Evening star., 1902-01-15

part of a group which should include a.
well public baths. a gymnasium ana
theater. In addition TO the provision made
for athletic sports. the formal treatment Of
this portion OF the tidal basin affords am
pie opportunities during the summer
months for swimming and during the win
ter for skating. Moveover, II serves as a
means Of communication for boats between
the basins in Potomac Park and the Wash
tngtou channel.
Where the axis Of Maryland avenue in
tersects the axis OF the White House, a site
is found for a great memorial, to become
the central feature of the group of build
ings above referred to. So const ructed as
to be at once a shelter and a point OF van-
tage, this structure should be adorned with
| statues commemoratng national heroes"
The Lincoln Memorial.
The Lincoln memorial site set aside by
| the commission is on the axis of 32d street,
| and becomes the great point Of divergence
| for the drives leading northeasterly into
the Potomac Park and northwesterly TO the
Rock Creek parks. Here also begins the
Memorial bridge. pointing directly to the
mansion house at Arlington. Describing
| this memorial site the report says:
The great parallelogram directly west OF
the Monument garden, 600 feet In width
and extending for a mile to the Potomac.
has for Its chief feature the Lincoln me-
/ mortal This memorial. placed on the main
axis Of the Capitol, becomes the gate OF
| approach to the park system OF the Dis
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great point Of reunion, are the drives lead
| ing eastward to the Potomac Park, west
| ward across the proposed Memorial bridge
| to Arlington, and northward by the river
\ side drive to the parks of Rock creek Seen
| from the Monument platform, an avenue of
| water 200 feet in width and 2,300 feet In
| length. continues the mall system and con-
| meets the Lincoln with the Washington
| memorial This canal, similar In character
| ana sHn.Tal treatment to the canals OF
/ Versailles. Fontainebleau and Vaux lie Vi
compte. introdV ces into the formal land
scape an element OF repose and great
| beauty
| Universal in Character.
Whatever may be the exact form of the
memorial to Lincoln, II should be universal
In character and worthy in every partic-
| ular to stand on the axis with thu dome
and the monument The type which the
| commission has in mind is q great portico
| Of Doric columns, rising from an unb"oken
| stylobate. This portico, while affording
| a point of vantage from which TO obtain a
| commanding outlook both upon the river
and eastward to the Capitol has it's chief
| function I'm the support OF a panel bearing
| an inscription worthy OF the man to whom
the monument is erected. The portico con-
| templated in the plans. consisting OF col
| umns 40 feet in height. occupies a space II
200 feet in length and 80 feet In width. 1t
is approached by flights OF stairs on the
east and the west is embellished with ap-
| propriate groups of sculpture and is sur
| mounted by central crowning group OF
| statuary.
AT the head of the canal at the eastern
| approach to the monument, 1T is proposed
| to place statue OF Abraham Lincoln. Sur
| rounding the monument and framing II, to
| plant linden trees four rows deep, to form
| a peristyle OF green, from which radtate
various avenue centering upon the monu-
ment itself.
was fixed deliberately. not only to carry
to its suitable termination the mall, but also
for historic reasons. for it is well settled
| that the two commanding figures in the his
tory of the United States are those OF
| Washington and Lincoln; they alone are
| unquestionably among the immortals."
Monument Grounds.
! The report discusses the treatment of the
| grounds pertaining to the Washington mon
ument and gives a review of the work OF
providing a monument for Washington.
| The need for improving the surroundings
of the monument is dwelt upon and Of the
plans for such improvement the report
| says:
THE first consideration was the creation
| of those aXial relations which are absolute
| ly essential to the solution of the problem.
| This end line has been attained In so far
| as the Capitol is concerned by the column
| mar rows of elms proceeding through the
| mall and bordering the carpet Of green
| sward. by means OF which is formed a vista
| through which one gaZes from the moaa-
| ment to the Capitol or vice versa. These
! columns of elms climb the slope TO the
| monument, and, widening out at the right
and left on extended terraces. form a great
| body Of green, strengthening the bread
platform from which the obelisk rises in
| majestic serenity, undisturbed by any OBJ
| ject which can possibly come into contrast
| with it. The groves on the terraces become
places of rest, from which extended views
may be had of the busy city and The sunny
| stretches of river winding at the foot OF
the Virginia hills Beneath the trees. at
| the ends of the vista formed by ne paths.
| small temple-like structures are placed 10
| serve the varied purposes Of rest and re-
| freshment
| A Complicated Problem.
ITO establish axial relations between tho
monument and the White House is a more
complicated problem; and 1t was only after
a long process of elimination OF the various
| forms of treatment which suggested them
| selves that a sunken garden framed in 10y
| the tree-bearing terraces in the form OF a
| Greek cross was finally decided upon. The
| true center is marked by a great pool on
| the level of the ground, similar TO the pools
| at Versailles and in the garde rs of the
| Tuilleries at Paris. Rectangular basins Of
| water supporter rather point to-the cen.
trail pool, and from the garden aight OF
steps 800 feet In width, corresponding to the
| width of the tapis vert in the mall, lead
| to the base of the monument thus giving
| to that structure the forty additional fees
| Of height which rightfully belong to 1t.
| From the terraces on the north one looks
| OF over the military maneuvers on White
Lot; the southern terraces command view
| Of the athletic contests on the Washington
| common, and the aquatic sports on the ba-
| sin, the lakes md the river; while rom tho
| White House, sitting on its stately heights.
| the line OF vision sweeps across parade
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