New-York tribune., 1901-02-07
MILLION FOR NAVAL ARCH
MAYOR IN FAVOR OF SUCH AN APPRO-
PRIATION FROM CITY FOR MONU-
MENT AT BATTERY.

Mayor Van Wyck yesterday afternoon pledged
his assistance to- committee OF the Naval
Alumni Association. represented by Park Ben
jamin. Rear-AdmiraI Henry Erben. Lewis Nixon
and Thomas c. Wood and said that he was II
favor OF the city appropriating 100000 tor a
naval arch TO be erected in Battery Park
We consider that the city ought 20 appro-
pirate 100000" said Mr.. Benjamin. who acted
as spokesman in Leading up 10 the subject OF
expense.
Il am in favor OF having the city appropriate
s1OOOOOO" said the Mayor and I think the
General Government ought TO give another
100000 for the project"
The visitors looked both delighted and amazed
at the Mayors declaration They had apparent
ly come with the idea that 100000 was the
outside figure 70 be asked from the city and
Mr.. Van Wyck. with the suddenness and In
cisiveness with which he would bite of the end
Of cigar doubled their estimate.
"It was my intention after the Dewey ceIehra-
tion TO reOrganize the committee for the pur-
pose of building the arch. but other people
stepped in and took hold of the matter" said
the Mayor. Your suggestions as TO building
arch at the Battery meet with my full approval
think the money for il can De raised in a week
II you'll tell me what you want me TO do, IN
tell you at once whether I'll DO IL or not"
DIPLOMATIC STROKE
Mr.. Benjamin explained that the visiting COM
mittee wanted TO go before the Park Board with
his full approval He also said that he and his
associates thought 1t would be an appropriate
thing if the arch could be begun while Mayor
Van Wyck, the first Mayor Of the enlarged city.
was still in office. This may or may not have
been a master diplomatic stroke on the part OF
Mr.. Benjamin. but it certainly produced astonish-
ing results so far as the Mayors support goes
Mr. Benjamin added that the proposal to 20
on with the erection OF a naval arch at the Bat
terry had the heartiest support OF Admiral
Dewey, and that the Municipal Art Commission
also considered the Battery the best site
The arch at the Battery" declared Mr.
benjamin, will De at the junction OF two great
waterways, and will be seen not only by all
sailors. but by the millions who travel by the
Sound boats and the excursion vessels. II viii
be near 70 Brooklyn near TO Staten Island and
more easy OF access 20 the citizens OF those local
tiles than If tt were placed the water side
somewhere up the Hudson River. or IN one Of
the crowded streets or Manhattan II Will not
be dwarfed by the buildings adjacent to Battery
Park. no matter how high they are may be.
PLACE TO RECEIVE VISITORS.
Forming as it wiI the watergate 10 the great
city Of New-York the arch will mark the place
for the reception oy the city authorities OF any
distinguished visitors landing on our shores.
II will be entirely possible 70 Law out a broad
road leading from a landing directly TO the arch.
/ II the Ericsson statue were moved 70 a point
| beside tha- road. and IN time other statues
| added. the path would be easily and apprO-
| priately accented We do not believe that a
/ great monument which is intended TO show in
! what honor the people hold their defenders on
/ the sea should be put in a corner. where sea-
/ 1ar1ns people cannot see IL. where the great
I mass Of the population can never look at il
/ except on the rare occasions when 2 holiday
| permits them 20 get into its vicinity"
[ The committee visited the Park Department
and was there led 70 believe that it's request FOR
| Battery stre would be granted