The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-06-17
(From the New York IIerald.)

| the Pride of the South.
| (From the New York IIerald)
RICIMOND, Va, June 2.-Governol
Eitzhugh Lee returned here day Oh
two ago from Cincinnati, where he had
been attending the musical festival, very
much pleased with his visit. He was
called upon to-day by tho Herald CORE
spondent, and, agreeable to au old
promise, gave him brief but very i'm
portant interview in regard to the cree
ton of monument in the city of Rich
mond to the memory of his illustrious
uncle, General Robert e. Lee. The
building of this monument has long been
determined upon. AS early as the year
1867 Lee Monument Association was
formed by ladies in this and other South
crn States but principally III Virginia.
a considerable amount of funds was
raised by this association in the way of
private subscriptions, and several Acts of
the General Assembly Of Virginia were
passed to facilitate the action of the
ladies, but no money has over been ap-
propriatcd by the State for the purpose.
An Act was passed creating State Lee
Monument Association, distinct entirely
from that of the ladies. The latter also
won't to work and raised fund, creating
at first some little jealousy on the part of
the ladies association. The latter, act
ing Independently, advertised for mod
| els, which have been and still arc on cy-
hibition in the Senate Chamber of the
| Capitol building. A prize for the best
model of General Lee was awarded to the
artist and designer of one of these;
but, as far as public sentiment regarding
them can be asccrtaincd, none of these
models will be acceptable, though all of
| them, as before stated in the Herald,
are mcritoriOus, and some of them HIGH
ly SO.
In the meantime still another Act of
the Legislature had been passed author
lzlng the two monument associations to
consolidate should they ever feel in
cllncd to do 50. They would not, and
dId not consolidate. In this way the
matter has go along through years in q
shp-Shod, gO-aS- S-yOu-pleaSc sort of way,
and 1t was not until General Fitzhugh
Lee had been elected Governor that the
matter was taken in hand in n serious.
DuslncsS-llkc manner. | can now inform
the readers Of the Herald that the GREG
ton Of n monument to General Lee has
become a fixed fact, to be accomplished
IN the very near future; that ample funds
will be forthcoming from time to time as
they arc needed to dcfray all expenses
that the monument will be grand in con
, ccptlon, characteristic in design anG
J highly artistic i'll execution and finish
and that an artist whose fame is world
vide by reason of his grand achievement
in Virginia already will probably be Sc
lcctcd to design and execute the model
lOr the monument.
But to return to the Governor, who
while speaking quite freely, did not allow
himself to bubble out into enthusiastic
expressions. He was deliberate in what
he did say, and left unsaid much moro.
which he did not wish to say at present.
"Govcrnor, have you any objection to
stating how you are getting along with
the Lee monument for the benefit of the
public Though the columns of the Her
ald?"
ooh, no." said the Governor, 'T am
happy to say we are making some pro-
grcss toward erecting monument to
| General Lee in this city. The different
associations which had collected money
lor that purpose have now been consoli-
dated and the whole subject is in charge
OF the board of managers which repre-
sent the consolidated associations"
"WhO compose this board?"
1.-The new board is composed of the
Governor, Col. Maryc, first auditor of
the State, and Col. Harmon, the State
treasurer: also Miss Sarah n. Randolph,
late president Of the Ladies' Lee Monu-
mcnt Association; Miss Nichols, former
| ~ OF RlchmOnd, now of Washington,
ID. c., and Col. Archer Anderson, Of
Richmond, Va"
elias the board selected design for
the monument yct?"
"No. The board has made no progress
III that direction, except to look at
number of models that arc on exhibition
i'll the Senate Chamber here, and which
were procured by the Ladies' Lee Monu-
mcnt Association"
"Will any Of these be acceptable,
Govclmor?"
"That question | can't answer. At
their next meeting it will probably be
decided what particular design will be
chosen. The board, however, is not
necessarily limited in its choice to the
models now on exhibition"
''HaVc you determined upon site
yct?"
line board OF managers, as above
constituted, have inspected the various
points suggested as sites for such mon.
ument and have narrowed down THEN
choice to two locations"
''Wherc are these, Governor?"
cone is Gamblc's Hill, on the soutl
side of the city and near its present cen
tre, cast and west, which gives fine
view OF the river and the surrounding
country. The other is piece of land
known as 'the Allen lot, at the head OF
Franklin street, in tho west end and
growing pcrtion of the city, and it is ex,
pectGd that In short time one of these
two lots will be determined upon"
"What is the amount OF the fund for
the monument now in hand?"
eve have enough to order and pay for
an equestrian fgure-horse and rider.
The site Of the monument will cost the
association nothing, and it is expected
that the city of Richmond will contrib
ute her share in giving us a foundation
and in laying off and Identifying the
surrounding grounds"