Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-07
LINCOLN MEMORIAL
Prominent New Workers Give
Their Preferences.
THREE PLANS PROPOSED
Memorial Bridge Approach, Peristyle
and Boulevard.
SENTIMENT FOR THE BEST
Agreement That Washington Should
Contain Adequate Tribute to
War President.
THREE PLANS PROPOSED
SENTIMENT FOR THE BEST
From the New York Times.

three plaus for national memorial of
Lincoln now under consideration. Cne
plan was that specified by the United
States Senate park commission some six
years ago for a memorial structure to be
erected on the water front at the eastern
approach to the proposed memorial bridge
from Washington to Arlington. 1ne
form suggested was great portico en-
bellished with sculpture, including
statue Of Lincoln, and, as background
70 the portico. four rows of linden trees.
This plan assumes, of course. the build
ing of the memorial bridge
The second plan is that reported to
Congress last June by Mr. McCleary. and
proposes broad road extending from the
White House TO Gettysburg, constructed
according to the highest engineering
standards, with central line of green
sward embellished at intervals by flower
beds and fountains, and with rows of
trees separating the different divisions of
the road into separate roadways for swift
and slow vehicles and for electric rail-
ways. This plan was suggested to Mr.
McCleary by the Appan Way.
The third plan is that connected with
the bill introduced in the House of Repre-
sentatives last May by Mr.. Mccall 1t
provides for "a peristyle of monumental
proportions surrounding the plaza at the
Union station. with, chief feature. a
frieze on which could be inscribed quota
be called the Lincoln Peristyle but would
hardly include give place for a statue
of Lincoln, as the center of the plaza has
already been designated for the Columbus
memorial fountain.
The New York Times asked few citi-
zens of well known public spirit to COM
ment upon these brief outlines of the
three plans in order to encourage a fuller
discussion of the proposed memorial than
has hitherto been given.
Robert G. Ogden.
In reply to your recent favor for an
opinion concerning the three plans now
before Congress for a permanent national
memorial TO Mr.. Lincoln. 1 have to state
that. in a general way my impressions
favor the bill introduced in the House of
Representatives by Mr.. Mccall the third
in the list covered by your letter. You do
rot care. | presume. for an argument
upon this plan. but it would seem that the
one prefer would be dignifed, and would
be practically nearer the center of ma
tional life than either of the others Other
considerations might be urged which I'M
doubtedly would occur to some more ar
t1stlc friend of the plan involved"
Richard Watson Glider.
'Of the three plans / very strongly ia
vor that of the United States Senate park
commission favorable to the erection of a
memorial structure on the water front at
the eastern approach to the proposed me-
mortal bridge from Washington to Airing
ton. The third plan l should also be glad
10 see carried out, but perhaps for some
other memorial or memorials
Henry Holt.
In answer to your circular letter re-
gard.ng the Lincoln memorial at Wash
ington:
To the structure near the proposed me-
al hrid lie ba hot
it will be out of the way of many, proba-
ply the majority of sightseers
The proposed road to Gettysburg will
not carry any suggestion of memorial
unless some suggestion in the way of
Statuary or architectural structure Is pro-
vded at its opening.
The peristyle surrounding the plaza
al the Union station will not bear any
more obvious relation to Lincoln than to
anybody anything else. The quotations
fIom his speeches will not have any more
meaning to the casual observer, who will
not read them than so much ornamental
ton. If, however. the Columbus fountain
were put somewhere else, and statue of
Lincoln substituted in the center of the
plaza, the peristyle would be a part of a
memorial. Otherwise the peristyle, even
with the Lincoln texts, will be part of
memorial to Columbus
Samuel Isham.
las / have not been in Washington
know the city very slightly and have seen
no plans for any of the proposed Lin
coin memorials my opinion in regard to
the different schemes can have very little
value. They all seem to have the com
mon drawback of being perfunctory-of
being invented for the purpose of spend
ing sum of money rather than filling
want
The approach TO the Memorial bridge
would seem TO be an appropriate place
NOR M tai / In
know what the surroundings would be,
and it is. of course, impossible to judge
of the merits of monument without see
ing plans of il.
The road seems TO me less desirable.
An American road. even though wide and
embellished with trolley lines down the
center may be convenience and a hand
some Improvement, but it is hardy monu-
mental, and would probably replind the
behoIder of the Appian way only as MIR.
Birchs singing reminded Mr. Backus of
Patti's-because il was so different. The
Appian way-if my recollection is cor
rect-was in itself narrow. and gained its
Importance from the monuments along it.
Besides. in so far as II would be
public utility, there is feeling that such
things should be furnished by the state,
and that funds devoted TO a memorial
should not be used to relieve taxation
THE peristyle about the plaza of the
Union station has the drawback of con-
fusing the honors between Columbus and
Lincoln. The men were SO entirely diff
and achievement that TO any one SusCepti-
Bile to the real meaning of their lives the
juNtaposition would seem homogeneous.
These opinions are necessarily vague
that l have doubted whether they were
worth expressing. l certainly hope that
no one will attempt to influence the final
decision without specific knowledge of the
facts.
Robert Underwood johnson.
II am not agreeably impressed with the
idea of memorial roadway from Wash
ington to Gettysburg in honor of President
Lincoln. Apart from the sectional idea
involved. its maintenance an artistic
feature could hardly be depended upon.
In general i think IT would be wise to
fall in with the plans of the Burnham
commission. which. l believe contem-
plate memorial to Lincoln on the axis of
the Capitol and the Washington Moru-
ment. but further TO the west and In con-
junction with the proposed memorial
bridge. l think il would be fortunate if
Mr. McCalls idea OF a peristyIe ETC.
could be incorporated with this plan.
In trying TO arrive at the best form OF
tribute to Lincoln one must be impressed
with the growing need of national art
commission of experts TO supervise all ar
tistic enterprises with which the govern
Il. H..