Evening star., 1915-09-12
THE NEW @ STREET BRIDGE.
Are the Bronze Bison Placed in
Wrong Positions
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 the El1ltor OF The Star:
Now that the bison have been placed
in position on the new @ street bridge
they may be the object of criticism
and comment, not that they lack in
artistic effect. or that they do not re-
semble the original denizen of the
plains, but the position they now oc-
cupy, facing each other, rather suggests
that they are preparing for butting
contest which usually results in a
broken neck. 1t may be that when
they were so placed there was in view
the vista from converging streets. 1t
has been claimed by some biologists
that the head of the animal is carried
too high and that it is abnormal; new
ertheless they were modelled from ma
ture by the sculptor, Phimister Proc
tor, and quite different from the buffalo
on the five-cent piece. He has done
himself great credit in producing these
buffalo bulls in bronze. thus perpetual
ing that animal, which is now about
eXtinct-that is, in a wild state-the
largest and rarest of American quad
ruped. There are still a few to be
seen in the geological parks; perhaps
the largest herd is that in Corbin Park,
the head of this collection being the
large bull Observation-Disclosures" 1t is
said that there is standing offer for
the head of this animal of $1,000 on his
decease. Col Richard Irving Dodge, in
his book. states that during 1S72-3-4
at least 100000 buffalo were slaush-
tered for their hides.
The bridge is a grand example oil ar
chitectural and engineering SIKH. ht
has sweeping curve across the raVlne
of Rock creek, being supported by fve
Roman arches. and the decorative fea-
lures are quite American. In the corbal
table there are placed a NUMBER OF IN
dian heads. some of these being model
ed from the life mask now IN me
Smithsonian Institution of Kicking
Bear, Minniconjou medicine man, lead
er of the ghost dancers. They are
carved in stone, and are great improve
ment on the effigies placed on the new
issue Of the five and ten dollar gold pieces
This work was designed by Mr.. Glenn
Brown and Bedford Brown, well known
arcitects of this city, and they should
be congratulated on the successful con-
summation of their undertaking. 1t will
be noticed that over each pier between
the spandrels there is. a ventilating panel
Of pierced stone containing the initials
I'D. c."
II is very gratifying to see that there
has been added 90 the adornment and
decorative features of our city such an
imposing and altogether original struc-
ture 1t is understood that the bridge is
not to be used for tramway purposes.
The bridge is carried over five arches
spanning Rock creek: the whole structure
is composed CT reinforced concrete, with
the exception of the balustrade and orna-
mentation which are composed of stone.
and in color and tone contrast very
favorably with the other materials. 1t
has been suggested that the buffalo on the
ends of the bridge might have been made
more effective had they been placed
parallel to one another, or in a right or
left oblique position. This would be in
conformity with the usual position OF
similar figures on many bridges. On the
whole we now have something which
adds greatly to the facility of reaching
West Washington, and the location is
most appropriate, being just beyond the
plaza FRANKLIN STEELE.