Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-28

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the Council exercise their best judg-
ment or they may regret It.
MONUMENTS FOR BOTH LEE AND
JACKSON.
DR.. Hunter McGuire The best site.
in my opinion, for the proposed Lee
monument is Marshall Park (vulgarly
called Libby Hill. The monument
should be q tall shaft like the Column
Vendome, with the military figure Of
Lee on the top. From Manchester. and
from any point on Main street Of this
city from Fifth to Twenty-ffth street,
this monument could be seen. Ii would
be the first thing observed by visitors
coming up the James, or by the rail-
roads coming into the city from Peters
burg. Dsnyille. West Point, and New
ports News. hope the present genera
ton will erect another and similar COL
umn to Stonewsll Jackson at the inter
section Of Broad street with the grand
! avenue to the New reservoir, and still
another, and this an equestrian statue,
on CANDLES Hill to our splendid SOL
der, Jeb. Stuart. We owe it to our
selves and to posterity to imperishably
record the fact that these men were
ynginiSns..
A NATURAL SITE.
Mr. Gilbert r. Firth In my opinion
the best site for the proposed monument
TO General Lee is Libby Hill, or, as |
believe it is now called, Marshall Park.
1 think that the first desideratum for a
great public monument is grand natu-
raj site, provided such is available
within convenient distance. Libby Hill
is a grand natural site, and an imposing
monument erected on it would be in
full view from the principal thorough
fare Of Richmond, and would also be
seen from more points in the vicinity
ard in approaching the city than any
other spot. A noble outlook such as
the summit of Libby Hill commands
would enhance the dignity Of the work.
HIS FIRST AND SECOND CHOICE.
Colonel John b. Cary, superintend-
ent-elect Of the public schools Of this
city: give my opinion in favor OF
Libby Hill as the site OF the Lee monu-
ment. Located there it would be seen
daily by our people as they mingle in
the maits Of trade, and be perpetual
inspiration to higher things.
As second choice would prefer
Reservoir Park or the Soldiers Home.
ADVANTAGES or CHIMBORAZO HILL.
Colonel C. ?. Burgwyn, civil en-
ein6er and assistant engineer James
river improvement All colossal
statues are best seen when outlined
either against the sky or else against
objects far distant. and should if pos
sible be viewed from below-that is,
the statue should be placed upon an
elevated position. Again, statue Of
colossal size should be capable Of be-
ing seen from as many directions as
possible. This necessitates that it
should be isolated. Sites such as Gam
ble's Hill or Libby Hill would possess
the advantage Of elevation and of being
seen from many points. They would
posscss the disadvantage, hoTever. Of
almost alvey outlining the statue from
the best points OF view against objects
near at hand, and these best points of
view would generally be from situations
TO the south Of the river.
1t appears to me that the best sitda
ton would be on the summit of ma
sony on top Of high mound Of earth
in Chimborszo Park. The details Of
the construction Of the mound and ma
sonry supports could be most Judi
ciously entrusted to the eminent City
Engineer. Colonel Cutshaw, who has
already so skilfully changed Chimbo-
razo from dreary hospital site into a
blooming park. A statue placed in a
commanding position in Chimborazo
could be seen by those entering the city
on the Chesapeake and Ohio Newpcrt's
News extension, on the Richmond,
York River and Chesapeake railroad,
by those coming up the river, and by
the Petersburg railroad as it approaches
Manchester, and by all dwelling in pO-
sitions TO the southeast Of the city.
Furthermore. there is something in that
location that appeals to the sentiment
Of the position. Midway between the
two great burial-grounds of the OPP
posing armies, standing as guard be-
tween the city and the enemy as they
advanced from the Peninsula, a place
more fitting for the hero soldier could
hardly well be devised than the one in
which strangers can tell that he was
placed by the State while obeying her
laws.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE RE-
GAEDEp IN TIE ADOPTION or \
SITE.
Rev. Moses u. Hoge, D. D.: The
proper location Of monument depends
very much on the character Of the
monument itsclf-that is, upon It's
height, the number Of its accessories or
Illustrative figures, and the space re-
quired for the area around the pedestal.
There would he no advantage in
placing a statue on an eminence unless
It's size and own height were such a. to
make it conspicuous from afar. aud
when the attendant figures, whether
they be historic or neurological, are
numerous. it would be absurd to place
the monument in q circumscribei
space henmed in and oyershadowed
by surrounding buildings.
Not having seen the models or de-
signs for the proposed Lee monument,
cannot express an intelligent opinion |
as to the best location for it.
\ few general principles, however,
should control the selection Of the place.
And first, | would say the chief regard |
should be paid to the selection Of the
best situation for the monument itself, |
and not 10 what part Of the city would |
be most improved by its location.
The object in the erection Of a monu-
ment is to perpetuate the memory Of
The person TO whose honor it is reared,
and the place where it stands should be
one possessing every advantage for the
display Of the intrinsic merit Of the
sculpture itself. The principle of selec-
ton should not be the probable effect
he location Of the monument would have
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