The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-08-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial correspondence.l

WILL De interested 10 know tnaC con
gress recently appropriated money to
tear down the columns of sandstone
which decorate the front of the treas
ury building on Pennsylvania avenue
and replace them with granite mono
liths.
An Architectural Wonder.
The treasury building was long the
architectural wonder of this country,
even when it was unfinished. 1t was
an attempt to adapt the classic style
to purely commercial building and
was accepted as a great achievement
and received some applause from
abroad, even though it was only rela-
lively superior. 1t is not likely that
any amount of money can make it ap-
pear in the minds of this generation
what it was fifty years ago, but 1t Is a
wise plan to restore 1t as completely
as possible and to improve on the orig
inal plan.
The Most Beautiful Street.
This work Is being prosecuted along
the lines of the great plan to make
in the world. 1t is, now fine in spots
and is married by postoff1ce building
which will have to be reconstructed to
meet any acceptable plan of symmet-
rical beauty, but the idea is good one,
for which the American people willing
ly make appropriations. Before long
the low structures on the street will
II It'll H.
nue. of unsurpassing loneliness "a word
which the architects insist upon using,
because they have laid out a plan
which involves almost every element
of beauty.
The average American has little idea
of the recent growth of the capital
city. He cannot understand the trans
formation that is going on from
mere perusal of newspaper accounts.
He must see it to understand that one
of the most beautiful cities in the
world is evolving along lines which
are is part more than century old
Nnd for the rest very recent. 1t is
costing money, but 1t is money well
expended.
Memorial to Lincoln.
That provision will be made by the
next session of congress for suitable
memorial to Abraham Lincoln to be
placed on the plaza between the CAPT
tol and the Union station seems to be
almost assured. 1t Is understood that
the bill introduced near the close of
last session by Chairman Mccall OF
the house library committee, asking
for an appropriation for the purpose,
probably would have passed had there
been sufficient time. 1t will be intro
duced in the early days Of next ses-
ports, it will be passed.
The bill provides for the purchase Of
all the land from the Union station to
the capitol bounded by New Jersey
avenue on the west, Massachusetts
avenue on the north, the capitol
grounds on the south and First street
northeast on the east, with the ex-
ception Of the one block nearest the 4
station, which is bounded on the east
by Second street northeast For the
purpose of obtaining the land the bill
provides $3,250,OOO, while 1t calls for
$1,OO0,O0O to be used In the erection Of
the memorial. Fw u
White House upkeep.
It is the official view of Colonel @. 8.
Cromwell, the army engineer in charge
of the White House, that it will be
necessary for the American people to
spend $1,000 week during the next
fiscal year to keep the home Of the
president In habitable condition.
The upkeep of the house during the
current fiscal year is only 1878 and q
few pennies over each week. But
things are getting shabby. Colonel
Bromwell thinks the chairs should be
sent to the upholsterers, new paper put
on the walls and the whole interior
done over with fresh paint and enamel
The paper on the wall of course is
not paper at all, but the finest brocad-
ed silk. The upholstering on the
seyres designed chairs is also Of the
finest. So the colonel figures It will
cost $4,000 to do the absolutely nee
essary work. In submitting his esti-
mate to the secretary Of the treasury
he remarked that the annual appropria-
ton of $4,000 is barely large enough
to keep the house from going to rack
and ruin. The $4,000 asked for is
put under the head of extraordinary
repairs"
Robert E.. lee Statue.
virginians in Washington express
great satisfaction over the prospect Of
a statue OF Robert Fl, Lee being placed
in statuary hall, in the capitol, and
In the determination of the Virginia
legislative commission to replace the
cheap plaster figure Of Washington
now in the capitol with a bronze
statue.
The bronze statue OF Lee has just
been cast in Providence, n. l., and was
modelled by Edward V. Valentine,
whose recumbent statue. of Lee over
the generals tomb at Washington and
Lee university is regarded as one Of
the finest works Of American art.
The statue of Lee VIII occupy the
second OF virginia's places In statuary
hall, one of which is already occupied
by plaster figure Of George Wash
ington.
Washington In. Bronze.
The commission appointed by the