Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-08
OFFICIALS OUTLINE
ARTISTIC DESIGNS
Plans for Developing Arlington
Cemetery Placed in the
Hands of Experts.
NOTED IMPROVEMENTS
VOTED BY CONGRESS
Fine Arts Commission and Land.
scape Gardener to Locate the
Architectural Additions.

| At the instance Of Secretary Garrison,
the commission of fine arts is considering
the preparation of plans for the compre-
| hensve development Of the Arlington ma
tional cemetery, with special relation to
the design and location of several I'M
portant architectural additions provided
for by Congress. The commission has
been asked to designate an expert land
scape architect, to be employed by the
War Department. to make special
study of the subject and assist the COM
mission in the preparation of general
scheme of developing the reservation to
the best advantage.
Secretary Garrisons action was the re-
suit of correspondence with Gen. Ale
shire, chief Of the Quartermaster Corps:
Gen Bixby, chief of engineers, and
lsoficials Of the Navy Department. with
respect to the project for the erection IN
the cemetery of monument to the
Maine, go of whom are buried In that
cemetery.
Congress has directed the construc-
ton Of a memorial of that character,
ship as a distinctive feature. 1t had
been planned to erect the monument
during the coming summer, and to that
end arrangements have been made Tor
/ the tr8uSIcI ID Tie CSuCtCIy Va thC oA6
mast. with it's heavy armored fighting
top. from the Washington navy yard.
where it has rested since its arrival
from Havana nearly year ago.
Action Necessarily Deferred.
| Other considerations have resulted.
however. in a decision to defer the
erection Of the Maine memorial until
the fine arts commission has submitted
its report on the general development
of the cemetery. Meanwhile the mast
will be stored under cover until the de-
| sign and location of the memorial are
determined in relation to the other
projects in contemplation.
That action was taken on the recon-
mendation of Gen. Aleshire OF the Quar-
termaster Corps who is in direct charge
Of the Arlington reservation. He sug-
gested delay in the adoption Of the de-
sign and site Of the Maine memorial in
order that they might be considered with
special relation to other projects. which
with respect to the Arlington cemetery
and Its environments. The other projects
specified by Gen. Aleshire are the pro-
posed memorial bridge over the Potomac
river from Potomac Park to Ariington'
to cost $4,000. and the mortuary chapel
at the cemetery, to cost $4,000. All OF
those projects have been approved by
Congress and the necessary appropria-
tons were made in the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill. which passed both the
House and the Senate, but failed to re-
ceive the approval Of the President. An
effort will be made to enact the bill into
law at the present session of Congress.
Views Of Gen. Aleshire.
TT would appear desirable said Gen.
Aleshire in a recent report to the Secre-
tary of War. that this entire subject
| be submitted to the commission Of fine
| arts for it's consideration with view to
the adoption Of a general plan for the
| future guidance Of the War Department
| in the location. not only of the various
| structures above referred to as they may
| be provided for by Congress-. but also to
| lay out a general scheme in the construc-
| ton of rOadways. In obtaining proper
| landscape effects. In the location and
| treatment Of new burial sections. ana to
| locate tentative sites for monuments and
memorials which doubtless will be erect
ed in this cemetery in the future by the
| various states and patriotic organizations.
In order that they may have. their proper
| places in the general scheme.
III q memorial anphitheater is to be
provided for-which 1T Is believed Con-
gress eventually will dot may be we'll
| to consider its appropriate location with
respect to the general plan of improve
ments and whether, if it should be de-
cided to build it upon the plans already
| approved, the memorial which it is pro-
| posed to erect on the Maine section
/ would be in such close proximity to the
| amphitheater as to be overshadowed by
| the magnificence Of Its design; in which
| case it might be found desirable, either
| to transfer the bodies Of the Maine dead
to another location or to erect the Maine
| memorial at some point in the cemetery
| other than the Maine section. The ques-
| ton of laying out additional burial Sec
| lions for commissioned officers, which Is
| becoming q present necessity, would also
| require consideration. so as not to inter-
| fere with the general plan Of the amphi-
| theater and approaches thereto, as we'll
| as the memorial BRUCE and rOadWays
leading therefrom.
1.-THE site OF the old Fort Mcpherson,
! in the southern portion of the reserva-
ton, also would lend itself to a most at
tractive artistic treatment. This Office
Is led to make the above recommends
| lions not only in view Of the impor-
| lance of its size and location near the
| OF the position which Arlington occu-
pies due to its historic associa ion and
the illustrious dead buried within it's
sacred portals"
Commission Approves Two Designs.
The commission Of fine arts already
has approved two designs Involving the
use of the mainmast Of the Maine in
the proposed Maine memorial at Ar
lington. but neither has yet been finally
accepted
These designs were prepared by Nathan
lie. Wyeth Of this city. 1t Is estimated
that the cost Of executing the more elabo-
rata NJ these two designs would be