the life aud character Of
Lee-one of the worlds greatest-may
be taught apd put prominently before
the coming generations. At present
Broad street seems to. answer best
the requirements, and l would
bumbly suggest the centre Of any of
those streets that intersect with it, on
the north side, from First to Eighth,
taking sufficient from the property on
either side to widen and enable the
thoroughfare to circle around the mon
ument. At First street the City Coun-
ell have long been projecting the i'm
provement Of there widening the street,
and putting it at that point might &C
complish both objects. At Eighth
street, however, the property would be
Of easy acquisition-the directors Of the
Mechanics Institute having lately been
in treaty for it. And when that is
built-which it is to be hoped will not
be loDg--the monument will have the
advantage Of contiguity with popular
public institution while as to expense,
the matter of cost will not be of such
magnitude as to be Of serious conside-
ration. X.
LIBBY HILL CONSIDERED.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Will you allow space for an addition
to what has already nearly literature
its own-that is, the discussion of the
various aspects Of the Lee-monument
question?
AS regards one Of them, think that
the following propositions will be gene
rally accepted as true in respect Of the
site-viz:
That sufficient elevation should be
secured to insure the monuments not
being dwarfed by neigbboring struc-
lures.
That the monument should have as
clear relief as possible-that is, that
the background should not consist Of
objects which would distract the vision.
That the monument should be easily
visible from every approach; that it
should add to the beauty of the city in
every possible way. Now, although
the Libby-Hill site is apparently I'M
popular, and has even, 1 believe, been
regarded as out of the question, | know
from actual experience that many per-
sons have changed their minds because
they had given the subject too super
fetal consideration in the beginning,
and | consequently venture to attempt
to show that it is par excellence the site
for 8 monument to such man.
First AS to elevation. On Libby
Hill there is no chance Of the pile be-
ing dWarfed by church-steeples or by
houses very nearly all as tall as the
monument itself; for, being equestrian,
it should be Of moderate height.
AS to relief; On this site the mass
would be relieved against the sky from
almost every point Of view. Any one
can test the advantage Of this feature
by comparing the Washington monu-
ment from a point Of view giving this
relief with one which throws the
statues against the Capitol.
That it would be easily visible from
any point is too plain for discussion.
The approach to Richmond is noted for
its beauty. This is greatly due to the
broken sky line Of the city and the
prominence Of many Of its buildings
above the general mass. The statue
would be a striking addition to this va
riety, and, being against the sky, wonld
be sih0utted effectively for great dis
lance. and even the most superficial OBJ
server is attracted by forms of this
kind.
Some very singular suggestions have
been urged against this site, and they
have proceeded almost entirely from
local predictions. A person of note
from the South was recently reported
in the New York Herald as saying that
the Richmond people treat this monu-
ment business as if it we're city mat
ter, and that the great South was not
interested in it. This is fact. Libby
Hill has been spoken Of as suburb I.
Who will see the statue? has been
asked. If any one will go to the point
and see how much town there is beyond
and back Of it his ideas will DC podi-
fed. The pretty little park, the neat
residences, and lovely foliage make the
place very attractive. "No one will
see it," is averTed.
If the monument is worth seeing it
will attract everybody. How did the
citizens receive Elders figure Of Liberty
during the Yorktown Centennial? Why,
every body exclaimed, What a site
for q monument! =" And the people
hocked by hundreds to look at it. As
for strangers, they ride around every
where, and almost without exception
20 to St. Johns church. And in this
connection | may remark that gentle
man of continental reputation IN litera'
ture and most correct judgment in art
told this writer that he considered this
hill an ideal sight for monument.
lie said this on making an inquiry as
to the site after looking at the models.
AS to the other sites, of course the
views which | have tried to emphasize
naturally exclude them.
CANDLES Hill has some Of the fea-
lures Of the other hill, but other very
undesirable ones. The monument i
entirely masked from approach from
the city. 1t is exposed to deterioration
from the smoke and gases for a near
foreground it has acres OF railroad cas-,
and the penitentiary as an accessory on
the west. The site spoken of on upper