New-York tribune., 1912-01-07
Memorial to Lincoln Worthy Alike of the Nation and the Mar
To Form with Capitol Building
and the Washington Mon.
ument an Architectural
TriIogy Linked in
Significance.

and thirty-six feet high, Is equipped WIN
heavy doors OF bronze grilles hlled with
plain glass During mild weather these
doors could be left open during the daV'
and in the cold winter months a tempo
rary bronze and glass vestibule could De
provided in the lower part OF the large
grilles. which are subdvided at the Dot
tom for this purpose.
Whatever heating OF the building may De
necessary can be accomplished by intro
ducing air heated in the basement py
means Of gas or electricity, and probably
some simple scheme of ventilation by ex-
haust fans will be advisable
There are some rehnements shown In
the models and on the drawings that nave
been submitted to the Lincoln Memorial
Commission that are not common In mod
ern architecture. The columns are not
vertical. being slightly tilted inward toward
the building the four corner columns being
tilted more than the others. The outside
face Of the entablature Is also inclined In
ward, but slightly less than the axis OF the
columns. underneath IT. The wall or the
Memorial Hall inclines inward least or all
These inclinations, without being evident
to the eye will. It is believed. give 10 the
building an appearance Of great stability
and strength
Objections have been made 10 both OF the
= other possible sites. that Of the Meridian
Hill being criticised by the Commission OF
| Fine Arts, as follows:
J 1T has been suggested that the Lincoln
| Memorial might take the form OF an arch
| located on Meridian Hill, In the axis OF
| 18th street This site would depend for its
effectiveness almost wholly upon the vista
! Of 18th street This is so narrow and
the foliage extends so far into the street
that for a considerabl BILE portion Of the year
the memorial would be hidden from view
at those points where 1t should be most
effective.
Moreover. the region Will soon be
! busy one, and even now is occupied by
residences OF many and varied styles OF
architecture Located here, the Lincoln
Memorial would lack that isolation which
is an essential element in the site Of 4
great monument. In the future the Merf-
dian Hill location will probably be Used
for a monument. but it is not proper
site for a memorial OF supreme import
ance.
ANY monument on Meridian Hill on
| the axis Of 18th street would occupy po-
sition Of distinctly inferior rank"
The Commission Of Fine Arts is COM
posed of D. H. Burnham, F. D. Milet.
Thomas Hastings, Daniel C. French.
Charles Moore and Frederick Law Ohm
sted, ir. These men are appointed by
President Taft under authority OF an act
Of Congress of May II, 1910, to designate a
site for a memorial to Lincoln.
March 4, 1911. the Lincoln Memorial Com
mission. composed of President Taft, SEN
ators Shelby NJ Cullom, II. ID. Money and
George Peabody Wetmore, and Representa-
tives Joseph C. Cannon. Champ Clark and
Samuel w. Mccall, applied TO the Commits
sion OF Fine Arts for suggestions as 10
the location. plan and design for the pro-
posed memorial. specifically requesting
1 consideration of Two sites which at vari-
Gus times had been recommended, and
also as to the best method Of selecting
artists. sculptors and architects to make
the designs and execute them.
The commission reported on July Il,
1911. unanimously in favor Of the Po-
tomac Park site, strongly recommending
its selection The commission is made up
of men who have won the highest distinc-
ton In their several professions as archi-
tects, sculptors and city planners.
The approach to the Soldiers Home
| grounds carries 10 the eye a view OF
reservoir, a filtration plant. Glenwood
| Cemetery and North Capitol street, which
| is bordered with the ordinary secular
buildings The entrance to the grounds Is
about three miles from the Capitol. and
critics point out that the Lincoln Memorial,
| II placed there, would have no rela-
ton TO the great axis: also, that from
Arlington one would see the Postofhce.
the Willard Hotel and the State and War
Departments looming up in the fore
ground. The statue Of Lincoln would be
EXPOSED and made necessarily, OF bronze.
Many believe that marble is the last word
in sculpture.