Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-01-22
PROBLEMS IN ART
ARISE At PANAMA
How to Beautify the Naturally
Beautiful Canal Puzzles
the Experts.

Washington, Jan. 1S--With the dig
ging nearly done ana the Notifications
well under way, the decoration of the
Panama canal is subject of renewed
attention. aroused particularly by the
suggestion from France that the early
work of Ferdinand De Lesseps, the
French engineer be commcmorated by
statue to him at some conspicuous
point on the canal This is but one
of many ideas. however, and tho whole
question of establishment of the wat
er-way is still open.
Artists generally agree with engi-
necrs that the canal is a monument
to itself. but at the same time there
has been no lack Of suggestion for
bcautifving the waterway. one
proposition is for colossal pillars at
the outcrmost points of the Atlantic
and Pacific entrances surmountcd by
statues of heroic proportions of Co
/ lumbus, Balboa, and others whose
names have been indelibly connected
with the discovery of America and the
development of the canal Another
' proposal has been 70" stauo to Sen
ator John Morgan of Alabama. one Of
| the pioneers in this country for 18TH
milan canal construction. De Lcsseps.
| by the way, has not altogether been
( forgotten, for the house which he once
occupied at Cristobal is still preserved.
In front of it stands small monu-
ment to Christopher Columbus.
FOR HUGE INSCRIPTIONS.
a..
arts. made up of many Of the leading
sculptors and architects of the COun-
try has already studied the problem
of identifying the canal. but its report
which is awaiting action by Congress
has only one specific proposal for a
commemorative monument This is
presented as follows:
The commission of fine arts believes
that u memorial record of the build
ing of the canal should be made in
the form of an impressive inscription
upon a great monument surface at
some point Of prominence. and care
full examination Of the whole length OF
the cana led to the choice of the east
wall at the point Of deepest cut. 429
feet at the continental divide While
the size and design of this monument
should he the result of careful study
We are inclined to believe that II
should be approximately 100 feet in
height AMI somewhat moro in width.
that it should be severely simple in
design; that the lettering should be
done in Roman N-shapod letters and
that the material should be concrete
applied as a massive facing to the ir-
regularly fractured trap rock of the
cliff We strongly recommend this
and rccarl il as one Of the most i'm
portant matters to be considered. We
suggest also the possibility OF mark
ing the highest point of canal excava-
ton on Gold Hin Immediately over the
. proposed Inscription with some form
of monument. This should be consid-
'reu caIeIully oF the designer oil the
''''''i'1 'Io'
> UTILITY FIRST
This report. which IS based on personal
myr,ctIon of the canal route Inv Daniel
G. French. tho SCULPTOR. ana l1redericl,
Law Oln1stoad. fine Iandscan, Gardener
suggests that any further ornamental
,fon Of the waterway should bo rrder-
; taken only after ssri,,,e consideration
hearing in mind that tho outstondinc
feature. of tb, canal is utili,v r,,l,er ,hor
} adornren.
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