Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-28
THE STATUE OF LEE.
WHAT rs THE BEST SITE IN RICH
MoND FOR TT
A VARIETY OF VIEWS
Opinions In Favor Of MARSHALL Park,
CANDLES Hill, Monroe Park, Chin
borazo. Soldiers Home, &c.

There are two Lee Monument Asso-
.ciatious-the Ladies' and the State.
The former has fend OF about
sol .OOc--the latter ore OF about
al. coo. The General Assembly has
nassed law authorizing q union OF the
two bodies, and il is expected that the
State Association will merge in the
Ladies' Association; but that action
is vet to be taken.
The ladies have gone forward and Sc
lecied Marshall Park Libby Hill as
the site for the monument, and recently
they advertised for models, and the first
prize Of $4,000 was awarded TO Me
haus, Of Cincinnati, and the second TO
Ezekiel, formerly Of Richmond, nov of
Rome; and LAM Of Switzerland, Mer-
Gle OF France, aud Elwell Of Boston re-
ceiyed honorable mention. These five
models are now on exhibition in the
Senate chamber, having been brought
here from Washington, ID. c., where
the proposals we're opened and awards
made. Mr. Gilbert X. Firth, who
was one Of the competitors, has also
placed his model in the chamber. A
large number OF people visited the
Senate chamber yesterday and reviewed
and criticised the models.
The general objection made to ME-
haus's was that be had mounted Lee
on a bob-tailed horse. This was re-
garded as an objection by the judges
of award and ladies' committee, and
by their request Niehaus has modelled
and sent here new horse and rider,
which was yesterday on the clerks
desk. and was regarded as an improve
meBt on the other. lie first made Lee
with uncovered head nov he has Lee
with his hat on.
Should the two associations unite and
resolve that the monument be made
after Niehsus's model-and on this
point they are still free to active
would have a monument about the pro-
portions Of that Of Washington's in the
Capitol Square. There would be nu-
merous allegorical figures on it, but
only one statue--Lee's. Washington's
monument cost $259.9i3; this, it is
estimated. will cost 100000. The
city Of Richmond has rendered a site.
Ii is expected that the city will also
pay for preparing the foundation
and the expense Of the masonry at the
base Of the monument. The State will
be asked TO make al appropriation for
the pedestal, and the two associations
once combined have enough money TO
pay for the bronze horse and rider.
When the work is once under way, by
holding fairs and by the donations Of
patriotic people, the Association can
probably command enough money to
pay for the allegorical figures, &C.,
and so we would have a monument
to be compared with Washington's.
The city Of Richmond offered the Ladies
Association a site either on Marshall
Park Libby Hill, CANDLES Hill. or
Monroe Park, and August !, 1852, the
Ladies Association accepted the Libby
Hill site. Now, whether when the two
associations are consolidated that site
will still be adhered TO and the Niehaus
model be the one from which the monu-
ment shall be built remains to be seen.
As to the best site, the following ex-
pressions Of opinion, given at the re-
quest Of the Dispatch by gentlemen
well qualified TO speak, will be inter-
sstiDg:
SHOULD he PLACED IN MONROE
SQUARE
NJ. J. Dimmock, Esq, architect, 1903
Main street: am decidedly Of the
opinion that this statue should be placed
in Monroe Square, which in few years
will be the centre Of the most desirable
section Of the city. The details Of this
monument-yiz., the figures in relief
surrounding the base, &c.---will bear
close inspection, and It should be
placed where it can be exam
ined from near point of
view as well as at a distance.
The monument should be raised upon
terrace with broad steps in two flights
and broad walkway upon this terrace,
which will elevate the statue itself above
the surrounding foliage, &c. If the de-
sign for this monument was a great
column with figure upon the top like
that Of Washington in Baltimore. then
it might be placed upon one Of the
suburban hills where distance would
lend enchaniment and no one would ap-
prosch it for this reason.
CENTRE OF MONROE SQUARE.
Hon. George l.. Christian, attorney
at law and secretary Of the Virginia
Division Of the Army of Northern Viz !
ginia Association; In my judgment the |
centre Of Monroe Square is by far the /
best place for il. There it would be /
practically overlooking Hollywood, !
where several of his lieutenants and /
many Of his brave soldiers lie, and
would not only be seen by everybody
living in ard visiting Richmond, but by
the great thrOng Of persons passing
from the North and South on the great
Coast Line. Then, too, this locality is
by far the most attractive one in the
city. and for that reason General Lees
statue should find place there.
FOR CANDLES HILL.
Major f. T. d. Myers, general SUI
periniendent Of the Richmond, Frede-
ricksburg and Potomac Railroad Com
pany, &c. (; My opinion, given for what
il is worth, is decidedly in favor Of
CANDLES Hill as the site of the Lee
monument. That commanding and
beautiful spot seems to me to combine
in the same degree, as no other does,
prominence, ease Of access, and central
position.
! do not regard the proximity of the
TTedegar furnaces as substantial OBJ
lection. The improved methods Of
firing have already greatly reduced,
and will undoubtedly still further
diminish, the emission Of smoke from
their chmneys. Upon the outlook
from CANDLES Hill it is needless to
enlarge.
BOULEVARD AND GROVE ROAD.
General John K. Cooke: think the
intersection ofths Boulevard and Grove
road most eligible site for the Lee