Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01
WILL TRAVEL AGAIN
Fourth Time Greenough's
Washington Will Move.
IT GOES NOW TO MUSEUM
Difficulties Met and Overcome in Its
Former Journeys.
ARTISTIC MERIT CRITICISED
Differences of Or; lion as to It's
Quality Que ! of Great Mo-
ment It One Time.
IT GOES NOW TO MUSEUM
ARTISTIC MERIT CRITICISED

i from Its position on the east side of the
/ Capitol plaza 10 the New National
/ Museum building. i'll accordance with
| recent congressional action. will be to its
| fourth position.
| And the history Of its movements since
/ it left the hands of the artist is as inter-
esting as is the work itself unique.
| The largest and heaviest piece of stat
uary in one piece and of such design as
| to require immense power and at the
| same time the utmost care. it has been
| handled frequently American soil. to
say nothing of its transportation in Italy
and its sea voyage to Washington.
1t has been moved about more than
| any work of the kind in Washington.
Not single accident has peen connected
| with its three previous removals. AS the
means which will be employed for getting
| il to the museum will no doubt be i'm
provement on old methods, no mishap is
| to be anticipated.
Prior 10 arrival here. nearly five years
after completion, it had to be moved
over sixty miles from Florence. Italy. to
the coast over the roads to the ship
ping point, Leghorn. where difficulty was
encountered in securing transportation.
On reaching the navy yard after some
delay it was. by the old canal. fioated to
the point nearest it's destination, then
moved to the steps Of the east portico
and by tackling raised and moved to the
rotunda.
For a few years it's position was direct
ly above the sepulcher in the Capitol
building prepared for Washington's re-
mains. then in the east grounds of the
Capitol near LIST street aand next to its
present site. And up to the present. with
the exception of toe being broken off
and replaced and the effects of the
weather it is intact
Crowds Look On.
The floating of the statue on the canal
and the working Of it up Capitol Hill
We're watched with much interest, but
the acme was reached when it was
raised to the floor of the east portico, ac
cording to some old men who with boyish
curiosity watched the proceedings of
Capt. Easily and his men.
These are looking forward for the fourth
journey of the huge statue, prepared to
see the operation of new and improved
methods over those of sixty seven years
ago. when but five days were required to
take it from the navy yard and land
il in the rotunda,
This statue the first as we'll as the
largest and most imposing work in marble
erected by order of Congress to comment
crate Washington. is the fruition of the
sentiment which took form ere the newly
formed government was fairly esta blished
indeed. in the Continental Congress and In
the lifetime of Washington. The history
of the legislation which led up to the
naturalization of this sentiment is in
teresting.
The Continental Congress met in An
napoIis November 26 1888 the day after
the evacuation of New York. Washing
ton took leave of his principal officers
there. December 1. and repaired to An
napolis, where, December 10, he resigned
his commission. 1t was at this session that
Congress adopted a resolution to erect
an equestrian statue to him lat the place
which should be chosen for the seat of
government.
Washington's services to his country
had not then ended Under the Constr
tuition formed by convention of Which
he was a member he was elected Presi-
dent. and served two terms. and IN ll9'
again placed in command of the
army. and held that commission when
he died December Is. 1890.
The resolution of 17S3 for monument
had lain dormant. Immediately after his
death the subject was revived. With the
resolutions of coincidence adopted were
those asking Mrs. Washington's consent
to the remains being placed in the Capt.
toll with the honors of funeral pro-
cession addresses. etc.
President John Adams conveyed by let
ter this action. Mrs. Washington. under
date of Mount Vernon. December 81 1880
reluctantly gave her consent
She wrote that having been taught by
example 10 never oppose private "isHeo
to the public Will | must consent to the
request of Congress and in doing
this 1 need not. / cannot. say, what
sacrifice of individual feeling | make to a
sense of public duty"
The government was then in Philadel-
phia and Congress was preparing for it's
removal, in 1900. to this city. where the
work OH the Capitol was in progress.
That many years would elapse before Its
completion none doubted but the expec-
fnt hat
resolutions would be carried into effect.
In 1916 the subject reappeared in Con-
gress by resolution reciting the previous
action in 1879, and providing that on the
four sides of the monument Washington
should be represented as defender
against the French and Indians. as pro-
tector of rights against invasion by the
English as first President, and as pri-
yate citizen.
Tomb for Washington Prepared.
In 1918 the foundation of the central
portion of the Capitol was commenced.
In the exact center receptacle for
Washington's remains was prepared In
accordance with the legislation. While
the work on the building for some ten
years progressed the subject was held In
allegiance. but when. about 1927, the center
building of the Capitol was nearing COM
pleton interest was revived.
The centennial birthday of Washing
ton. February ~. 1922, was suggested as
tlfe most appropriate date for carrying
the resolutions into effect On March
90, 1890 a report was adopted in Con-
sreSS to this end.
About this time We're various SuggeS-
lions appearing in public print as to the
details of ceremonies, etc. This seems
TO have aroused opposition especially in
Virginia 1t was not long unbeknown in
Congress that many of Washington
kindred We're supported by the public
sentiment of that state and the south
in their objections to the removal of the
body from Mount Vernon and his native
soil.
Moreover. were the executors of Wash
ington's will then building new vault
at Mount Vernon for the permanent en-
tombment of the remains in compliance
with the following clause of his will:
THE family vault at Mount Vernon re-
curing repairs and being Improperly built
besides I desire that a new one of brick
and upon a larger scale. may be built at
the foot of what is called the Vineyard
Enclosure, on the ground which is made
out, in which my remains and those of
my deceased relatives now in the old
vault }, and such others of my family as
may choose to be entombed there may
be deposited.
| The legislature of Virginia voiced in
February, 1892, the sentiment of her citi-
zens by adopting resolutions protesting
against the removal of the remains, and
| the presentation of these to Congress
was not without result. The joint COM
mittee of Congress arranged for appro-
| pirate ceremonies in Congress to COM
memorate WaShington'S one hundredth
! birthday minus the funeral features.
nI,tfin I'D Tod