The San Francisco call., 1899-05-19

~ Pacific Coast and a lasting monu-
ment to his matchlesS victory.
The suggestion, barely twenty-four
hours old. has received the Endorsement
of citizens in every walk of life with
out exception, for not one voice has
been raised in objection, while every
body who has mentioned the matter
has given it his unqualified approval.
Mayor James d. Phelan has already
taken hold of the patriotic plan with
characteristic energy. He will appoint
a committee of citizens to-day to take
charge of the project. The Mayor is
enthusiastic and says the committee
must be composed OF men who will
work with unflagging energy until the
statue of the hero of Manila is uncov-
cred to the admiring gaze of the peo-
pie. Professional men of all branches,
public officials, merchants and business
men without exception approve of it
and declare it is entirely feasible.
Substantial offers of money to aid the
plan have already been made. and this
without solicitation and with scarcely
a moments consideration.
In fact there has never been a pub
lie movement set on foot in this city
that has met with such spontaneous
and universal approval as has the pro-
posed statue to Admiral Dewey.
Yesterday men heard it broached for
the first time and instantly gave it
their strongest Endorsement. Then.
after a brief reflection, would come the
query:
Where shall we place it?"
1t was not Where would it be
placed?" but simply Where shall we
place it?" as though there could be no
possible doubt but that I'VE" shall have
the statue to place. In almost every in
stance the question was instantly sue
ceeded by the answer from the ques-
toner himself:
Golden Gate Park"
San Francisco's great resort was al
most invariably selected as theF proper
location, although the suggestion was
made by one or two that the gore at
the intersection of Market, Drumm and
California streets might be a proper
site, for there the statue would be seen
by every person entering the city by
land or by sea. Another suggestion
was that the statue be placed on the
highest pinnacle on the peninsula,
where 1t would be seen from all parts
Of the city and from the sea as we'll
Those who named Golden Gate Park
as the site were divided in opinion as
to what part of the big playground
would be the best place for the statue
Some thought the entrance to the pan
handle when it is extended to Van Ness
avenue and Market street would be the
proper place for it, as 1t would be al
most in the heart of the city and in
view of the greatest number of people
at all times: others would erect it on
some high point overlooking the sea in
plain sight of every ship passing
through the Golden Gate, symbolic of
the city, State and coasts gratitude to
the man who at a blow, cleared the
shores. The site of the three flag poles
was also looked upon as an ideal spot
to commemorate Dewey's achievement.
OF course. the site is really an after
consideration, but its discussion, almost
with the breath that gave the first in
dorsement of the statue itself, was a
happy omen of success. The question
of finances was not once raised; there
was no thought given to the probable
cost, whatever it might be; one and all
accepted it as merely matter of de-
tail that would be no bar to the COM
pletion of the project.
There was one other matter that re-
ceived some attention by the enthusi-
astic citizens besides the location. and
that was the statue itself. The central