New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-22

by Whitelaw Reid, William ". Niles
and otacr intimate friends and ac-
qusintancer Of III: Greeley 20 secure
public subscriptions with which TO
erect suitable memorial 70 the
founder Of The Tribune. The solicit
ing Of subscriptions was IA the hands
q committee OF siXty-Eve prominen;
Americans selected from all parts o.
the country. Contributions came from
many places and persons and from all
classes Ct citizens o. the community.
Many - these wete from newspaper
men. Among the large Subscriptions were
those OF Mr.. Bennett, o. The Neo
York Herald" and Mr.. Ch,.ds, o. "lhc
Philadelphia Ledger John 9. >.
Ward. the distinguished ccllp;or, vas
selected 20 prepare designs for 2
statue. but thn panic of 1878, w.:h Is
resulting effects, delayed for years the
contamination III the plan.
Ordered Removed.
The statue was finally completed by
Mr.. Ward under the guarantee b. Nil
Reid chat he and The Tribune Assoc.a-
ton would see that the necessary funds
we're supplied in addition 20 those a.
ready contributed. nc resul' was ne
production b. ~. vard o. a;a.ue
which is general. .csard,J ~ aT'Is'a
a. one or the fines. "o-.s - as char
acter in the Gig ,i Nov Eo.E, a. wel!
as ifeliae figure o. Nh Greeley
The surviving moEbc~s o. the org
inal committee reyc divided IN opin-
ION as 70 whether the statue should be
laced I'm City Hell Park. but It's pres
ont site in front Of the Tribune Builc-
irr was finally selected. with the ap-
uroval Of The Tribune Association ana
the Commission ers Of PARKS. as beng
the most appropriate public place be-
cause il was Immediately at tn" scene
o. Ny. Gree'cy's journalistic laoors.
The order for the removal Of OBJ
structiors in front OF IRE buildings IN
Nassau street was issued while NJ
McAncny was President OF the Bor-
ough OF Manhattan. In the case OF the
old sun Building ana IN the case OF inc
Tribune Building Jhis order was ;em-
,orerily suspended by both President
NcArcny and By Prcs:dcn- Marks be
corse in the former instance. a ne"
building was soon 20 be erected % take
tho place Of the old Sun Building &nd
nv The latter case no satisfactory
-bcrec in the front OF the DuilG eng
could be made in the removal OF oo-
s.ruc;ions until now site could DC
found and designated for he greeley
.tatuc. which with its pedestaI pro
ieoted considerably in front Of inc
Tribune Building
Battery Park Site.
These problems have. now pee,
solved. The action Of the munl.,pa'
a',.bori4ios in tic selection Of the Bat
,e,r p,rk site FOR the Greeley statue
yin hermit tho orders Of the President
Of the Borough Of Manhattan to he car
riod ont in aspect 20 the tribune
Ruil6;nq and the new structure that Is
nov. being erected in the place OF the
old Sun building. There was cordlai
co0peration on the part OF sucn ON
ciale in the disposition Of the matter.
park Commissioner Ward and Landscape
Architect Plat were strongly OF the
oninion that no statues in the future
abould be erected in City Hall Psrk'
..nIoes possibly Of individuals who.
as municipal officers, had rendered
distinguished services for the city.
these views were cOncurred ia by Com
-nissioners Herman a. Mcneil. Jonn A.
Mitchell and William A. Boring. VINO
We selected by President Detorest
of tho Municipal Art Commission as
subcommittee Of its members 10 con
cider the matter. They. however, all
agreed with Commissioner Ward and
Mr. PLAT that the Ward statue OF llor-
acc Greeley was 81 superior work OF art
and that a place in Battery Park, rear
tho Ericsson statue. was fitting site
Tor il. Upon a report from them &c
this effect the Art Commission ap-
proved "the acceptance Of che Greeley
monument now in front of the Tribune
Building and its proposed location u"
Battery Park
IN considering the subject - was the
General view that II the statue was
ROT to be erected in City Hall Park It
ought 10 be in some public park IN the
lower part Of the old City Of New
York, with whose growth. history and
DEVELOPMENT Horace Greeley was close.
~ associated Upon the site elected
the statue will stand under the sEad"
81 great elm tree. facing westward,
looking over the finest part Of BATTERY
Park and OUT upon the Hudson River.
The Ericsson statue is upon the oppo-
site side Of the same oval plaza in the
mark. The removal of the statue will
soon be made upon tho perfecting o.
the plans now being arranged. The
action Of the municipal authorities
above mentioned removes any question
that might have existed respecting the
Greeley statue being a public statue,
formally accepted as sUcn by the City
Cr New York. It was uneques;lonably
the intention and purpose Of those who
made the contributions for the erection
. Oh hr a