The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-01-19
Many Ideas Presented, and the
Whole Question of Embellish-
ment Is Still Open
COMMISSION MAKES REPORT
Leading ScuIptors and Architects
Make One Specific Proposal
for Monument
INsCRlBE RECORD ON STONE

Washington, Jan. l9.--With the dig
ging nearly done. and the fertilization
well under way, the decoration of the
Panama canal is subject OF re-
newrd attention. aroused particular, ~
10y the suggestion from France that
the early work of Ferdinand DE- Les
seps. the French engineer, be COM
memorated by statue to him at some
conspicuous point on the canal This
is but one of many ideas, however,
and the whole question of embellish-
ment of the waterway is stiu opcn
Artists generally agree with engin~
GERS that the canal is a monument to
Itself, but at the same time there has
been no lack of suggestion for beauti-
flying the waterway. one proposition
is for cOllosal pillars at the outer
most points of the Atlantic and Pacidc
entrances, surmounted by statues Of
heroic proportions of Columbus. Bal
boa and others whose names have
been indclibly connected with the dis
coyey Of America and the Develop
ment If the canal. Another proposal
has been for a statue TO Senate. John
Morgan OF Alabama, ono OF the pion-
GERS In this country for Isthmian canal
construction. De Lesseps, by thc way.
has not altogether been forg )tten for
the house which he once occupied at
CriSloba is still preserved In front
Of It stands IL small monumen, to
Christopher Columbus.
Record Inscribed in Stone.
The government commission Of hlc
arb made up many Of the leading
sculpturs and architects of the cotln-
Try, f1s already studied the problem
OF bcautifying the canal but its report
which is awaiting action by Congress
has only one specific proposal for a
commemorative monument. This il
presented as follows:
The commission OF fine arts believes
that memorial record of the building
OF the canal should be made in the
form Of an impressive inscription upon
a great monument surface at some
point OF prominence, and q careful cX-
of the whole length Of the
canal led to the choice # the cast
wall at the point of deepcss cut, i92
l'ci at the continental divide. While
the size and design of this monument
should be the result of careful study,
We are inclined To- believe that it
should be approximately 100 feet la
n'Eh' and somewhat more in width:
mat II should be severely simple in
ucSi- u, that the lettering should bc
l"he m Roman N-shaped Letters aEd
I"at the material should he concrete
'Ppil"d as a massive facing To the ir
regularly fractured trap rock of the /
'liI, We strongly recommend this |
'Nu regard il as one of the most in-
'"r'aht matters to be considered. We |
'uIS'at also the possibility of mar
NhS the highest point of canal eXCa-
'alion ON Gold hill, Immediately over |
NC proposed inscription with some
ofn of monument. This should be |
ohSldered carefully by the designer |
V the principal monument
No Further Ornameniatlons.
no report, which is based ou per
''nal inspection of the canal route by |
''hle! {. French, the sculptor, and |
'edeiick Law Olmstead, the land
,'Pe gardner. suggests that any fur
"cr ormentation of the waterway |
''"uid bc undertaken only after ser
uua consideration, bearing in mind |
"at the outstanding feature of the
'Hdi ~ utility rather than ornament.
ne canal" the report adds, like
ne pyramids or some imposing object
u natural scenery is impressive from
- stale and simplicity and direct
''SS' One feels that anything done
'e'eE Tor the purpose Of beautifying
, "ouiu not only fail to accomplish
"'' purpose, but would be- an impert-
!, "''"e' In such a work the most that
aItists could hope TO do would be
~ "iu IN selecting. as between alterna-
w i"rms Of substantially equal val.
~ " rom the engineering point of view.
'''e which are likely to prove most
,e'eeaOle and appropriate in appear
Lighthouse as Monument.
=" tae foundation difficulties are not
p 49, Scr'ous. the report suggests. II
7u' be advisable to erect a monu-
"e' "''u an the form of lighthouse spe-
60 sac OF the canal at the Atlantic
-. .''hce. The report points out that
present aids to navigation in the
-, including lighthouses, small
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