The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-21

properly with all its details would cost
nearer 100000 than the lalf million in
view, but it is certain that intellectually it
is surpassed by the elegant and much more
simple structure of Mr. Charles W. Clinton.
This is correct, classic and beautifully pro-
portioned None of these things can be
said in favor of Mr.. Duncan design, which.
while imposing as mass, especially when
viewed with its projected approaches from
the river. is lacking In symmetry when
viewed from the south, which it faces, and
! is capped by squat, ugly stepped pyramid
in place of the dome which would naturally
suggest itself.
Mr.. Duncan in this roof undoubtedly had
in view the lower and stepped portion of the
dome of the Pantheon at Rome. Those six
stems, however. terminate in low dome of
beautiful proportions, the effect being far diff
ferent from the e-eXtinguisher which
Caps Mr.. Duncan'S circular colOBnade as the
exterior OF the dome of his memorial hall.
Mr. Duncan's idea of placing the crypt for
the sarcophagi in an arse, thus leaving the
main hall free Cor public gatherings, is clever,
but by this he gets away from the main fact
that the building should be above all things
the tomb of General Grant, and that the sar-
cOpbagi of the hero and his wife should be in
the center of the structure and like the tomb
of Napoleon at the lnyalides, to which several
of the designs have some similarity, under the
great dome.
Still this is not matter of the greatest
moment, always providing that there is
plenty of room, which Mr.. Duncan seems
TO have provided for visitors 10 look down
into the crypt.
A strong point in favor of Mr.. Duncan's
design before the committee seems to have
been the fact which he has held very closely
in view. that the maus0leum proper can be
built complete in itself for the amount the
committee has in hand, and that 1t could be
finished in a year or eighteen months. lie
has kept this idea in mind also in reference
to other portions of the main structure. One
of the best things in DR.. Duncan's design is
the entrance poltiCo, with its tomblike mas
sive feeling.
The Doric design of Mr. Duncan, intended
for granite or marble the crypt TO be, it is
suggested, in white granite, provides for a
base, exclusive of the p0rtico and steps, of
100 feet square and a height of 10 feet. The
idea is not to disturb the temporary tomb
now on the oval plot presented to the monu-
ment association by the city until the COM
pleton of that portion Of the structure,
comprising the mauSoleum proper, which 1t
is intended to erect with the amount on
hand.
Directly before the entrance portico, facing
south. will be an equestrian statue of Gen
eral Grant. and above the four inner of the
six Doric sides of the crypt are to be places
for flags and other relics.
John Ii. Duncan who made the accepted
design for General Grants monument. in
his well considered description of his work
refers to the necessity of giving the struct-
ure an expression of dignity and repose,
and says he has followed the best Greek ar
chtectural precedent in the treatment of
the exterior. In the lower portion he Sc
lected the Doric order on account OF its SIM
plicity, and above the Ionic.
In the immense memorial hall he has
adopted the vault and arch form of Roman
The tatails of
subordinate to the general design.
His arrangement of the open crypt recalls
the tomb of Napoleon in the Hotel des In
valides. 1t is placed in an apse, leaving the
entire memorial clear for civic or patriotic
gatherings. A vista the full length Of the
hall will be obtained from the entrance, ter
| minatng in the apse and the guardian figure
over the sarcophagus.
The dome is supported by pendants that
relieve the square formed by the vaults and
the inner side of tho dome. Spaces on the
under side of the dome may be ornamented