New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12
HALTS DANTE MEMORIAL
Park Commissioner Says Pro-
moter Cannot Hurry Him.
SITES FOR OTHERS CHOSEN
Slower Announces Plans for An.
drew H. Green and Samuel
j. Tilden Monuments.

The erection OF the proposed Dante me-
mortal Is more remote than ever. Park
Commissioner Slower said yesterday that
before he sanctioned the erection OF the
monument on any park site in the city he
meant to sift the matter to the bottom. His
action, he said. was based on conference
he had with the Italian Consul General. the
later having told the Park Commissioner
| the project did not have the sanction OF
the Italian government. The consul gem
eral before saying this had been in con-
ference with the Italian Ambassador.
Carlo Barsotti, who is interested I'm an
Italian newspaper in this city. Is behind
the movement Commissioner Slower said
Mr.. Barsotti and his friends had told him
that the Italian government was behind the
project. and that he had informed the
Mayor on the strength of that assertion
that il would be advisable to accept the
monument.
Among other things Mr. Barsotu had told
the Commissioner was that the monument
would be sent to this country on an Italian
cruiser.
Instead declared the Park Commits
sioner. ut came on freighter. I had TO
notify Secretary Of the Treasury Mac
veagh that It would probably be placed in
park before it was permitted to come
into the country duty free"
The Commissioner said he did not doubt
the word Of Mr. Barsott i'm reference 20 the
cruiser incident and the proposed action
Of the italian government. But both have
bearing on the present attitude Of the
pa,lx al ba must be
something the matter to bring about such
change, and he will slft the whole mat
ter before making any decision.
Mr.. Barsott when told OF the Commits
sioners attitude, said he had thought the
site was soon TO be decided on. He knew
absolutely nothing about the action OF the
Italian government. And as for the cruiser
episode, that was an old story
II can't understand why the Park Com
missioner has changed his mind" he said.
"Mr Barsotti claims TO have a great deal
Of initiative" said Commissioner Slower,
but I do not propose to be hurried one
bit in deciding about this Dante monu-
ment. Bryant Park. Long Acre Square
the 59th street Plaza and the Mall in Cen
trail Park have ali been suggested as sites
by Mr.. Barsottl. On number of the Ital-
ian monuments In this city Mr.. Barsottt
has his name emblazoned in letters almost
n large as those for whom the monuments
are named"
Commissioner Stover said he had no
idea where the monument was being kept.
IL had cost, he declared, about $1,000.
largely made up of subscriptions here and
abroad.
Ii was announced Yesterday by the Com
missioner that a site for the proposed An
drew n. Green memorial had been de-
cided on. II will he erected at the 10th
street and Seventh avenue entrance to
Central Park. Daniel G. French will de-
sign the monument and Charles Lamb will
be the architect.
The Commissioner said also that the Sam
uel ]. Tilden memorial would he erected
on the easterly side of Madison Square
Park.
1T required twenty-eight years to erect
memorial to William Cullen Bryant and
ten years for one to Longfellow.' said
Commissioner Slower but Mr.. Barsotti
and his friends want the city to accept and
erect a monument to Dante as soon as it
is completed