Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-25

placing the Lincoln memorial near the
Union station or on Capitol Hill is that
more people would see it there than
elsewhere. 1t is true that more transient
visitors would pass it; but 1t is also true
that an object which we must make some
effort to see impresses itself on us with
much more force than does one which
is seen casually or incidentally. Not how
many people see monument, but now
great is the impression made by 1t, is
the real test
The locations just considered are in the
vortex of busy life. and whatever gran
deur and impressive simplicity and be auty
the memorial might possess would be
lessened : by close competition with the
massive structure Of the station and the
immense pile of the Capitol.
IAN axiom of exposition practice. which
applies with equal force here. is that the
least desirable place for an exhibit Is near
a busy entrance. Crowds hurry past to
see what is beyond. Placed near the sta
ton the Lincoln memorial would teach
but a feeble lesson; and the sentiments
is should stimulate would find no ade-
quate response on the part Of the be-
holders.
Offers Serious Obstacles.
THE commission have reached this con-
clusion after having opportunity to con-
slider a set Of more than one hundred
architectural studies representing work
carried on over series Of years with
the purpose Of discovering, If possible,
some location and some form Of
structure which might be introduced
into the Capitol area without pro-
ducing a sense Of inadequacy and
Of possibilities and prove conclusively that
any location near the Capitol presents
obstacles that are insurmountable, II the
manifest desire Of Congress for great
memorial is to be carried out
In dealing with the type OF memorial
and selection of a designer the report
concludes:
when the location for the Lincoln
memorial shall have been determined by
your commission, the general type Of the
81. ner will be the next consideration.
IF you adopt the recommendation OF
this commission as to the site, only g. few
special conditions should restrict the Sc
lection of design. To avoid compeu-
ton with the Capitol or the Washington
Monument the Lincoln memorial should
not include dome and should not be
characterized by great height, but by
strong horizontal lines. Within these
wide limits complete freedom of choice
is possible.
There are two methods of selecting a
designer: First. direct selection of one
who, when appointed. would submit de-
signs Of various types and afterward
develop one Which, Soui aStOu
may approve; this appointment to be
subject to r. call IL found unsatisfactory.
second. selection Of a designer by COM
petition.
Program for Competition.
I'm the opinion Of this commission. the
first method secures the most satisfac-
tory results, and we therefore recon mend
It,
IF, however, competition be required
either by law or by decision of your COM
mission, we recommend that you asso-
ciate with you two or more architects to
prepare subject to your approval. a pro-
gram for the competition and to conduct
subsequent procedure: and furry er. that
there be, in the first instance, general
competition open to any who may desire
to submit preliminary DESIGNS; that, from