Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-13
'REJECTSTAIUE MODEL
Action of Commission Having
Sheridan Memorial in Charge.
THE CONTRACT CANCELLED
Artist Ward Of New York Unable to
Satisfy the Board.
ANOTHER TO TAKE UP THE WORK
Long Delay in Securing Design-site
Selected at Massachusetts, Avenue
and Esd Street.
ANOTHER TO TAKE UP THE WORE

Although action was taken some time ago
it has just transpired that the Sheridan
statue commission has formally rejected the
model made by Mr.. J. Q. A.. Ward, the
New York sculptor, Of an equestrian statue
OF Gen. Philip T. Sheridan, which it is de-
signed to erect in this city. This matter
has been under consideration for many
years, but various circumstances prevent
ed final action by the commission until re-
Gently, as stated.
The movement for the erection of a statue
Of the great cavalry leader of the war of
the rebellion was inaugurated by the So
ciety of the Army of the Cumberland at its
annual reunion in Chicago in September,
1883, when a committee of nine members of
the society was appointed to take the nee
essary steps to that end. Gen. ]. 8. Full
lerton was chairman of the committee. and
among the other members were Gen. R. A.
Alger, Gen. H. c. COrbin, Gen. ]. D. Nor
gan and Gen. G. F. Henderson. In March.
1859, Congress authorized the erection of
the statue on one of the unoccupied reser-
vations In this city, and appropriated S4O.-
600 to meet the necessary expenses.
That act also created a commission to Sc
lect a site and take charge of the erection
of the statue. The commission consisted
of the Secretary of War, the chairmen Of
and the chairman of the statue commit
tee Of the Society of the Army of the Cum
berland. Subsequently, in March, 1891,
Congress made further appropriation OF
$4,000 for the statue, making total of
$50, 600.
In the meantime the Society of the Army
of the Cumberland had received contribu-
tions aggregating about $1,000 for the pur-
poses of the statue and the committee
charged with the duty entered into an
agreement in April. 1892. with Mr.. J. Q. A.
Ward to design and make suitable statue
for the sum Of $4,000. Mr.. Ward was an
artist of distinction and was regarded as
fully competent for the work. He designed
the statues of President Garfield and Gen.
Thomas. already erected In washington
city, and promised that his statue of Gen.
Sheridan should be the greatest work OF his
life. The committee advanced him $500 to
enable him to proceed with the work.
Fails to Give Satisfaction.
Through one cause and another Sculptor
Ward has been unable to complete design
to the satisfaction of the parties in inter
est He made one model several years ago
which was approved by the statue COM
mittee of the Society of the Army Of the
Cumberland. but it did not meet the grand
ideals of the artist and he destroyed it.
ever since then he has been at work on
another model, and after years of toll ana
endeavor nearly completed it few months
ago. This unfinished model stands In the
artists studio in New York city. and at his
request Mrs. Sheridan, widow of the gen.
eral, and the members of the commission
created by Congress have gone to New
York several times to inspect IL Witnln tHe
last few months. -,
Mrs. Sheridan was displeased with tne
model and asserted that the likeness of the
general was not good one, the taciai
expression being unnatural and unsatis-
factory. The members of the commission
were not favorably impressed with the
model, and because of Mrs sheridan
strong disapproval had serious DOUBTS OF
the propriety of accepting the work. In
order to assist them in reaching a proper
Judgment, however the commission had
several prominent artists examine the model
and report on it's artistic worth.
Agreement Cancelled.
Because of these considerations the COM
mission was regretfully compelled to can
eel the agreement entered into between
the statue committee of the Society of the
Army If the Cumberland and Artist Ward
and to consider other means of securing
the erection of the statue In accordance
with the provisions of the acts OF congress.
This commission now consists of Secretary
Taft, Senator Wetmore, Representative NC
Cleary and Gen. H. c. Corbfn. the last
named representing the Society of the Army
of the Cumberland. A meeting will short
ly be held to determine whether competi- |
tive designs shall be invited or whether the
commission shall give the work to some
one American sculptor OF acknowledged
ability willing to undertake the work.
The triangular reservation on the north
side of Pennsylvania avenue between 18th
and 1919 streets in front of the National
Theater was originally selected by the
as the site of the Sheridan
statue but at the suggestion of Mrs. Sher-
idan that action was subsequently rescinded
and Sheridan Circle at the intersection of
avenue and 23d street was
selected as the site. 1t is a source of gen. |
eral regret that SO little has been accom- |
plished in the matter of the Sheridan statue |
after nearly twenty years of endeavor, es-
pecially when 1t is considered that the |
statues of Gen. Hancock and Gen. Logan, |
which were provided for at the same time
In the act of March 3, 1891, were completed |
and placed in position several years ago.