The Washington times., 1909-01-23
American Institute of Archi-
tects Takes Up Cudgels
Against 1t.
NOT PROPER SITE
THEIR CONTENTION
Thinks Lincoln Memorial Should
Be Erected in West End
of Mall.

Aroused by the prospect OF the pas
sage OF the Mccall bill providing for
the expenditure OF 81 10000. 10 buy the
strip Of land lying between the Capitol
Union Station. and to erect
N q memorial 10 Abraham Lin
IA. the American Institute Of Archi-
tects IS fighting the proposition tooth
and nail. on the ground that the effect
would be farcical from an artistic stand
point
Many men of prominence are ques-
uoning the wisdom of the Mccall bill
for the purpose OF charging the CAPT
tol grounds and erecting a memorial TO
Lincoln. II is declared that this land
Is undesirable. and that fits acquisition
and the erection OF q monument would
Be an artistic monstrosty,
Carefully Considered.
II is pointed out that the question Of
3 site was carefully considered by
Charles F. McEim, D. H Durham
Augustus satnt-Gaude1s, and F. L.
O1mstead, the Washington Park Com
mission. and that they located IL on
site at the west end OF the Mall, one
declared to be equal TO the site Of the
Capitol and in harmony with the beauti-
tication plan.
Glenn Brown, secretary OF the Amer
1esn Institute Of Architects. said TODAY
that he failed 10 see how Congress
could indorse the Mccall plan He de.
clared that the land I'm question could
not be used as an addition to the Cap
itol grounds without spelling them ut
terly.
The land TO be acquired under the
Mccall btl.'' he said, would disarrange
any landscape plan that might be made.
The addition covers q greater area than
the grounds. as at present constituted,
and it would all be off 10 one side, to-
tally upsetting the landscape design"
Secretary's Views.
spsa king of the memorial. he said:
The most important monument TO
be erected in this country during the
generations viii be the Lincoln Memo
rial in Washington. The selection Of
fhe proper site for this memorial IS Of
equal importance with its design. For
tunatelv for the country. the Park
Commission, composed OF the most cap
able men 10 be found In this country,
after a careful study Of the subject.
have selected a site as shown on Their
scheme for the future development Of
Washington and given the memorial
q position equal 10 that OF the Capitol
and the Washington Monument. on the
banks Of the Potomac on the axis OF
the Capitol and the Washington Monu-
meuL, west of the Washington ADuu-
1nent about a mile
~ I'm connection with this scheme they
planned a memorial bridge 20 Arlington
40 more beautiful site could be found
for the Lincoln Memorial the beautiful
park the banks of the Potomac with
the beautiful hills OF Virginia as
background. Its harmonious relation
10 the other structures and the develop
meur Of the city makes the site uu-
euualed This ground now belongs 10
the Government. All that is necessary
is 70 lay Il out and plan 81 and erect
the memorial
ar is very strange that the Mccall
bill should have been presented as ~
proposes the purchase OF an irregular
territory without proper relation 20 any
az the buildings iu the vicinity and the
placing on 10 q Lincoln Memorial which
could only be ont OF scale. not I'm har-
buildings CIashlnE with and marriug
them and being marred by them.
Letters Of Protest
Letters have been received hv ar
Brown as secretary Of the Institute OF
Architects. from men prominent In
every section OF the c0u -try. protest
ing against the proposed action Many
OF thesa letters are from noted arChl-
tecte. engineers, and artists.
The American Institute of Architects.
through ITS board Of directors passed a
resolution C1uGemuinE the purposes Of
the Mccall biU and calling upon the
people OF the entire country 90 protest
against such action
Many members OF the institute are
making pointed comment upon the all
legged Intention of Congress 10 spend
10000 on this land, while az the sane
rtne CRYING economy and denying the
navy and proper housing for the eEeCU-
tive departments of the Government.