Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-26
The Lincoln Memorial.

The reasoning of the fine arts commits
sion in its treatment OF the question of
the site for the Lincoln memorial is he
yond criticism. Viewing the entire field
OF possibilities, the commission concludes
that the proposed memorial. demanding
in its nature the best available position
in the District, should he placed on the
banks of the Potomac at the edge Of the
great reservation reclaimed from the
river. In this place the memorial will
be. jhe commission says, conspicuous and
striking, without being dwarfed or over
Swallowed 10y any other public structure
and without interfering with anything
that now exists
But there II one point at which public
sentiment with reference to this memorial
will necessarily differ with the commits
sions conclusion. This is with relation
to the proposition that the memorial itself
should take the form of a bridge across
the Potomac, or that such bridge should
be part of the commemorative creation
The commissions observation on this point
Is hardly satisfactory, for more than one
reason. 1t says:
Congress has recognized the desirable
ity of bridge to connect Potomac Park
with Arlington Such structure would
supplement- i'm sentiment at least. the
Lincoln memorial If the latter shall be
erected on the site recommended by the
commission. The memorial to Lincoln.
however. should take some abstract form
of art IMPLYING the endeavor and char
ac.er of the man. From the necessary
Limitations of its construction, the pro-
rosed bridge could not have a distinctly
monumental character. and because of
the common purpose of traffic TO which
il would be put it would not, in itself
alone, impress one as a memorial
The argument for a memorial bridge
part of or associated with the Lincoln
memorial GOO: beyond the question of
architectural suitability. Without such
bridge, become a part of the highway
system between the District and Virginia,
there would be little occasion for the pub
lie to visit the memorial. 1t would need
TO be sought out specifically to be viewed
At close range. To the great majority of
persons it would remain distant thing,
virtually inaccessible save by means of
private conveyance. With the bridge
spanning the Potomac al This point. CIV
ing direct communication with Arlington,
there would be large public use which
would bring the memorial into close reIa-
tons with the people.
1t does not necessarily follow that the
common purpose of traffic" TO which
degree lessen the memorial character of
the tribute to Lincoln. whether created
rs part of or supplemented by the bridge.
1t would rather seem that the bridge
would add greatly to the symbolism Of a
national memorial to the war President
1t was during his term that the north
and south divided, and it was largely
through his fundamentally that they
were ultimately reunited. memorial
bridge between the Lincoln memorial and
Arlington, once the home of the Confed-
eracy's greatest military leader. and now
the resting place ef thousands of soldier
dead of both armies. would in the highest
degree typify Lincoln's work. Every foot
fall upon that bridge would be a contribu-
ton to the tribute paid by the country
TO the man who preserved the Union.
A close uniting of the memorial bridge
project with that for the Lincoln monu-
ment on the site recommended by the fine
arts commission will bring into active CO.
operation forces that are naturally har-
monious. working for the early execution
of this inspiring project. 1t is to be hoped
that the Lincoln monument commission
accepting the suggestion of a site offered
by the fine arts commission, will add the
memorial bridge to the scheme, and make
II an integral part of the plan to create
an appropriate and adequate national ex-
preston of the Lincoln sentiment.