The Washington times., 1902-12-31
Statue When Finally Un-
yelled viii Have Cost
More Than Twice Sum
Originally Intended for
the Purpose by Its Pro-
mOterS.

The acceptance OF Peace" the allie
sorical group designed 10 occupy the
wSstern face OF the pedestal upon which
viii rest the equestrian statue OF Gen.
William T. Sherman. has revived the
g criticism OF the inception and work that.
81 is hoped will culminate in the unveil-
ing OF the finished statue in April. Work
on the group was completed several
weeks ago. but delay was caused by
the inability OF the members Of the
commission to pass upon It, General
Dodge finally reached tho city. and ac-
companied the Secretary Of war TO the
studio at the head Of Pennsylvania
Avenue. south Of the Treasury Depart
ment. Their decision to accept the
group in its present shape has been an
nounced.
War, the remaining group, is rapidly
nearing completion. ana will be ready
to send TO the foundry within the next
few weeks The work on the statue it.
SELF IS progressing satisfactorily at the
works OF the Gorham Manufacturing
Company. Providence. R. l.. and by the
time the last group is sent 20 the
foundry all the other work will have
been finished.
Critics are unkind enough to say that
r. there viii be little credit due anyone
when the statue is finally unveiled Re
garding the statue. they prefer to with
hold judgment until such time as the
completed work is before them, but with
reference 20 the methods pursued in
awarding the contract for the work. and
in carrying that work to completion
they have nothing but condemnation.
Original Cost Doubled.
Either gross deception was practiced
at the time the original contract for
r the statue was awarded, Il is said. or
elTe the Government has been ruthless
ly pilfered Of as great price again as
the statue IS worth. The original plans
as accepted and approved by Congress
provided for an entire cost OF s4O. 600.
OF this amount $4,000 was subscribed
by the Army OF Tennessee. and $50. 600
was appropriated by Congress. These
estimates have been repeatedly enlarged
to pay the cost OF many trips to Europe
and back. and many other expenses. un-
iii today $4,000 is given as the cost Of
the completed work
The method OF making the award os
the first contract for the work has also
come in for its full share OF criticism
The commission was composed OF sena-
tor Wetmore. General Dodge. and the
Secretary Of War. Following the appro.
priation. by Congress in 1895 OF $50 OOe
: aud the appointment OF the commission
10 select a site and design for the statue.
sculptors generally we're encouraged TO
9 submit designs. These designs were sub
mitted TO Augustus St. Gaudens and
others to select three OF the most ap-
propriate designs from which the com
mission was 20 make the final selection.
Instead Of cOnfniDE themselves 10 three
designs St Gaudens and his associates.
who had no interest. other than that Of
art, in the final result, submitted four
designs.
Disregarding the advice Of those who
had been called in as experts TO pass
. upon the models entered In the compa-
ution. the commission finally announced
that none OF the four recommended
would be accepted Instead they an
nounced Carl Rohl-Smith. Danish
sculptor. who was on friendly terms with
one Of the members OF the commission.
as the successful competitor The de-
eision was received with surprise By ar
, lists generally. but the hndihg OF the
commission was final
The Rohl-Smith Model.
Mr.. Rohl-Smith's model provided FOR
an equestrian statue OF bronze surmount-
, ing pedestal OF New Hampshire gran
r lie and surrounded with alIegoricaI
groups Of bronze and large bronze tab
lets IN bas-relief depicting scenes in
which Sherman had participated during
the campaign The entire heigat Of the
group was to be 90 feet a2d its breadth
IS feet. The statue itself was 70 be OF
heroic size. measuring II feet IN height.
The comments which the awarding OF
the contract invited we're by no means
quieted by the extraordinary privileges
that were accorded Mr. ROhl- Smith. One
Of these was the Unprecedented authority
70 erect upon a Government reservation
within tho very shadow OF the United
states Treasury building and on one Of
the most prominent spots ia the city.
a shanty that during All the years It
has remained In service as a private
studio has proved Itself a continuous
cyesOre TO everyone who had occasion 10
pass up the most prominent thorough
fare in the Nations Capital
Demand for More Money.
Following closely upon the saddling OF
this monsfrosity upon the city demand
was made for more money than was stip-
ulated in the contract The original plan
had provided for a foundation for the
PEDESTAL or but twenty feet. When
ground was broken Il was found ueces-
sary 10 carry the foundation down twenty
feet farther. forty feet in an, in order 90
secure q firm bed for 81, This Of course.
decreased the cost of construction. but
had the preliminary work been properly