New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
LATEST SITE AND LAST.
THIS AT LEAST is HOPED BY THE
PUBLIC.
AND SAILORS MONUMENT IN RIVER
SIDE PARK

SIDE PARK.
The movement to erect a soldiers and sailors
monument In this city has many features Of ex-
ceptional interest. A law passed in March.
1893 providing for the erection OF a monument
or arch TO the memory Of the men of the city or
New-York who engaged In the Civil War
The Commission provided for under the law con-
sisted Of the Mayor. the Recorder. the Control
Ter, the president Of the Park Board, the Com
missioner of Public Works and the chairman or
the Grand Army of the Republic in this city.
The Commission organized with the election OF
Mayor Gilroy as chairman and p. S. Biglin. OF
the Grand Army Of the Republic. as secretary
Several hearings were held with regard to
site. At the advent Of Mayor Strongs admins
tration he was elected chairman and MT Blglin
secretary. The hearings were continued and
finally the site known as the Circle. at Fifth
ave, between Fifty ninth and Sixtieth SITS. the
entrance to Central Park. was selected as the
best. that being apparently the consensus OF
public opinion expressed at the various hearings
held. After that the matter lay dormant during
the first year of Mayor strongs administration.
when a new chairman Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic was elected in March. 1896, in the per-
son Of Colonel Joseph A. Goulden. The Commits
sion was then reorganized, Mayor Strong being
elected chairman and Colonel Goulden secretary
THE ARCHITECTS CHOSEN.
About twenty meetings were held in 1896 and
1897 and designs were secured from eight diff
ferent architects who had been selected by the
committee in competition. The question Of de-
signs was referred to committee OF experts
consisting Of Professors Ware and Hamlin. OF
Columbia University, and Russell Sturgis, presi-
dent Of the Fine Arts Federation. After care
full study OF the eight designs submitted the
committee selected the one known as No. T.
which upon opening the envelope, was found
to be that Of c. W. & A A. Stoughton
The Municipal Art Commission at that time
was made up OF the Mayor, the president OF the
Board of Aldermen. the president OF the Aren't
tectural League OF New-York and the president
OF the National Sculpture Society, concurrent
vote being necessary for the adoption OF any
monument or site in the public parks OF the CITY,
j. Q. A Ward. president Of the National Sculpt-
ure Society, declined to approve the site select
ed After investigation and careful elaboration
a new site adopted by the Commission at
Riverside Drive and one hundred and-twenty-
fourth-st. a thousand feet north Of Grants
tomb Again the site dsapproved OF by
one member Of the Art Commission.
In the mean time the charter went into erect
and a new Art Commission was appointed by
the Mayor. consisting of nine members lhey
Riverside Drive, between kighty-tnlrd anu
Eighty-fourth SITS. This was agreed 10 by the
Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission,
and the architects were instructed 10 prepare
design suitable for this site After numerous
/ conferences between the two Commissions anu
the architects design was adopted Wnicn
seemed 10 meet the views Of everybody ms
design was somewhat on the order OF the ierhple
~ Vesta II was ninety-fve feet in height ana
sixty feet in diameter at its base an imposing
structure to be built Of white marble OF soIlu
+ .bf length
In diameter.
ANOTHER CHANGE OF SITE
Shortly after the adoption Of the design two
APARTMENT houses one six and the other nine
stories high were erected Immediately oppo-
site the proposed site and plans were being
rrenared for thirteen story building in the
same neghbOrhood thus having the effect OF
dwarnng the monument. This, and the fact that
public sentiment seemed TO be against destroy
ing the beauties OF Mount Tom, a rocky emf
hence overlooking the Hudson River induced
the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission
TO select another site six blocks north or Mount
Tom in Riverside Drive between Eighty-nlntn
and Ninetieth SITS. This site Is regarded py
those in a position to know superior TO any
OF the other sites selected. as the Grant Mohu-
ment is plainly visible from this point.
The ground opposite the new site is occupied
bv the pala,ial residences Of B. Altman ana
Crrus w Clark and others. and is not likely
park Department is heartily ir favor OF the
proposed change Of site, and has had plans
drawn for the improvement Of this portion or
Riverside Park which Will make II one OF 'he
most beautiful spots in New-York The new
site has been referred to the Municipal Art com.
mission for approval and there is no DOUBT II
win meet with the favor Of that BODY at us
meeting 10 be held next Tuesday. The amount
Of money appropriated for the monument is
$50 900 and II only requires the vote OF tne
/ Council 10 make II available action having
already been taken by the Board OF Aldermen
al its meeting on October 81
II is hoped to lay the cornerstone IN Deceii en-,
~ or carIv in January. The monument VIII
! he near the statue Of Washington presented TO
the CITY by the school children. This statue VIII
| have 10 be moved short distance. perhaps
,wentv feet 10 make room for the adornment
of the walks surrounding the Soldiers and Sail
ors' Monument. o,,so,
The site" said Colonel Joseph A Goulden
N a Tribune reporter lis most admlraDle, De-
/ cause the monument can be seen from Yonkers
on the north and from the haroor as iar south