Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-28
THE LEE MONUMENT.
Rapid Progress Being Made with
The Granite PEDESTAL.
HORSE AND RIDER.
Meroie Hopes to Have Them Done BE-
fore the Year is Out


massive granite twenty feet high.
BY the middle of August it will proba-
lily he ready to receive the bronze horse
aud rider.
During 1882 it is hoped, within a
twelvemonth certainly, Lee. mounted
on his war-horse, Will be looking upon
this city his figure animate his males-
sic face glowing with satisfaction, as with
hat of he momentanly rclns hls horse
20 acknowledge the cheers OF his troops
Lee will come to US to stay.
The sculptor's art vii reveal HIM
riding INTO this city las he so often did
when the enemy was about to assam ~
10 be It's strength and protection, and 70
entvino himself IN the affections oil the
people with such fastcnines as no time
can break. no mutations of fortune or
change of condition can loosen.
MErANoEPHos'S
The spot where his monument IS
rising was waving with yollow-headed
wheat when, in the june al lob2 t1enc-
raj Joe Johnston having been wounded
at Seven Pines, be WAS put at the mead
OF the army here.
A wear or two ago it and much OF the
country about it WAS grassy PLAIN.
Now II Is hid of into avenues and
streets. and is almost the centre OF the
great Wost-End boom, and ont from
the city the line OF fashionable houses
IS marching indeed is already close up
10 the monument grounds.
4 little back Of Lee is the Confcde
rate Soldiers Home and the Exposition
Hail and grounds. Before him and
little 10 tho left is Richmond College,
which during the war was the Louisiana
hospital then a tolerahly capaclous
bmiding of the kind. now trebled in size :;
then separated from Richmond by
marshes and bitches. now in the midst
Of residences and well-payed streets.
Where is now Monroe Park was then
2 camp IN the western suburbs; where
now are the lovelcst residences OF
Franklin and Grace streets was then
"thc old fields, the happy home of the
boy. the handy, and the bricr.
from ee's seat in the saddle the view
jsof a city of homelike but modern and
beautiful dwellings n city looking lovely
indeed, especially in the early morning
when The trst buzz Of busy life begins :,
when the dew is sparkling upon the
foliage Of the parks, and the broad
Tented naples throw over the sidewalks
their cooling shade bat lOveler still on
a genial afternoon when crowds prone
made franklin street and extend their
walks to the monument grounds, en-
dowing the grace and beauty Of the PIC
ture with the JOY Of youth, with the
laughter of merry spirits, and the sun
niness of temper that belongs TO the
dress parade of fashion.
THE MONUMENT GROUNDS.
What for wears past has been known as
"the Allen lot lies west Of Richmond
College and between the Broad-Street
road and Park avenue extended. 1T IS a
level plain of - acres and Is upon one OF
tho greatest elevations IN the city, stand
iro several feet higher than the Capitol
site
This property, as is well known, has
Ioen LAID OF into avenues and streets
md is beng offered to the public rs
building lots, and large portion of the
Hanover-street front has boon sold at fine
urjces: while the Franklin and Grace
street l0ts-the most yaluGble-are Just
now being put into market
The general plan of the division OF
the Alien property contcmplates two
great avenues lntersecung at the polnt
where the monument Is being built
around the monument is 20 be circle
having n diameter of 200 feet. This
will hc beauthed 10y shrubs and flowers
When completed, according to design,
~ y,lU be one of the lOyehest spots IN
Tins country. From the midst OF the cir
Gle the monument viii rise up to sight
and Will be OF easyview at long distances
hvpereons on Franklin or Broad street
ar Park avenue. as well as from most
points on those numerous new streets
now being laid of still further to the
westward.
There was a long contention in this
CITY AS TO where the monument should
he located. and there were many persons
who strenuously opposed putting 1t upon
TINS Ground. They argued that 1t would
Pee absurd 10 locate 1t "away ont IN the
fields beyond the borders OF the city,
hut the Board Of Managers OF the Monu-
mont Association (whO almost without
ercortion were nOn-rcsldcnts OF Ilch-
Toood and who had no local feeling 10
move then) resolved that the Allen lot
was the best place looking TO the future
Of Richmond and considering the fact
that monuments TO be seen at the best
advantage should be on spacious grounds
whore thew can be viewed from atar and
where no buildings can be put near
enouob ~ them TO Getract from their APP
pearance. h;ol,
the Governor Is chairman, this site com
linad all the requisite qualifications and
So WAS decided upon, but not Without
many protests from citizens
What with the location OF this beauu-
fpl work what with the expansion
ri the residential section IN a
nerfectlv natural direction, the west
ward Growth Of the city has been some
thing extraordinary. Lots on the Grove
road a mile beyond the monument have
recently sold as high as SO per front
foot .,.-
Withal the public mind - settling
down into the conviction that TO mistake
WAS made il the choice OF the monu-
,oert site Few doubt that IN the course
If We wears the Lee circle WILL be IN the
very heart Of the fashionable neighbor-
hood OF Richmond. The prices that
are asked and will DO obtained Tor those
lots forbid the idea that the houses
erected in shat section will be anything
bat handsome, and most OF them Will
have elegant grounds.
AS vet however, Lee circle exists bat
mon the map and is not within the CITY
limits bat at the next session oil the
General Assembly, no doubt, the pro
priety Of extending the corporate lines
will be discussed.
Henrico may have something to say
about the absorption OF this western ter
ntory. for al the present price Of pro,
nerty these suburbs Of Richmond lying
(l,,,rtg Hn,its could be made 10