The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-12
THE COLUMBUS MEMORIAL

There was dedicated in Washington
on June Sth noble memorial fountain
in memory of Christopher Columbus
1T consists, as we find the description
in the American Review of Reviews of
semi-circular fountain 20 feet wide
and 50 feet deep, adorned with a great
statue Of Columbus and other appro-
pirate sculpture. 1t stands on the
plaza In front Of the Union Railway
station at Washington, and has been
designed to harmonic in its architec..
tural and artistic trea atment with the
station and its environments. The
site is highly commended as "situated
at the gateway of the Nation s capi
tai; it VIII be the first and the last
thing to greet the eyes Of the millions
of visitors who annually Journey there,
and 1T seems altogether fitting that this
monument TO the discoverer of the
new world should stand in the capital
of its greatest country dorado
Taft, who has done great work as
sculptor, is the designer and maker of
the sculpture on this great work of art
The plan for providing the memorial
was started under the auspices of the
knights of Columbus some wears ago.
Contributions were solicited, and the
responses were immediate and hearty,
The success of the project was practi-
cally assured from the first. and later
was made secure by an appropriation
of 100000 from Congress.
commission consisting of the |
chairmen of the Senate and House Com.
mittees on the Library, the Secretary
of State, the Secretary of War, and |
the Supreme Knight of the Order Of
the knights Of Columbus, had charge
of the work, This commission selected |
the site, and adopted the design sub,
mitted by Daniel H. Burnham, archi-
tect of the Union station and mem
Der of the National Committee of Fine
Arts, with the sculptural features by
Mr. Taft. The entire foundation is
OF Georgia marble. Fur
ther description Of the memorial is as
follows;
. / ne principal feature oI the rear of tine
ountdln Is stone shaft about forty five
Get high. SurmoLDted by Il globe OF the
World 1t forms the background OF a
statue of Columbus. who is reDresented
rs standing on the prov OF a vessel win II
lrms folded in an attitude OF medita tion, Il
u was Mr. rafts purpose here to make us
eel me apotheosized Columbus. and while
ne statue is severely plain. the sculptor
ias impaired to the ligure a grandiose
iignity by throwing about IL great cloak
liter the fashion OF the discoverer's DAY II
lZttI nT oil L.
he feurehead OF a ship. a beautiful fe-
naie hgure OF ample form and dignity. n
'reat basin Of, the fountain with iis |
lbundant flow Of water will be jmmedi |
itely beneath this figure.
ON either side OF the stone shaft are
massive hsures poriraying the sculptor's |
deas OF the New and Old Worlds The |
New World is represented by the figure |
Z !, ,o1,,, an american Indian reaching over his
'hc old World" is represented by the |
'gure OF patriarchal Caucasian OF he
ole mold and thoughtful mien |
The globe a the top OF the shaft IA n
ntehned 10 suggest the influence of Co |
IIhous on ne growth Of popular llnowl-
orted by four American eagles which n
tand at the corners OF the TOP OF Inc 4
hart with wings partially extended The n
ear OF the shaft carries = m lsdaIIion ron II
esenlinG Ferdinand and Isabella OF Spgin. N
nd The group OF figures ~ completed hv N
%3 % ENORMOUS Hons which occupy tic
.. W w OuiustIdlr running from the II
enter TO The sides OF The fountain
The memorial is noble tribute 10 ,
he great discoverer II is a marvel
indeed that there has been nothing u
erctofore in art in the United States Z
" wav of commemorstiug the discov. .
ry of America bv Columbus. until this 7
inc memorial iust dedicated in Wash p
nGton. There are in other countries
nd especially in Cuba CommIns p
lemorials. but not hitherto in tho ,
nlted states. The Order which sot
n foot tho plans for This great work e,
nd has carried them TO such success. ,,
~ coInpIetlon is worthy OF praise for pi
5 efforts. and the recognition Of the
and beauty of the CO. q
I'M bus fountain will he Natinn u-idn