Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-04
THE LEE MONUMENT.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR
ON THIS SUBJECT.
Who Will Furnish the Design and Where
the Site Will Be-The
Funds, &c.

ibtt fJfFNtN bdPNi VIZ
lowing interview with the Governor as TO
the Lee monument:
"Governor, have you any objection to
stating how you are getting along with the
Lee monument for the benefit OF the pub
lie through the columns OF the Herald Z"
"Ob. no." said the Governor; 81 am
happy to say we are making some progress
toward erecting monument 10 General
Lee IN this city. The different associations
which had collected money for that purpose
have now been consolidated, and the whole
subject IL In charge Of the Board OF Mana
gers which represent the consolidated asso-
cations"
"Wh0 compose the Board?"
"Tbe new Board Is composed Of the
Governor; Colonel Marve. First Auditor OF
the state, and Colonel Harmon, the State
Treasurer also, Miss Sarah y. Randolph,
late president OF the Ladies' Lee Monu-
mentAssoclation Miss Nicholas, formerly
of Richmord, now Of Washington, ID. G.;
and Colonel Archer Anderson, OF Rich.
mOnd, Va"
NOT RESTRICTED IN THE SELECTION
elias the Board selected a design for the
monument yeti"
"No. The Board hes made no progress
in that direction, except TO look at num-
Der OF models that are on exhibition in the
senate chamber here, and which were pro-
cured by the Ladies' Lee Monument Asso-
ciation."
"will any Of these be acceptable, Gov
ernor!"
"That question can't answer. At their
next meeting II 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 exhibit
tion."
TIE SITE VIRTUALLY FIXED UPON.
"lIaye you determined upon a site yeti"
"The Board Of Managers, as above con-
stitutcd, have inspected the various points
suggested rs sites for a monument and have
narrowed down their choice TO two loca-
tions."
"Where are these, Governor?"
"One is Candles Hill, on the south side
Of the city and near its present centre, east
and west, which gives a fine view OF the
river and the surrounding country. The
other is a piece Oi land known ~ 'the
Allen lot at the head Of Franklin street,
in the West End and growing portion OF
the city, and it Is expected that in a short
lime one Of these two lots will be deter.
mined upon"
PLENTY TO START WITH.
"What is the amount OF the fund for the
monument new in hand 7"
"We have enough 10 order and pay for
an equestrian figure-hOrsc and rider. The
site Of the monument Will cost the Associa-
tion nothing, and it is expected that the
CITY Of Richmond will contribute her share
in giving us foundation and in laying off
and Identifying the surrounding grounds"
AuINT TO THE STATE.
"But II will require more money!"
"Oh, yes. Then it is proposed TO renew
the effort to obtain fresh subscriptions, and,
presume, after the work is in progress
the State would be willing to do something
toward completing the monument TO her
distinguished son."
THE CORNERSTONE TO Re LAID IN OCTOBER.
"When do YOU propose to lay the cor
neT.stOne Z"
"The date for that has already been
fixed upon. for we have named Saturday
the 23d Of October next as the day. The
Virginia troops will be in camp here du-
ring that week. The annual State Fair
begins on Wednesday, October 10th, and
ends on FRIDAY. 22d, so that the corner.
slOne will be laid on the day after the ter
mination OF the Fair and during Fair week.
II was thought that would be the best
time. because the military encampment
and the Fair would both take place during
the same week.
A GRAND HISTORIC SCENE.
"Do you expect large crowd, and will
there be grand military pageantf"
OF people i'm Richmond then than at any
time within her history. There will be
grand military parade, and the Indies, with
the assistance OF acknowledged artists, are
going TO decorate the city in a more
elaborate and artistic manner than they did
during the celebration Of the Yorktown
Centennial"
4" The corner. stone, Governor, | sup
mOnies?"
Yes"
DISTINGUISHED HONOR.
"Who will probably deliver the address
on the occasion D"
"The orator for The occasion has already
been selected by the Board Of Managers.
The gentleman upon whom the choice has
fallen is Colonel Charles Marshall, who was
formerly one OF the aides-de- camp and the
private secretary 10 General Robert +. Lee
during the war. lie is now an eminent
lawyer OF Baltimore, and having been so
closely associated with General Lee through
those four years Of the war, besides being
fine speaker and writer, the selection was
unanimously determined upOu."
A LANDMARK OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.
"Now, Governor, when do you think
the monument will be completedI"
"That question is difficult to answer.
Monuments and great works Of art Of this
description require time-often great
length Of time. Much, to be sure, depends
upon the rapidity Of the artist, the build.
ers, and Others selected to do the work.
Ny object is to do whatever | can 10 have
such q monument unveiled during my ad-
ministration as Governor, feeling Of course
natural pride in having the erection OF
such monument ss one OF the landmarks
Of my administration"
soon TO BE BUILT.
The Herdid correspondent adds As his
conclusions "that the erection OF the mon.
ument TO General Lee has become fixed
fact to be accomplished IN the very near fu-
ture; that ample funds will be forthcoming
from time TO time as they are needed to de-
fray all expenses; that the monument will
be grand in conception, characteristic in
design, and highly artistic IN execution
and finish, and that an artist whose fame Is
worldwide by reason OF his grand achieve
ment in Virginia already will probably be
selected TO design and execute the model
for the monument"