New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-04

veopment. Their important bridges are built as
monuments at commemorative asu artistic
like the exquisitely beautiful Alexander III Bridge
now nearing completion In Paris the Seine
Why not take a leaf from the practice of admired
foreign capitals, and make the de facto capital of
the most progressive Nation the shone
upon, the city of New-York, as beautiful in its
posed public works the ingenuity of
make 1t? 1t mortal pity that the precipitous
and unwarrantable haste with which the building
OF the Manhattan Valley viaduct was initiated pre-
vented its being designed in connection with the
Soldiers Monument. each suppementing the other,
and calling to its aid the best attainable archi-
tectural engineering and artistic skill, that the
structure becoming, 1t would. part of monu-
mental composition, might be "a thing of beauty
and joy forever well as being an avenue
carrying the impressive and beautiful urban
drive in the world in its march toward the upper
end of Manhattan Island. AS the matter
stands the monument will be planted some site
without single element of usefulness about 1t be-
You'd the artistic beauty of its composition. This
monument has had checkered existence for some
years in search of site, instead of the site being
selected first, the monument being designed in
harmony Herewith.
The bridge and viaduct crossings on Riverside
Drive and its northern extension defined by
the topography of the route and capable of
a monumental treatment that would make insg
naGant the Isolated piece: Of architecture and
irrelevant points, always open to more or less
A great theme deserves a great monument, and a
great monument is impracticable unless woven into
bridge crossing a valley important water
prominent object in a civic landscape. Simply as
an avenue of communication, 1t is matter of no
imposing design or positively ugly and brutal but
in a civilized community the people have a right
for pure utilitaranism. and that their bridges
principles, and in artistic lines and masses. far
as technical limitations make possible.
second great monument in which the public has
IS Peh1 s yet To De @ be- ms
permanent where the model now stands longest
ing ness' and with no proper backgro1nd This monu-
ment means much more than tribute to naval
reality it is marking epoch in a Nations prog
to take an active part in human development be
yond the confines of the National boundaries. 1t
Incorporation in imnerishable stone on an imposing
scale Of the deeds that made possible such a con-
summation in little over a century OF National
In line with the above suggestions, the accom-
panying sketch illustrates the thoughts of the
writer. The trumphal arch and columns as they
appear at Madison Square have been placed on an
appropriate structure to receive the same, on the
enters the Hudson River The arch and columns
main crossing of the canal. required by sym
metry The chosen location is an ideal one for
a great monument, carrying as ii does the match
less Riverside Drive amid surroundings that would
and with prominence that would add greatly to
the magntfcence of this wonderful city. The back
ground of the Palisades, the marine adjunct of the
river and canal. with the slopIng hillsdes. com.
bne conditions that would set off the structure and
monument as outlined, in vision of great beauty;
Another opportunity for a civic structure and
monument the West Side. which will develop
at an early day. is the Inwood Valley crossing of
the same drive and it is to be hoped that the
Highway Highway Department which has charge of that
thing toward identifying the city In the structure
1t will build, in fun realization that the time is
past when utilitarian considerations should alone
govern the design of public works in the city OF
NewYork ALFRED p ROLLER
New-York Jan. a. 1900