New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-20
TWO BROOKLYN STATUES.
THE lincoln MEMORIAL TO BE PLACED
IN PROSPECT PARK.

vANrAGEs or THE NEW SITE AT THE
FLOWER GARDEN-THE QUESTION OF
MOVING THE BEEcHER STATUE
The first public statue erected In Brooklyn was
that OF Abraham Lincoln. which has stood In the
Plaza of Prospect Park for over twenty-five years
Its erection was immediate sequel OF the en-
thusiasm of the period. The money Tor IL was
secured by subscriptions from the people OF the
city at ,arge and 1t presented 10 the city by
tho War Fund Committee OF Kings County. The
statue Is the work OF II. X Brown IL 's I'M
feet high and Is supported by a pedes'a Vi 3 ~
The martyrei President stands Win ci'AN 80
his shoulders: in his left hand he hods inc i
citation Proclamation and his right mana po''''
IN the words shall be forever Tree VII w" -,
are bronze wreaths representing 'he ,,o.
Navy and the statue Is ornamented Win eas'e''
one OF which bears the arms OF the Guy,
Tho statue was unveiled in 1862 Inc ia'e ~ "
Low presided at the ceremonies anu me- ~.
oncning address James 2. Wallace presen'eu '"e
work to the city. and 1t was accepted oS 'a,,
& r. Stranahan president of the Park CoWh''s'o'
The Grafton OF the occasion was denVere" W "
S,orrs The site was chosen for variety Oh te''
sons One OF them that the statue was " %
the meeting place every year or the "o'""'' -
the Grand Army OF the Republic ana IL "a' 'e'
that the omen plaza would furnish the Des' oPf''
tunities for such meetings. At that time the farN
no thought OF seeking for n site wi'hih '"e RAJ"
boundaries
REASONS FOR MOVING THE LINCOLN
For some time however. 1t has been Increasingly
apparent that the statue poorly placed. ms
has especially been the since the INTRODUCTION
of the trolley In Brooklyn Two trolley INES e."
circle the Plaza and cross each other al d point
quite near the Lincoln statue. The consequence -
t,nh hold
public meeting on Decoration Day or at any other
fine The custom has been to erect platform
for speakers and to place seats for spectators Oh
an espanade. covered with gravel. III IRON, OIL '"c
statue; but no one speak or listen with satis-
faction when a trolley car whizzes ana ruhoieS
past every two three minutes.
Besides It is a fact-a deplorabe one. but still
fact-that the statue is not properly treated where
II stands It has been abused by boys passing
through the Plaza who have taken dehsht w
hnging stones H. The stones are easily oDtdiheu
from the coarse gravel on the esplanade IN 'front.' OF
the statue and the result Is that the Work mas
been dented in a number OF places and shows the
signs OF rough treatment 1t has been susgesteu
that A policeman might be stationed near 1t to pre-
vent these acts OF youthful vanda.s but this would
Involve considerable expense; still 1t might De
worth while the site OF the statue were IN all
respects admirable
1t is not so because where 1t stands 1t is seen
by few people walking. for not many ever have
occasion to the Plaza at this point II can be
momentarily by persons travelling on the
Flatbush-avc. and Wander biltave. lines OF cars,
but on the whole. commands little attention from
such travellers. Then the statue faces the north.
and viewed from In front IT Is impossible for any
one 10 SEQ the textures with satisfaction The
bronze has become fairly black with exposure TO
the weather ard when looked at with the sun In
tho background only a black patch against the
sky Is discernble.
THE NEW SITE ~ THE PARK
Tho reasons in favor Of removing the statue to
another site seem sufficiently strong to convince
even the mos, conservative. \ decision has prac-
,icillv been reached hy Park Commissioner sluier
with the consent and cooperation or Mayo.
tbn The 90 PARK Itself The site virtually agreed
on IL between the flower garden and the lake,
Jew yards distant from the busts OF Thomas Moore
and beethoven II is the intention to pace the
Lincoln statue in the middle OF the path leading
o 1 . each Side The statue viii face The south and
thus have the proper exposure enannhg IL 10 ne
scmbly place for the Grand Army men and Tor
other patriotic gatherings In the immediate Vicinity
viii Doe provided since seats can readily De uacea
on IN. grass under the trees. With platform
close to the statue and the s.eakers on su.n q'on
sonS can be heard with ease. amid Gulet ana np,
proprlatc surroundings and without the possibility
Of interruption from passing s,, GaTs the beginning
TO the proposed change hut u can scarceiy, ne
self TO the judgment Of the great majority. Park
Commissioner squier has studied the matter care,
prove an deal one for the purpose, He is espe-
cialiy convinced that the statue shou;d taSe 20 the
south. as to he properly seen ara STUDIED
THE BEECHER STATUE IN sTATU QuO.
80 steps have been taken in reference to the change
in the pose or site OF the Beecher statue In front OF
the city Hall and time passes II seems more and
more probable that nothing at all viii be done. 1t
is utterly out OF question to satisfy everybody
In matter OF this kind. and the officials who un-
dertake to make change must be prepared to
submit to a good deal OF criticism. \ well-known
citizen who has thought the matter over with care
said yesterday:
missioner who sets TO make any change
whatever In tho Beecher statue Will be engagnS
In very dangerous business. There are several
opinions on the subject and II Is an impossbility
for everybody TO be satisfied: some want me
statue left just AZ II is Others think u ought to
be turned around where II stands Still others
end OF the liit.e triangular park Then a consider,
able number are CONVINCED tina, site 1, op should
llcve that Il would be wise to put II down near
Plymouth Church or in the ilttle park-nke space
there is sure to be cutlery that the wsest course
has not been taken. SO the more think about It
ton TO act should do nothing
one Of the latest suggestions regarding the statue
is that good for II would be at the southerly
end OF OF the mounds that partly surround the
Prospect Park Plhza. II paced there. II would b.
with the idea that the corresponding mound on the
other side OF the Plaza should also be cmbeshed
In the future With 4 statue OF some Distinguishing
citizen OF brooklyn Two statues SO situated would
be about 800 feet distant from the main entrance
OF the Park. and they would be within easy view
OF all who enter come out or the Park IN car
rlages well reasonably convenient for prdcs-
trans arriving at or leaving the Park by this en-
trance. Even II the Beecher statue is not placed
this site. tho availability OF these two POINTS
for similar works of art ought not TO be iDst sight
Of Statues placed here would front the south end
thus be seen In proper light
The Rev. s. r. Halliday for many years Mr..
Beechor's assistant in Plymouth Church and now
connected with the Beecher Memorial Church. was
asked recently what he thought OF the proposition
TO move the statue OF his old friend TO another
position. He expressed grave doubt as to whether
II would be wise to make any change lie rccog
nizcd the fact that Mrs. Beecher not satisfied
with the present pose OF the work and bitterly
regretted that the memorial OF her husband stood
with the back TO his friends. Mr.. Halliday was
doubtful. however about turning the statue around