New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FOR A NATIONAL MUSEUM.
TIE STRIKING SCHEME OF FRANKLIN w.
SMITH, OF BOSTON.
HE EXPECTS TO RAISE FIVE MILLIONS OF DOL
LIARS TO CARRY OUT HIS PRoJECT-TO
GIVE AMERICA THE FINEST ART
GALLERY IN THE WORLD.

GIVE AMERICA THE FINEST ART
GALLERY IN THE WORLD.
Washington Dec. ?O.-FOr n number OF years
some Of the most enlightened men at the Capital
have thought much upon one subject. and that
the lack of National Building to be devoted
to art. These men have travelled far and wide
and have observed the fact that every capital IN
Europe however small, has its great art museum,
and that from this a centre had been developed
skilled Industries and technical arts This drift
Of opinion was further stimulated by the act OF
Mr.. COrcOran, who gave first n definite specllled
for the sole purpose of advancing art at the
Capital. Congress has always been spasm0dic and
unintelligen in its treatment of the arts. 1t 10
only by an odd chance that good statue has been
built in Washington with the public money. Ihe
architecture of our public buildings is matter
of hazard. There is to-day organized bureau
competent 20 take charge Of such a subject as
architecture and the arts. Left to political in
hucnce the artist who has had the greatest number
Of friends has always succeeded in selling his wares
to the Government without regard To his merits as
an artist. The pictures and the statues thus far
purchased by the Government have been gen.
orally purchased from political favorites. Upon
the public buildings committees of Congress
there are men of cultivation and taste, but in the
rection of the arts has but little influence. Any
thing really good in this field can be accom-
plished only through years of work. The ter
races around the Capitol Building were secured
only after years Of struggle. The Public Library
Building is the result of fifteen years of argument
Most men in Congress know nothing about art and
care Jess. lis value is an educational factor
they might be willing to cOncede, but when 10
comes to an intelligent comprehension Of some
specific plan for the advancement of art. Con-
grcss turns with deaf ear.
The people who have favored the establishment
at Washington of n great national museum. or
gallery have never hoped to obtain anything from
Congress Those who have discussed the ques-
ton have said il is matter for the future
The country is not far enough advanced, but
there has recently appeared upon the scene
maL who. while he is in advance of general
public sentiment upon this subject, has hrm
conviction that he will he able To interest enough
educated rich people to cooperate with HIM IN
the establishment at the Capital Of great art
institution. the influence of which will he felt
through all time. This gentleman, Franklin w.
smith. of Boston, is not visionary man. lie
has brought to Washington a perfected plan, the
result of forty years of study and observation in
the capitals Of Europe. lie has enough money
to bc able TO devote the leisure of his life 70 this
subject lie has NJ object except to benefit his
country and 10 build at Washington something
That shall surpass in maenifccnce and perfection
of dc,icn ANYTHING previously known in the his
tory OF the world. IT is most ambitious project,
but looked at with the placid eyes of criticism
his plan appears perfectly PRACTICAL and SIM
cerely believe will be carried out.
The design for the gallery. for which he paid
the sum of 81 900. was made by Mr. Renwick,
the noted architect of NewYorl>. 1t is an artistic
embodiment of Mr. Smiths idea. 1t represents
to a certain extent ideas gathered from tho
study Of an old plate representing the Forum az
Rome restored. In tho centre Is the Parthcnon,
and to the right ard the left. descending through
terraces are succession Of galleries reaching out
50 os to cover space of 80 acres. In 'front.'
Of this temple is bridge coming up to central
archwavs This bridge crosses an artificial stream,
and i a copy of the Via Sacra Of the Roman
Forum Along its line are to lie placed statues
of thc heroes of American history. This roadway
tcrrinatcs al a triumphal arch. to he
named the Washington Arch Between 1t ana
thc Parthcnon. on the heights, is second arcn'
which is to be called the Lincoln Arch To the
right and the left of the arches are sem-clrcular
approaches. like those in front OF 81 fctrs
in Rome The Galleries TO the right and left
are built about squares. The plan is so wide, SO
beautiful and SO Comprehensive that the invol-
untary remark when first Scein- it Il that II Is
the dream of an enthusiast. Where could money
cnourh be fourd to build such a magnificent
structure?
II j., always difficult without an actual engrav-
ing of an architectural design to describe any
such plan by mere words. | shall only say Of
thi, dcsien that it is a most harmonious compo-
.iton of the best classical models. and that if 10
cou1I be built in Washington il would he most
glorious crown to the city. far surpass ne anything
devised Tor either ornament or usefulness of
capital.
First il Is natural to ask where could site he
found? The second question would he, where
could enough money De subscribed 10 build
series of buildin9s covering space beyond any,
thin. Vet attempted in the liTc OF modern arcbi-
lecture. if no Government aid is 10 he invoked?
The reply to this comes from Mr. Smith, who Is
a practical Boston Yankee. who is as familiar
with the best business methods as he is with tho
rrnclp,cs Of arr lie would use. in the first place,
the same material that lac has employed in the
construction of ms Pompcian villa at Saratoga,
and again in his Moorish villa at st Augustine.
he would employ the Roman material used in the
early days This is a blending of cement and sand
which make a comp D>i:c stcne enduring for ages,
more lasting oven than marble granite. This
material is cheap and can he moulded into any
form. The cost OF II is not more than IL cents Q
cubic foot. Tine beautiful iiuted columns In the
Pompcilan villa at Saratoga, cap-sheafs and all,
did not cost more tlan ST. each Using this
impcrshahc and economical material this vast
sheet of bulines can be constructed at
cost of Sj,uoC,O0O. This money Mr..
Smith expect, to raise through individual
subscriptions. lie himself will make his personal
contribution, ard having received tie encourage
m"nt and support of the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art in Ncw-lork, and having met at every hanA
in Washington cheering words from every one
caplblc of apprcciating the high character OF his
motives, Mr.. Smith is preparing 10 settle down
for campaign which will result in giving the
Capital ore of the greatest structures of modern