The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-19
CHATTANOOGA LEADS
IN nAR MEMORIALS
IIiat City Has Issued Bonds
to Amount of 100000
For One.

me distinction Of being the first
municipality to actually authorize
bonds 70 erect memorial to the SOL
dlerS and sailors who served In tho
Bar against Germany is claimed by
Chattanooga, Tenn. That city is Is
suing bonds TO the total OF 100000
to cover the cost Of memorial audi.
tofium.
The movement in Chattanooga,
which has progressed so far as the
Ino1eyFatstng stage, Is in line with the
tendency that the memorial Of utili'
tartan nature Is In greater favor than
the purely monumental structure.
Ard yet, like most rules, this one
has It's exceptions. A sister city OF
Chattanooga, Knoxville, expects to
eFect either monument or tn
ulnDhal arch. At any rate they know
what they want in Knoxville and are
aiming to raise $4,000 to cover the
cost OF the memorial before the home,
coming Of the One Hundred and Sew
enteenth Infantry, formerly the old
Third Tennessee regiment Of the Ma.
tional Guard.
The memorial will be erected on a
triangular lot in the center of the city
aud thereby hangs a tale. The mem
orial movement in Knoxville was
started by a prominent citizen who as.
sumed the responsibility OF naming
committee Of Is. This committee de-
cided that a memorial shaft should
be erected in Circle Park, an exclu-
siVe residential part of the community.
There was aroused Immediately an &C
tive opposition to this plan. One of
the leading papers took up the issue,
Denounced the committee as auto.
cratic and declared that it had ignoF-
ed the wishes of the people whe8 it de,
cided to put the memorial in 0Irich
part Of the city.
The upshot Of the discussion was
that Mayor Mcmillan, in response to
numerous petitions, called mass
meeting, at which Judge Lindsay was
appointed chairman OF city.wide
committee. Peace, since then, has set.
tied upon the community.
The state Of Tennessee will also pro.
vide a suitable memorial to its heroes
a committee appointed by the legisla
ture has considered several plans
which 1t proposes TO submit to the PEG.
PIE, through the press. Among the
proiects suggested are a memorial
building, either on the Capitol grounds
or Capitol boulevard to house histori-
cal data and exhibits and accommo.
date certain Of the state departments;
the construction OF great memorial
highway from one end OF the state 70
the other; the erection OF an immense
triumphal arch of Tennessee marble,
OF marble shaft; or, finally, to con-
vert the Parthenon, which was con.
stT1cted In Centennial Park during
tho Centennial Exposition, into war
memorial at an expense Of $4,000
II Is Interesting to note that the Tea.
nessee men. OF the One Hundred and
Seventeenth Infantry have themselves
raised a fund Of $4,000 to contribute 10.
ward the erection Of memorial to
their comrades who have fallen on
the field Of battle.
Evansville, Ind, has several mem.
offal projects under way, or contem,
plated. A grand Homecoming celebra.
ton In which all service men OF that
community will participate, will be
held as soon as the last unit Of Evans.
vile en- returns. At the time Of this
celebration 1t is expected that tri.
unphal arch, permanent memorial
TO the veterans will be ready. This
arch will stand across the city's prin.
cipal thoroughfare, near the river.
Theecost has not been definitely ascer.
tanned but it is expected to exceed
$4,000.
Funds are being raised in an odd
manner. Every home and business
house displaying service flag is be-
Inc. asked to donate 81 for each star
ii the flag. AS there are about 4,Oee
men in the service from that locality.
and as each is represented from four
to- SIX times on flags at home, at place
81 business, at church, lodge club or
other organization, the total is ex.
pected to be sufficient to meet all
needs.
Another plan which is meeting with
favor in Evansville is the converting
% the Coliseum, erected as memorial