New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-14
AND CHAINS,
Copyright; 1891: By IN. Tribune As,OciaaorJ


Of Brooklyn has erected in honor Of the soldiers
and sailors who perished in the Civil War 1t is
not a work in which people of that city familiar
with the manner of its construction feel
great pride. Whether the full history Of its
erection will be made known is open
question; but so far as can now be ascertained
Il is history Of blunders. irregularities. mis-
management and scandal.
To begin with the arch Is not properly stu
ated. AS it stands. it has relation to any
thing else, and 1t is almost impossible TO obtain
satisfactory view of 1t from distance. There
were two or three sites close by on which 1t
might have been appropriately placed. One of
these is the spot covered by the fountain near
the centre of the Park Plaza. If erected there.
the arch would have borne substantially the
same relation TO the principal street leading to
the Park Flatbush-ave) that the Arc de Tri-
omphc In Paris bears to the grand avenue leading
10 the Bois de Boulogne. To make use of this
site it would have been necessary to remove the
fountain; assuredly not an undertaking Of
magnitude to appall commission of public
spirited and competent men.
In default Of this, another AZ site was at the
entrance of the Park itself. to which the arch
would have formed an appropriate gateway.
Here. II 1t could not have been seen to the best
advantage by persons approachhg the Park, it
would at least have been brought close TO the
people, and would have been object of study
and interest TO thousands of men. women and
children who enter the Park at this point.
Still another site which might have been used
to advantage is at the point where the Eastern
Boulevar enters the Plaza. There is a great
deal Of driving along this Boulevard, and the
arch would have presented a commanding APP
peay-ance to any one coming down the hill past
the II. ,er:Nr. In its present situation the
Of
squatty and unGlignifed.
But the commission In charge Of. the work
and the architect refused to listen TO the ad-
vice repeatedly and urgently given. and decided
70 rear the arch one iside Of the Plaza. nearT
In front of the Park entrance and at solne dil-
tance from 1t. There. As has.~ Nj sai,t IT 4 7
absolutely out of relation with its sur pund-
t.ngs. The primary idea In arch is that peo-
pie may pass through it, bu, this arch leads no
whittier. Although standing in a large open |
plaza. it is really in an out-ofthe-way place
The location OF the arc, the initial mis- |
take.
THE MONEY FOR THE ARCH.
When the plan fer soldiers and sailors
monument was frs talked Of in Brooklyn, 1t |
was expected that the money TO build II would
be raised by private subscription 1t was soon |
found. however, that this would be impossible. |
and IT decided to ask the Legislature TO |
authorize the city TO spend the necessary |
amount A law passed in 1888 providing |
for an expenditure Of 100000 for this purpose.
the money to be raised by taxation com
mis- was constituted to take charge Of the |
wo.x consisting of the Mayor. the president |
Of the Board Of Aldermen and the chairman OF
The Memorial Committee Of the Grand Army |
u the Republic. The official composition of the |
Commission remained unchanged until the pres
elt year, when the Park Commissioner was |
added TO It. But with the changes In the In |
tumbents of the several offices named. the per- |
sonnel Of the commission has been repeatedly |
altered. Until the present year. however, the |
Ser ccrats have been in complete control Of the
Work. While the erection Of the arch was IN |
progress the members Of the commission were !
Mayors Chaplin and Boody. John McCary and |
3, Micha ]. CoHey, presidents Of the Board OF
NAldefu and Thomas b. Rutan. James ID. Bell |
and N nael j. Cummings. representing the
Grand nv
Befon he work was begun. in August. 1883, |
those H. ested to the conclusion that |
100000 wo Id by ans be sufficient ana
by law passed in May Of that year the sum |
was Increased by $150000. it being provided that
bonds TO that amount should be issued by the |
city. The Legislature was again appealed to In
1881, and further bond issue of 100000 was |
ordered.
petion that the dedication ceremonies took place |
on October r. 1892. and up to that time |
$5oOOO0 had been laid out upon It, This cx- |
penditure. ii should be added here, included the
erection Of two granite columns at the Park en-
trance. which, by some stretch OF Imagination on |
'he part Of the commissioners and architect.
were considered be "adjuncts' OF the arch.
an point Of fact. they are not adJuncts OF the
arch In any proper meaning Of the word and
'ney stood at the other end Of the park or had
been placed on the Concourse at Coney Island.
NO MINUTE BOOK FOR FIVE YEARS.
The records OF the Memorial Arch Commission
were kept by Daniel b. Phillips, who was the
private secretary Of Mayors Chaplin and Boody,
ana who acted as secretary of the commission.
ihey are a curious and interesting study. On
'"elf lace there is ample evidence OF the un-
'usihesslike methods pursued by officials VINO
were engaged in spendi.g s35O.0o0 OF the peoples
money The commission began its work In 1888;
"u' IL was not until five years later that
hinute-oook provided Surely that Is not
'ne way in which business public private.
oasnt to be done At a meeting held on Feb
uary ZS 1893. the secretary was authorized TO
procure one book for this purpose. at cost not
" exceed ST. During the intervening five years
-" minutes were. presumably, kept on slips OF
Saper' from which 1t s supposed they were
nnaiiy Transcribed in the book Whether any
"ahses were made In them cannot be dis
covered
a little study OF the minute-book. however.
W." snow that the record Is far from complete.
,~nous important papers are mentioned-papers
s' FORM necessary part Of the records-but
:" trace OF them Is to be found. In at least one
'here Is no mention OF the awarding OF
.e"'lact which apparently authorized at a
'ssans neid on the date on which the contract
AA Il