New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-25
PLAZA SITE MAY NOT BE USED.
PROBABLE EFFECT OF THE RESOLUTION OF
THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY
AS TO THE SOLDIERS
MONUMENT

The adoption by the National Sculpture Society
OF resolution. printed In The Tribune OF yester-
day. declaring against the erection OF the Soldiers
and Sailors Monument in the Plaza Is likely 10
have the effect OF preventing the placing OF the
monument that site. BY an act OF the Legs-
iature OF March IS 1896, monument be
erected upon any ground belonging TO the city OF
New-York without the consent OF the Mayor. the
president OF the Board OF Aldermen. the president
OF the National Sculpture Society and the presiden;
OF the Municipal Art Society The resolution OF
the National Sculpture Society Is merely an
preston OF opinion by the members OF that body.
and IS I'm direction to It's president, j. ..
a. Ward but Mr.. Ward has announced that he will
obey the request OF the society. II he adheres 10
his resolution. and interposes objection to the
use OF the Plaza Site such objection VIII have the
effect OF veto upon the plan 10 erect the monu-
meht upon thai site, which was selected several
years ago. The Park Board OF that period offered
two sites then. both In the Plaza the first between
Fifty eighth and Fifty-nn;h SITS. and the second.
the circle 1l5 feet In diameter between b1tyninth
and Sxteth SITS. the latter being the one chosen.
The monument. OF which Arthur 4. and Charles w.
Stoughton the architects OF No &c Flfth-aye.. are
the designers. and Frederick MacMonnies Is the
sculptor. was chosen by special committee COM
posed OF Russell Sturgis and Professor w X. Ware
and Adjunct Professor A. d. =. Hamlin. both Of
Columbia University. and accepted By the city
commission having the matter In charge.
Mr.. Ward could not be seen yesterday. as he had
gone out or the city for THANKSGIVING but Trib-
reporter had little talk with Mr.. Sturg!s
at the atier's home. No. 307 East Seven;centh-st.
Mr.. Sturgis is OF those who disapprove the
Plaza SITE both because he believes that "a better
place for the monument would be the West
Side and because he comedies in the opinion OF
tho National Sculpture Society as expressed In It's
resolution. that monument however mertorl-
Gus. should be constructed I'm the Plaza which
does not form part OF. which would Interfere
with the satisfactory development Of compre-
hensive and artistic design for this approach TO
the Park" The artistic treatment OF the Plaza as
whole. he said would cost about S"0,cp, and
would include fountains statuary. arches for the
Park entrance and ornamental walls. Mayor
Strong. he added. held the same view year or so
ago and probably still does The Fine Arts req
Identified. was formed in March. 1876 About, six
months later the Monument Commission. whlcn
includes several city officials and one war veteran,
the Grand Army Of the Republic asked the Fed
faza si tor @nch had arSad e BEEN
OF 1896 and urged the selection OF site at seventy
secondst. and the North River, where the NV
ersidc Drive begins. or that falling a. The Batter
which the Federation was represenied. ana q,
plea for an East Side site alleging that the Fln"
Arts Federation represented Tho Interests OF inr
concentrations OF the Federation by six TO one. ~"
only affirmative vote being that Of KecorIcr ION,
The special committee. comprising Messrs Sturgis
Ware and Hamin favored two Of ne ,, works SUI dn
r,itied-,hat Of which Richard H. Hunt was a.
slgncr and carl Bitter was sculptor IN whch s,un!
the sculpture feature was predominant SnI rnrs
~ which tho Messrs Sioughton were designers
and Mr. Nacmonnies was the sculptor. "inlch "HpIk
was considered architccturaly the more a's,dioo1
tho latter design being the on" inaily "i'tU'
Mr. Stures believes that Mr.. Ward. who hh" h''h
nresidonf of the National Sculptur" society shc.
i,s formatIou will regard tho expressed desire ol
that body and will refuse 20 assent 10 INC use ol
lie mo matter as far as Mayor Stronss admTnlS,
,ration II concerned. After Janhary We PaIn, wi
- borough Of Manhattan VIII ~" under roHIo
~ w a member Of tho Park Ronrd which Is to be az
.o,n,nd hy me incoming Mayor. ana, or course,
up',..s ru.s,,ie ,ou 10 say whether or not ne VIII
W. ste which In the judgment OF mos" sklllcl
A., a., u,u he more available for IN" Soldi'tS Ahh
Sauors. Monument than - the circle IN the i'""'