The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-04
Arrives in New York and Begins
at Once on Execution of His
New Duties.
OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICANS.
Expects the Collaboration of the
Best Element of the Profession
in This Countryside Is to
Have Il Free Hand.
REPUBLIC

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York. Dec. 3.-Carl L. T. Bitter. the
new Director of Sculpture of the st. Louis
Worlds Fair, returned from the Worlds
Fair City yesterday and began in earnest
to-day on the work of carrying out his
plans.
1T looks as if there was a splendid OPP
portunity for American sculpture pre-
scented in the coming Exposition said Mr..
Bitter to-day. THE funds seem sufficient.
and, although the time is short, still a great
deal can be accomplished in Il year and a
nail L hope to have the enthusiastic col
laboration of the best element of the pro-
fession in this country to bring the under
taking to n success worthy of our nation.
The fact that such sculptors as ST. eau
dens. Ward and French will advise me is a
guaranty of a large measure of success
MIR. Bitter is to have a free hand. not
only in the general design. but in the exc
cution of his entire scheme of decoration.
il Is his intention to secure the best avail
able scuiptors in the country. and not con-
me himself to any particular body of ar
fists.
To artists and others who have the prog
ress and welfare of art in this country at
heart the most gratifying news to be de-
rived from the preliminary plans for the
st. Louis Fair is that a cons .derabIe part
of the. appropriation for sculpture lover
one-quarter OF the total amounU will be
expended on works in permanent mediums
tial IL. III III anu JnITDIt. lHtSe pieces
VIII consist Of the statues. friezes. groups
and other adornments of the Fine Arts
building, which VIII be 4 permanent struc-
ture.
SCHEMES OF DECORATION.
The central theme upon which Mr.. Bitter
will rear his general structure, of course.
VIII be a ~ommemoratio and celebration
OF the Louisiana Purchase. Its develop
ment and effect on our civilization will be
traced by significant periods in various
statues, figures and groups.
This Sehama will reach ste n1ip,ay g., =,
great triple fountain and cascades. intend
ed to be the most notable symbolic and
decorative feature of the Exposition. 1t
will be directly in the front of the Fine
Arts building. which will be situated on an
elevation overlooking the entire grounds.
From the height on which this building
will stand water obtained from the Missis-
slppi will fall in a big, splashing cascade
to a large basin. and thence to the canals
and iagoons that will form a subsidiary
feature of the identifying of the grounds.
A colonnade about the basin will show
fourteen figures of colossal size. represent
ing the fourteen States which haze been
cut from the territory acquired by The pur-
chase.
OF the three branches of the cascade, the
center one will be made to represent Lib
erty. while those to either side will have the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, respectively.
as their subjects. the idea of the conception
being shown that. by the purchase. the
sway Of Lib>rty was extended from sea to
sea.
1t is intended thai these cascades shall be
to the st. Louis scheme of decoration what
the Court of Honor was to the Chicago
fair.
Two important symbolic figures will be a
monument ommemorating the Louisiana
of the main avenues leading to the cas-
cades. and visible from all points. and a
great figure at the entrance to the grounds
an apotheosis Of the city. of st. Louis.