New-York tribune., 1907-11-12
GRANT MEMORIAL SITE.
General Dodge Regrets Three Trees
Stand in Way of Location.


W washington, Nov. 11.-'Nany Of the members OF
the Army Of the Tennessee are indignant and
srleVed that three trees should stand in the way
OF the erection of memorial statue General
Grant, and that even portion OF the citizens and
press of Washington should allow the completion
OF the plans for that tribute be halted because
1t would necesstate the removal transplanting OF
the same three trees
General Grenville NJ. Dodge L. S. A. retired. of
council Bluffs, Iowa, chairman Of the Grant Me-
mortal Commission, arrived in Washington this
afternoon TO preside over a meeting Of the commits
sion this morning and to assist in reaching deci-
sion az TO the proper site for the memorial. In
discussing the matter tonight he made the fore
going statement. which is expressive of many that
have reached him from those interested
The original plan said General Dodge, was
to build the Grant Memorial IN the northern part
Of the large circular field south of the White House
and the model of the successful artist made
to fit that location. Objection from the government
and others Influenced the commission 10 select an
other location and IT finally decided the Botanic
Garden the only place in the city suited 70 the
memorial Congress affirmed this selection
The memorial IS to be one of the most important
works of sculpture l the District OF Columbia, and
its location in relation TO the Capitol and the mall
is one of character and dignity. II is 232 feet on
its longest axis and 6S feet its shortest that
II demands wide in order that its full impress
sveness may not be lost.
The comm ttee of experts fixing the location in
the Botanic Gardens selected the centre of the
grand approach to the great mall. reaching from
the Capitol TO the Washington Monument. as
planned by the art commission to conform to the
original TEnfant idea, in which the site in the
Botanic Gardens is set down ornamented
square forming a suitable approach to the Capitol
from the west
We have spent long time and employed the
most distinguished landscape architects in fitting
the memorial 10 the location. which selected
nearly two years ago 1t Is remarkable that no one
discovered th fact that the trees that site were
sacred until had completed all the preliminary
work ana commenced digging the foundation. I
have examiI cd all sites suggested in place Of the
one We now have in view, and I convinced that
none of Their f. so emnently suitable that in
the Botanic Gardens.
"One Of the trees about which the agitation is
centred is that planted by Governor Shepherd.
who did Of the greatest works for the city of
Washington ever performed by the city's executive:
but It must be borne in mind that ne was one OF
General Grants greatest friends and that General
Grant stood shoulder to shoulder with him in all
that he undertook I sure Governor Shepherd
would be much mortified if he could know that a
small tree planted by him was the cause of loss
time commemorating the memory of his
friend
IF the statue could be moved few feet It might
settle the whole difficulty. but am sure that a
vast majority of the veterans of the Civil War
would oppose change Of location"
Changing the subject to politics, General Dodge
said:
The State OF Iowa can safely be said TO be
solid for President Roosevelt. The Republicans do
him the honor to believe that he meant what he
said when he declined third term. but believe
many Of them hope that such contingency viii
be forced on him.
After the President. the people want Mr.. Taft
They have seen him. and he has made deep i'm
preston on them. They seem to be confident tina.
with him in the Presidential chair the policies OF
President Roosevelt Will be followed out