Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-21
MEMORY OF HEROES
ACTION SOON TO BE TAKEN FOR
ERECTION OF STATUES.
Tributes to Count Pulaski and Baron
Won steuben-Ths Prob
"s'r able Sites.

It is expected that action will soon be
taken for the erection of statues in the city
OF Washington to the memory of Brig.
Gen. Count Pulaski and Maj. Gen. Baron
Won Steuben of the continental army, I'll
conformity with an act of Congress. aI,-
proved February q last, appropriating the
sum Of $4,000 for each. The act Of Con-
gress provided that the appropriation for
the Pulaski statue should be expended un-
der the direction of a commission, COM
posed Of the Secretary of War, the chair
man of the committee Of the library Of the
Senate, the chairman Of the committee of
the library of the House of the Fifty
seventh Congress and the president of the
Pulaski monument Polish central commit.
tee. Leaving off the last named member,
the same commission was charged with the
expenditure Of the appropriation for the
statue of Won Steuben.
These commissions were empowered to
select sites for the statues on ground b.
longing to the government, but 1t was spe-
officially provided that the statues should
not be located In the grounds of the Cal-
itol or the Library Of Congress. So far as
Is known neither commission has yet taken
any steps toward the selection Of sites or
the erection Of the statues. There is gem
eral impression, however, that the two
statues are to be erected on the northern
corners of Lafayette Square, correspond
ing with the statues of Lafayette and Ro-
chambeau on the southern corners Of that
park. This proposed distribution of the
statues of the four revolutionary heroes
has been regarded as peculiarly appro-
pirate, and Is believed to have the indorse-
ment Of the majority Of the people. AS
already stated, however. no action has
been taken in the matter.
Preservation Of Elm Tree.
Acting on the theory that the sites named
have been practically determined the Co.'S
mos Club, located at the corner Of Madison
place and H street, recently adopted a
resolution in favor of the preservation of a
large elm tree growing near the proposed
site of one of the statues at the northeast
corner of the square. In transmitting this
resolution Of the club to the Secretary of
War Secretary Howard said:
1.-THE alarm felt by the members Of the
club Is due to the danger that the large
elm tree now at the northeast corner of the
square. almost at the edge Of the sidewalk,
may be DESTROYED in the course Of this
work. We remember that similar elm
tree at the southeast corner Of the square
was removed when the Lafayette statue
was erected, and this is the reason why
we have thought 1t was worth while to
enter our present plea. The tree at the
northeast corner of the souare is, as you
doubtless well know. one of the finest speci-
mems of the American elm I'm the city, and
we think 1t need not detract from and
might enhance the artistic value of any
statue erected near 1t. We are conscious
that 1t is probably perfectly unnecessary to
bring this matter to your attention, as we
are confident of your personal appreciation
of the point in question. The former case
just mentioned and the other past expert
ences Of a similar nature in Washington,
however, have led us to ask you to make
the preservation of this tree one Of the in
structions to all concerned"
In answer to this communication Secre-
tary Root said that the views of the club
in regard to the erection of statue on the
northeast corner Of Lafayette Park will
receive due consideration, and adding that
the communication had been referred to the
officer in charge of pubic buildings and
grounds. From this reference 1t is a fair
assumption that Colonel Symons. corps Of
engineers. the successor of Colonel Bing-
ham, will have charge of the erection of
the statues of Pulaski and Won Steuben.