The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-15
KILLED THE PLAZA SITE.
norm EXPERTS IN TIE MUNICIPAL
ART COMMITTEE TOTB NO.


Mayer ana Sereionan vete Ycs-The wheie
Matter OF the Soldiers ana sailors meme
rial WI How GO over 70 ne Passed 90 d
the ART Commission ef 9rentcr NOW H"'|'
That the Republican Logislature OF 1eso
was wise in establishing the Municipal Art
Commission was demonstrated yesterday
when the two expert members OF the com
mission refused to sanction the ereotion'o OF the
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial upon the sito
selected for II by tho Park Board at the Firth
avenue entrance TO Central Park. This docs
not necessarily condemn the design mane ny
@. w. and A. A. StouRhton, but rs the ue-
sign was drawn to At the site, It Is not hkely
that It will DO used anywhere else without radi-
cal alterations.
Tho proposition to erect the monument on
the so-called plaza site" provoked no end OF
discussion, and practically the entire artistic
world Of New York was arrayed against tho
scheme from the start At the time this site
was selected the Municipal Art Commission
did not exist, and but for the creation OF hat
body, the scheme would doubtless have gone
through. As It Is now the consideration OF
the whole question Of the erection OF the
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial will be thrown
into the hands Of the Art Commission OF
Greater New York, which comes into exist
ence on Jan. ].
President Jeroloman Of tho Board Of Alder
men opened the proceedings yesterday by in
Producing a resolution that the design drawn BY
the Stoughtons be accepted, and that the monu'
ment BIO erected on tho site selected by the
Park Board. Thereupon j. Q. A. Ward, Presi-
dent of the National Sculpture Society. pre-
sented tho following preamble and resolution.
which was recently adopted by that body:
No monument. however meritorious, should
eighth street and the Fifth avenue entrance 70
Central Park, generally known as the Plaza,
would Interfere with the satisfactory develop.
for this approach to the Park.
Whereds, BY act of the Legislature of March
20. 1895. no statue or piece Of sculpture or work
OF art OF any sort in the nature of a public
PLACED upon any ground or within any public
dent Of. the Board Of Aldermon. the President
ident Of the Municipal Art Society. and
Whereas, the Legislature rejected the fol-
i EiSinns p proposed 9S}s d. amendment ISam me, srn VIZ; The The pro- o.
which has been selected for Q soldiers, monu.
by clearly showing It's intention to include the
question Of site for this monument among those
sub1ect TO the approval OF the persons named;
'nf RssSis:d Pc That Il the National Sculpture So.
sec sse'T 4. s to fefeSye h hiGp assent aha to i the e]ree 4 Of the the
Soldiers and Sailors Monument. for which a
design has lately been adopted, upon the site
proposed. as In Its opinion 1t would render q
proper and artistic treatment of this approach
to the Park impracticable.
Mr.. Ward intimated that he would obey the
wishes of his society. He was followed by
Charles T.. Barney, President of the Municipal
Art Society, who submitted tho following reso-
buttons, which were adopted by that organiza-
ton several days ago:
RfsoIred That II is the oninion NJ the Nnnicf.
pal Art Society, and. we believe, the opinion OF
the entire artistic body of New, York, that the
proposed site for the Soldiers and Sailors memo
rial is not appropriate to a monument Of the
character Of the accepted design and that some
other site should be chosen for its erection.
The artists Of New York, through their various
for:
THE Plaza is a largo and important public
mately undertaken on a comprehensive gen
eral plan and treated as an artistic whole.
2.The size of the Plaza and the height Of thu
buildings which surround it would inevitably
dwarf such a monument as 1t Is proposed II
erect. and the site would therefore be- as unfortu
nate for the best effect of the monument al
the monument would DO for the ultimate bes
RESOLVED, That the President of the Munich
pal Art Society 10 requested to bring the fore
going resolution to the attention of the othel
known with himself as the Municipal Art Com
mission.
Tho Mayor then put the question and Presi
dent Jeroloman's resolution was lost by a til
vote, Mr.. Barney and Mr.. Ward voting in tn
negative.
to accept the design Of the monument whioi
the Dock Board Is going to erect to itself some
where along the west side water front between
Gansevoort and West Eleventh streets.