Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-10

recommended for adoption as In every
sense practical and attainable.
First. in regard to
SITES
in the city Of Richmond. They should
be marked i'm the order given below by
metal tablets bearing inscriptions as
short as Is consistent with the subject
therein described.
ORDER OF CITY SITES.
!. Capitol
2 other state buildings.
3. City official buildings.
4. Prisons.
s. Arsenals
6. Hospitals.
Z. Magazines
RESIDENCES OF:
]. President.
Z. Cabinet officers.
3. State officials.
4. City officials.
5. Generals.
s. Other prominent persons.
As many persons would like TO see the
home of General Robert T.. Lee marked
early in our work, this single residence
could take precedence Of all others. The
Davis Mansion might be taken in regular
order, as ii is already conspiouousIy desig
mated. The buildings In Richmond now
disposed OF, we will turn 10 the subject
Of redoubts, then Of fortifications.
REDOUBTS.
Within gunshot Of Richmond there is n
series OF redoubts around the city. form
ing In outline somewhat Of a horseshoe
shape. careful study of official maps
VIII show them. seventeen in number.
mere are lew traces left Of them but
they can be located easily.
IN order to mark these historic pro-
tections Of our beloved city. two pians
are offered for your consideration:
L. on the side OF each redoubt a pyra-
mid-shaped granite block could be placed,
bearing on its face a carved r, with
number of the redoubt below, thus:
B. B.
The second plan has long been tho
ideal one for our purpose. in the opinion
Of your chairman. 1t is this: Erect on
each redoubt an iron post, Of suitable
height, and suspend from the top a
horizontal bar. holding metal tablet
representing the Confederate battle gag.
in true colors. Then put 'R" I'm the az
per red section. with the number of the
redoubt I'm the lower red section.
Such system Of marking would great
~ enhance the beauty of the landscape
and attract every passer by TO a iact or
confederate history. There is little douot
| mat surrounding property-holders would
DO everything 70 protect our work. We
| Will now go further and consider the
FORTIFICATIONS.
| Beyond the redoubts, and within five
| or six miles OF Richmond. the great line
| of fOrtihcations stretches about US, for
| many miles. Here We have a formidable
task. Like the redoubts. many traces
| have disappeared. 1t would be impos-
| sible, except at great expense, and ut
! teriy impracticable 10 attempt 10 restore
| these Notifications. Furthermore, 40
| system of marking would be safe from
| vandalism, unless property holders would
be sufficiently interested to give us AID
and recognition.
To secure recognition and aid, plan
| Is offered that appears formidable and III
| together imprscticable at first glance, bI'
IS in reality practicable, and should be
attainabie.
The plan is simply this: That the Con
fedsrate Memorial Literary Society dp'
proach the property-holders along thC
| lire OF fOrtincatiOns and endeayor tC
! make some arrangement with them by
| which these holders shall give a roadway
| $50 zone hundred and fifty feet wide o.
the line Of fortihcations. TO be used i.
| a public highway. This would form Z
| grand avenue. attained at comparaut ciS
! small expense 20 any one, and would
! increase the value OF property through
OUT the nelghborhood. In time rows O.
| trees could be planted on this roadway
and THE Improvement, with the alreaul
rapidly growing populations in the cOun
ties, would make beautiful suburbs e
our city. The methods OF irrigation
drainage, and transportation are I'm
proving. and extending every year. an
| 10 open such q broad roadway woul'
enclose us within a garden spot
In case the property holders entertal'
such a proposition, and the project J
! carried out, then posts bearing nag
| similar to those on the redoubts cOui
be placed 81 intervals OF several mile
| along the road. 10 mark the original I'm
! of fOrtiiicatiOns. The name OF TINS ROAD
way should be either
Fertilization road
I Confederate avenue.
When we recollect at what enormou
| expenditure the famous roads or Europ
were built. such as the roads reachin
into the mountain Businesses Of Norway
the veritable Observation-Disclosures of Swi
zerland the grand COmiche runnin
through valleys, over mountains, an
around promOntOries for several hundIe
miles why cannot We with so rev OH
culties in engineering as obstacles, p
least make an attempt 70 open an M
toric avenue? Surely the property-holdel
can readily see she advantage TO then
sleeves. while aiding us TO offer a sllsi
reward 10 our Confederate dead an
living.
Your attention is called 10 another av'
me that Is peculiarly characteristic or Ju
what we need 1t is the superb ana ui
surpassed Ring Strasse OF Vienna. II
old ramparts that protected vienna IL
hundreds Of years were leVelled, ana Ut
Ring Strasse built with four or more row
of trees. The average width OF IN
strasse is 165 feet. and it lies In a horse
shoe shape about the old CITY. Ihere
no finer model for our work than IN
superb. historic Ring Strasse.
As our COnfederates have riValled II
greatest men the world has known. VIII
can we not emulate the examples aIreau
exhibited in the Old World2
Why not erect lasting tributes, that a
moi only commensurate with their her'
ism. but will add another clear truth
, a marvellous history
we should not let the lack OF fun'
deter ms from making an earnest emo
fo mark our sites and fOrtiiicauons VIII
care and accuracy. We should; ana !
= doubt every member OF our society zoe
consider this work q sacred trust. Eyel
. year that passes without its record
: tablets is a reproach TO US all; Iher
! tinn If the above plans and follow the
! systematically 20 complexion