The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-09
WHY IT SHOULD FACE WEST
Hon. w. FL. English Shows the Idea in
Placing the Growing Figure.
Magnificent Bronze Work Is to Face East and
West ON the Soldiers Recommendation
the Visitors Will View it.

To the average citizen who sees the SOL
diers' monument every day il seems that 1t
would be best to have the browning figure
face south, and there has been consider
able discussion In the newspapers over the
action of the commissioners in determining
to have it face to the west. Hon. William
II. English. one of the commissioners, was
approached by Journal reporter, yester-
day, and asked for his views on the matter.
He gave some very sound reasons
why the figure should face to the West.
When told the object of the reporters
Walt, Mr.. English said the only objection
he had to being interviewed was his dis
like to appear In print, especially where
there was possibility of being miscon-
strued or misunderstood. In answer TO q
question whether. in his opinion. the mon
ument was likely to be o success. he said
he had no doubt about 1t whatever.
"The stone shaft" said Mr.. English. ''is q
magnificent work, even as it now stands,
and people are undoubtedly forming judg-
ments about the monument from its pres
emit appearance. But this Is misleading, in
some respects. as the shaft ia but the skele-
ton. amounting TO but little, II any. more
completed according to the original de-
sign"
Some surprise was expressed at this state
ment. and Mr.. English was asked to indi-
cate some OF the additions which yet re-
main to be made.
why" said he, "the great colossal bronze
groups are intended to BIO the browning glory
of the monument. and not one of these is in
place. The little bronze band containing
the war dates / do not count, az 10 Is
small affair. as far affecting the appear
ance OF the monument is concerned. re-
fer particularly to the great groups illus
tratln2 the army and navy, which viii
cost. when in place. not far from $4,000.
and the still greater groups OF peace and
war, which are expected to cost not less
tn an sSeG00. Each of these two immense
groups Will occupy epace thirty eight
feet high by nearly she full width of the
monument near it's base, whore the stone
pedestals on which they are to stand al
ready project out from the monument. IL
Is believed these groups will equal, If they
DO not surpass In size and grandeur, any
bronze groups TO be found In any part of
the world. and the sides OF the monument
they occupy will always be the chief points
of attraction, especially the bronze
fountains Will stand Immediately In front
OF these great Qroups. These fountains
will cost any where from Sit, 900 TO $50. 600,
and are al important part of the ornaments
tion Of the monument as originally de-
signed, and In my opinion should not be
abandoned.
Now" said Mr.. English "there is an i'm
portant fact to be stated here which seems
to have been strangely overlooked by many
people. viz, that these fountains. as well
as the great dominant groups, have TO be
placed on the east and west sides of the
monument. The groups could not stand
any where else. as an inspection of the shaft
Will show. and il will be found as a conse-
quence that the east and west sides Will be
the principal points of attraction. They
were made to face east and west. i suppose.
because the Ststehouse. representing the
sovereignty of the State. Glands in full
view on the west, and the United States
building and county courthouse about the
same distance on the east.
Now. there Is another fact" said Dir.
English. (which seems to be strangely
overlooked, and that Is that Mr.. Bruno
SohmItz's official drawing of the plan of the
monument distinctly shows that the crown
ina figure Indiana. was to face the same
way al one of the great groups. and thero-
tore could not possibly face either north or
south"
The reporter having expressed surprise
at this statement, Mr.. English produced
fec eimile of Bruno Schmldts design of tho
monument, certified under his signature.
showing that the GROWING figure was to
face as Mr.. English had stated. He also
under the auspices of the commissioners.
showing the same thing. Thousands OF
these photographs have been circulating
all over the country for years. especially
paper men. who generally know every
thing, seem not to have noticed bow 1t was
designed that this figure should face.
At this point Mr.. English was asked
whether il was not in the power of the
commissioners to cause the figure TO face
to the south. and whether he thought such
q change desirable. He said the power
was undoubted. but for himself he did not
see that anything particular would be
gained by facing it south. About the only
reason assigned was that it would face
down South Meridian street. and that Wis
it0rs 10 the city would thus see the front
of the figure from that approach. This
reason. however. wac set at naught by the
well-known fact that nearly all visitors
come ND Illinois street. and not up South
Meridian street.
The monument and the Statehouse. he
continued. will be the two great points of
attraction In this city, and Illinois street,
with its splendid facilities Of transDorta-
ton, Will bring visitors midway and in
full view of both. and on the sides where
they appear to the best possible advantage.
What more could be desiredf
The great browning figure on the dome
OF the Capitol at Washington city does not
face down Pennsylvania avenue where 1t
could be seen for more than mile. 1t
faces the other way. The designer of our
great monument faced his great groups
east and west. and certainly intended the
browning figure should face In one or the
other of those directions. / never heard
the south even mentioned until recently.
In point OF fact how II faces, independent
of Its proper connection with other adorn-
ments. is a matter of but little consequence.
and Its Importance has been greatly exag-
Rerated by sguibs in the newspapers. At
the height the figure will be i: will look
pretty much the same from all directions.
lt Ia. IN fact. not even figure OF secondary
importance In the construction of the mon
ument. being at least fifth In importan &C.
whether measured by cost or as work Of
ART. Being the fret TO arrive isno dOlbt
the reason it is attracting attention Just
now"
Mr English said that without caring par
ticulGrly about it. he had thus far favored
facing the figure west.
III Ia in harmony with the design and
other oInamentation of the monument"
he concluded. ut is looking in the drec-
tion of the areat Capitol of Indiana. which
is the best representative in existence of
the sovereignty OF the State. 1t is looking