Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-06
THE LAFAYETTE STATUE.
Senator Evarts' Committee Approves
the Choice of Site.

The Senate committee on the library has de-
cided that the Lafayette statue shall be erected
Just where the pedestal now stands-on the
southern edge of Lafayette Square. During
the past month Senator Bate, who lives near
Jackson's old Tennessee home, introduced a
resolution asking by what authority the statue
had been located in this square. The resolution
was referred to the committee on the library.
Late yesterday afternoon Senator Evarts pre-
sented a report, which says the action is in con-
formIty with the authority conferred by law
upon the Secretary Of War. The report states
that Lafayette Square has a front OF 725 feet
upon Pennsylvania avenue opposite an equal
'front.' Of the grounds of the executive grounds
and also an equal front of 725 feet upon III
street. The square also has an east and west
front OF 423 feet Oh the streets upon which the
sides OF Lafayette Square face. The statue Of
Jackson is at a point 200 feet distant from the
line of Pennsylvania avenue and III street and
$50 feet from the line of the street east and
west of the square. The width of the space
occupied by the Lafayette statue, fronting the
Executive Mansion, will be about % feet ana
the two statues will be about 200 feet in line
distant from each other.
THE JACKSON STATUE.
The statue Of Jackson is so much uncovered
by the trees OF the square that 1t can be hardly
observed from the streets east and west of the
square and is so far distant from Pennsylvania
avenue and III street that II Is necessary for any
observer to enter the square in order to ex-
anime or appreciate the statue, either in its
general effect or IN the merits as "A work OF art.
1t Is not very easy to measure exactly how
much the observation of this statue from Penn
sylvanIa avenue or fSOm the Executive Mansion
will be interrupted by the Lafayette statue, as
the opening. as it now exists for that purpose,
is much wider than the front of the Lafayette
statue; but this interruption of view must, to a
certain extent. result from the statne being in
line when looked at III that direct perspective.
WHY TIE SITE WAS SELECTED.
The committee disclaims all responsibility as
TO the statue or its site, but as its chairman is
associated in the sanction given by act of Con-
gress to those having that subject IN charge.
they deemed it right TO present the aspect aud
considerations which determined the selection
maIe for Lafayette statue. No interior public
reservation would answer. The nature and
associations of this monument seemed to indi-
cate that a site should be preferred having
some relation either to the Capitol and its
grounds or to the Executive Mansion and pub
lie buildings about ii. None around the Capt.
toll seemed adequate in dignity and popular
esteem TOR the Lafayette statue. The one Sc
lected seemed entirely appropriate. Full con-
sIderauCn was given to certain advantages
which might attend the selection of one of
the small reservations on Pennsylvania avenue
between the Capitol and the line Of 18th street.
but the advantages were not equal to those
which would attend the site selected.
The committee believes that at no distant
day sites might be selected along the line of the
open espianade on which the Lafayette statue
was to stand. Already a bill had been intro
duced for a statue in honor of Secretary of War
Stanton in front OF the War Department
building. The same might naturally be ex-
pected on the PennsyIyania-ayenue front of
the Treasury Department. while the two cor
ners of Lafayette Square might well be de-
signed for monuments of illustrlous soldiers
and statesmen.
In contemplation of this prospect the
selecting of the site for the Lafayette statue
was thought emInently fit. In selection il did
not escape attention that in the original plan
OF the city of Washington the only personal
name assigned by Gen. Washington to any
public reservation was to that IN front of the
grounds of the Presidents residence.
JACKSON MAY HAVE ANOTHER STATUE,
''SOme public criticIsm," saws the report,
'has been made by the local authorities OF the
District in disapproval of this site. This seemed
to turn mainly upon a preference for the center
of the square over one on the public thorough
fare OF pennsylvania avenue. II this point had
not already been occupied by the statue of
Gen. Jackson the considerations already set
forth would have given a preference to the site
actually selected. If the relation of the statues
to each other should prove unsatisfactory it
was thought IN the improvement of art in this
country and the hberality of Congress in re-
spect OF statues and monu-
ments, a greater and more imposing statue in
honor of this illustrious soldier and statesman,
illustrative of his military achievements. might
we'll be provided to replace or to be in addi-
ton TO the equestrian statue now in LAFAYETTE
Square. and 10 be placed on a site more in ac-
eordance with the requirements OF its posi-
ton"