Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-10-29
M KIVLEY MEMORIAL
!. ARCHITECT TO PLAN
THE ROOSEVELT PARK
State Headquarters Learns Of
Step Taken at Oyster Bay
Encouraging Reports Con-
tinue to Come In.

L.
Frank II. Gooding, chairman of the
Roosevelt memorial campaign in this
state, is In receipt of information from
the national association that Electus
u. LitchfielG the we'll known architect,
who designed the monument TO Presi-
dent Mckinley at Columbus o., and
who has executed other important
commissions, has been, engaged to
carry out plans for a Roosevelt me-
mortal park at Oyster Bay. Mr.. Itch
field lives at oyster Bay and was a
neighbor of the late Theodore Roose-
Seit.
WANTS CHAIRMAN ACTIVE.
While satisfactory reports are being
received from many OF the counties
and not a few of them have raised
their quotas, Chairman Gooding urges
all county chairman to remain in ac-
live charge until they have the amount
of money assigned to them to collect.
1t is likely that q personal solicitation
campaign will be started during the
closing days in order to assure Idaho
its $4,000
GREEK AMPHiTHEATRE.
a dignifled, open air theatre, built
along the lines of a Greek amphithe-
atre, which would be used as an inter-
national forum for the discussion of
grave problems affecting the future of
America. and which would, in vital
and useful way carry out the ideals
end teachings of Theodore Roosevelt
has been suggested by Mr.. LNchfeld.
1t is proposed to call this theatre the
Roosevelt Forum.
AT the head of the auditorium"
says Mr. Litchfield, there would be
rostrun backed by a simple dienifed
structure. having its west front built
somewhat in the form of a Greek the
atre and providing stage upon which
may be seated the performers at open
air concerts, Within its walls, | had
hoped there might be "A reception
room, together with small hall. some
what in the nature of a supreme court
room in the capitol at Washington,
where would be gathered, from time
to time once every two or three wears.
or two or three times a year. as in the
opinion of the trustees of the Roose
Welt Forum, the occasion may require,
a few of the great men of the coun
try, who shall there discuss before
the whole nation, the grave questions
affecting the future of America"
HAVE GREAT INFLUENCE.
Mr.. Litchfield believes that such A
forum will have a far-reaching iuflu-
ence upon national thought and that
1t will be n vital way of carrying out
the spirit of Roosevelt's 100 per cent
Amerlcanism.
The park will embrace about 40
acres and titles to the property have
already been examined and surveys
made. When completed, this park will
have an athletic field. tennis courts,
bathing beach and pavilion. the the
atre, a great flagpole $50 feet high, and
beautiful promenade arched by elm
trees, in the center of which will be a
lagoon.
The idea of William Loeb, Jr.. chair
man of the Roosevelt Memorial com
1nittpp "A Raw. and M her MON
bers of the committee. is to have a
park that Will provide in the best and |
most healthfui way. amusement facil !
tiles for the country at large; park
that will have an individuality and at |
mosphere suggestive Of the life and !
spirit of Roosevelt. The Colonel was
q practical man who combined artis- |
tic ideas with common sense execu- |
ticn, and the Roosevelt Memorial as !
sociation does not want a park that /
would not have met with the approval |
of the colonel thimself As a matter |
of fact, Colonel Roosevelt himself very
much desired such a park at oyster |
Bay and publicly expressed his view
on the subject.
GENERAL APPEARANCE.
Mr.. Litchfied describes the parks !
general appearance as follows:
"On the axis of the main approach |
standing out in firm silhouette against |
the background of the Bay and the dis
tant hills of Center Island should he |
a great flagpole with a monumental !
base which will he forever reminiscent
Of the colonefs intense love for the
American flag. At the end of the la
COON there should be a fountain and |
beyond il. a long approach from the
west between thiCkly planted native I
American shrubs and low growing .
trees; laurel, wild honey suckle. dog /
wood, beech and ash forming dense
RI, al fx1 In,
walks. the reflection of the sky in the
lagoon and the bright deep blue Of the /