Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-08
Washington Archftecture nm,
Memorial Bridge

10 the Editor Of The Evening Star.
1t may seem like impertinenoe few -
amateur architect TO make any or,tto;.-
on the plans you illustrate for tho ,Ior,o
RAJ bridge. Washir gton has the most m
fortunate and most beautiful strrcturas ~
the world. The Capitol we ell know and
revere. The White House is a fauItIess
ltanan villa. The treasury is very innres-
slVe from the south. 1t is backed into III.
ground on the north in a most unfortunate
SITUATION. When we think Of the Acropo-
lis on nil we are at loss to know wbv
superb imitation should be so placed that
we have to go downstairs to go IN Tho
new library promises to be the most he.r-
tiful building in the world Of its character
anu ah as we look from its grand terraces to
me pension ONCE. one fairly shudders Tho
Monument is undoubtedly the most perfect
erection OF its kind. Fortunately. the an.
preparations gave out before the circle of
columns was constructed. In the old
drawing 1t Will be seen how unfit # was
The Monument would have looked like the
handle of a gigantic earth FOUNDER lie
absolute simplicity is it's perfection. and
had 1t been adorned with shields, spread
h ha5,a or even an inscription, 1t would not
nave been as solemn as 1t is now 1t is an
endless delight to contemplate it. some
times In the mist which half conceals II
again in the sun at midday, or when 1t is
Ina
of the eastern sky.
With regard to the new bridge, there
seems to be good deal that Is incompat-
ible with the harmonious construction. The
MASSIVE towers are connected by spider
web steel. The towers are very ornate and
costly, and rather eye-confusing; the rail-
ing incompetent The drawbridge if nos
sible. should be avoided, but arches high
enough for everything except high masts;
and there Is very little necessity for the lat
ter going above the bridge. 1t would be
cheaper and cause less constant annoy
ance for the United States to build docks
below. In London all small river craft
nave to arrange their masts so as to lower
them passing under the bridges. We have
near to US at Cabin John bridge the bravest
and most beautiful arch in the world, and
from its beauty. The old bridges in Rome
and many foreign cities are all stone
arches. They were fortunately built
before the age of steel trusting and it's con-
comitant. the odor of paint I can see in
my mind the vision of a beautiful bridge
arches of solid stone vieing with the one
at Cabin John. with parapet of rough
stone, with polished circles or bronze tab
lets, where can be recorded the names of
the heroes of the War-all on the line of
vision. Frequent pedestals, bearing bronze
statues. with groups above the piers. The
lamps to be borne by soldiers in bronze. in
place of the ordinary street lamp-posts
The grasp of the hands of the soldiers
holding lamps shall be so arranged tina.
the lamp can be removed and a flag held
in the hand, one of the corps ne served in
This is, of course, for day parades All
this would bear history, as 1 have said, on
a level with easy vision, and be a lesson
of the past before every thoughtful visitor
All this would cost no more than the draw
ing shown, but would carry the character
of permanence that promises to defy CEN
turtles, without paint or repairs, for a pc
Rod as long as the arches of Rome have
endured
1t would seem that the United States,
with all it's great wealth and power, should
so conceive and build structure that CEN
turtles will not impair, and renewals never
necessary, except tor the roadbed.
AMATEUR ARCHITECT