Evening star., 1909-02-15
Lincoln Memorial Considered
by Council of Fine Arts.
HIGHWAY PLAN OPPOSED
Not Regarded as Fulfilling the Pur-
pose in View.
SITE NEAR RIVER URGED
Structure Located on a Line Drawn
West From the Capitol Preferred.
Report Made to President.

The council of fine arts, creation of
President Roosevelt, does not favor a
Lincoln memorial highway from here to
Gettysburg. Pa 1t prefers a great monu-
ment to Lincoln near the Potomac river
President Roosevelt today made pub
lie the following letter ne has received
from ]. r Marshall, secretary of the
fine arts council:
Conclusions of the Council.
Washington, d. c., February II, 1909.
Mr.. President.
Sir: The council Of the fine arts has
been requested by you to express It's
opinion upon the character and location
Of the Lincoln memorial"
We are of the opinion that the memo
rial should be a dignified and important
architectural monument. and that 1t
should be placed in the city of Washing
ton.
The council has examined as far as
possible the three propositions for a
memorial to Abraham Lincoln In the city
of Washington.
The first of these propositions contem-
plates a memorial highway from wash
ngton to Gettysburg. While we recog-
nize the important character of this prof.
ect, we do not feel that 1t would fulfill
the purpose of a monument in the Ma
tional capital.
The second proposition contemplates a
monument. the character of which Is still
to be determined. in that portion or the
city of Washington indicated on the ac-
companying plan. and lying In a general
way between the Capitol and the Union
station. A monument constructed In thls
space would almost of necessity race In
northerly direction, which would De ar
tiStically misfortune.
10 nnSitiOn
and the Union station, their marked Diff
ference in scale of design. and the fact
that there is rapid descent Of the ground
from the Capitol to the station combine,
in our opinion. to render the construction
of a monument of the dignity and
grandeur which the people will demand in
a memorial to Abraham Lincoln, an
architectural impossibility.
For these reasons we consider TINS site
a most improper and undesirable one for
this monument. although we believe that
1t should in some way be adequately de-
veioped.
Monument Near River Favored.
The third proposition contemplates the
placing Of the Lincoln memorial on a line
drawn from the Capitol through the
Washington Monument at point near the
Potomac river. A careful study of the
plan of the city and of the land itself has
leo us 10 the opinion tndl whatever MAY
be the improvement of the city in other
directions. the development of this main
axis. already established by the Capitol
and the Washington Monument. is an alb
solutely necessary condition If the best
result is to be obtained.
If this site be chosen the memorial
will be in the most commanding situa-
ton which it is possible to imagine.
With a proper development Of the Mall
and its extension to the Monument
there will be formed one of the most
magnificent vistas in any city of the
world, which cannot be more fittingly
terminated than by memorial to
Abraham Lincoln. A fitting monument
on this site would furthermore be a
conspicuous object as seen from every
surrounding eminence.
In selecting this location. it should be
borne in mind that the placing of our
great national monuments is not ques-
ton of the moment only, but of planning
for the finest possible ultimate develop
ment of the city.
Fer these reasons the council recon-
mends the adoption of this site for a me-
mortal to Abraham Lincoln.
BY order of the council of the fine arts,
Respectfully.
]. r. MARSHALL.
To the President of the United States.