Evening star., 1908-01-16
Secretary Root on the Grant
Memorial Location.
MANY THINGS IN VIEW
Facts That Influenced the Commis-
sion's Action.
OPPOSES MAKING A CHANGE
Aim Was to Put the Memorial on q
Different Footing From the Other
Statues of Commanders.

Al continuation of the hearing on the
Sherley bill regarding the location ot the
Grant memorial before the House commit
tee on the library yesterday afternoon.
Secretary of State Root spoke in favor of
the retention of the present site. There
were also present Gen GrenvilIe NJ.
Dodge, president of the memorial COM
mission, and Representative Smith OF
Iowa, who also favors the present
site. The Secretary Gen. Dodge and
Representative Smith all insisted that
the site that had been selected
was the best available for the pur-
pose
Secretary Root declared the placing of
the Grant memorial upon the site selected
did not at all depend upon the fulfill
ment of the whole plan of the park COM
mission. and he reviewed the work of the
commission leading up to the selection of
what he characterized as the best and
most appropriate spot i'm the district of
Columbia.
Many Things In View.
In selecting that site We had many
things in view said the Secretary. We
consider the statute which made an appro-
priation of $4,000 for a memorial to Cen
Grant meant something more than the
ordinary statues which as Secretary of
War. | have been engaged in putting up
around the city. We felt that 1t was the
intention of Congress. plainly exhibited
by the difference between that statute and
the ordinary monument appropriations to
indicate distinction. and that it was
our duty 10 secure a design and to Sc
lect site which would be distinguished
and which would put the memorial
to Gen. Grant on a different footing
from the memorials to many generals
and public men of inferior place in his
tory.
I'VE considered also the fact that midi
cations were many that the region about
the Capitol was about to receive attention
and to be rescued from the somewhat un-
kempt ard uncultivated condition in which
1t had remained for so many years.
Park Commission Plan.
We considered the plan, which had al
ready been made public. OF the so-cailed
park commission. with regard to the
Identification of Washington. and we con-
sidered what effect upon our Judgment the
doubts as to whether that plan would be
followed or not ought to have. We came
to the conclusion that while the site of
the memorial which We determined upon
fitted perfectly into the plan if carried
out; that whether ii was carried out or
not. this was incomparably the best site
there was in Washington for the me-
mortal.
We made a contract with the architect
and the sculptor. under which they have
gone on with their work until. I now un-
derstand, they are now ready to put the
work on the ground 1t has now been
hve years since the design was selected
and the site was selected. wish to ex-
press very earnest hope that the whole
enort shall not have to be made over
again for a large part of the money that
was appropriated by Congress will have
to be expended under the contract that
has been made.'
Asked what pecuniary loss the govern
ment would sustain if the site was
changed, Secretary Root said:
II cannot tell. because l have not been
a member of the commission now for
years, but very large part of the COM
pensation going, under the contract to
the sculptor and the architect, must have
been earned already
Regards Site as the Best.
In reply to a question by Representative
Conner. Secretary Root said he did not
consider that any other site in the Dis
-rict of Columbia would be nearly as
suitable as this one. THE only site
which would approach that in the Bo-
tani" Garden would be the one in the
White Lo.. but there have been serious
objections made to that the Secretary
added.
Gen. Dodge said that the statue had
been planned SO as TO fit the site in the
Botanic Garden. and that it would it no
other site unless changes were made in