The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-03

Signor Morettii the sculptor, Hds oeeh commissioned to design the Elias DaVis drinking fountain which is to be erected in Birmingham by the Women's Chris tian Temperance union. From rough sketch drawn by the sculptor just before leaving for St. Louis, it is evident that the fountain when completed will be unusually beautiful and artistic in de- sign. It will be of bronze and Alabama marble. which sgnor Morett has pro- nouneed to be unequalled in the world. i The fountain will be nine feet high. The top of the fount will be ornamented with bas relief of Dr. Davis in bronze, be- low which will be a marble tablet bear ing a simple inscription.
 Bronze dolphins will encircle the mar be basin, which will be the usual height from the sidewalk. The fountain will be equipped with hygienic faucets which does away entirely with the old fash toned drinking cups. The drinking foun- tains at the Pan-American exposition were all equipped with these automatic faucets, which made them impervious to germs. The location for the fountain has not yet been decided but wherever 1t will be placed it will serve a duel purpose, | because of it's artistic beauty and the l great convenience and comfort it will be l to the public.
 The Two Memorials.
 Signor Moretti has also been commis- stoned to design the Davis monument to be erected in this city by the Southern Surgical and Genealogical association and this announcement has caused q slight confusion in regard to the Davis memor- lal which the Women's Christian Temper ance union, aided by the citizens Of Bir- mingham, are also to erect in this city. The two memorials will be entirely dis tinctive in character as well as being erected by entirely separate organiza- tions. The statue of Dr. Davis, which | Sgnor Moretti will design will be erected by the members of that great organiza- tion of which he was the founder-the Southern Surgical and Genealogical as- l sociation At the meeting of the asso- citation in Atlanta last fall monument committee was appointed This commit tee has entire charge of the commission. Dr. Richard Douglass of Nashville is chairman of the committee, and the monument will be unveiled in this city at the next meeting of the Southern Surgical association.
 It will be the first monument erected by any society in this country to it's foun- der and president. It will be a tribute of the medical profession of the south to
 
 regarded both here and abroad as more note worthy than any of his contempor- arles and 1t will stand alone in it's mute expression of the esteem in which his as- sociates held him.
 With the other memorial to be erect l ed to the dead surgeon by the citizens of l Birmingham other elements of sentiment enter into it that will make it also stand alone distinctive from any other loving tribute to that great life which was ended in the very zenith of it's usefulness
 Need of Fount.
 That in character the monuments will be distinctive makes each the more fit ting in what they will represent Noth- | ing more appropriate could have possibly been suggested than the Elias Davis drinlSingfountan The beneficence of such a memorial has appealed to the public as perhaps no other suggestion could have done.
 Birmingham stands as a noticeable ex- ample of neglect in not making some provision whereby its thousands of pe- destrlans could be refreshed. It is pos t1.i. 44.. ,,f pt1 tf,t tHA | try where there are not one or more drinking fountains for man and beast. In l Richmond, Baltimore and the cities in the east, these institutions have long been recognized as public necessities and in Birmingham the need of drinking fountain is growing greater every day As the long summer approaches the need | becomes more urgent and every one should assist in cause that will contrib ute so largely to the public comfort.
 That thls memorial to be erected by the citizens of Birmingham will in It's ben ehcence, typify the kindly spirit of the beloved physician and his great magma nimity of heart, emphasizes it's appropri- ateness and it is most fitting that a me- morial erected by the people among whom Dr. Davis lived and died should be expressive of his character.
 In reference to the memorial the com mittee of ladies who has the work in charge has issued the following;
 Committee in Charge.
 The Woman's Christian Temperance union of Birmingham has undertaken to erect a drinking fountain as memorial to the late Dr. Elias Davis.
 This testimonial will be valuable accord ing to the number of people who are rep resented in it, and 1t Is the wish of the committee to give every one an opportu- nifty 10 contribute something for it, l whether the amount be large or small. l The utmost that can be done will be but a feeble expression of love and esteem of | thousands of friends throughout the state.
 We believe you will be glad to have a part in this and help us to make 1t beau | tful as well as henehcent, and in some degree worthy the bameless life and character of the beloved physician.
 The fountain will be placed on prom inent corner where it will not only fulfil it's mission, but be a permanent ornament to the city
 Subscriptions may be sent to Mrs w. g. Brown, 2ll4 Sixth avenue.
 Committees Mrs. T. A. Hamilton, chair |