Evening star., 1923-04-08
NEW LAMP-POST
| DESIGN CRITICIZED
Gen. Johnston, Former Com.
{ missioner, Believes MiIIet
Type More Artistic.

Disapproval of the proposed re
placing OF street lamp-posts with
the new type of ornamental bronze
post designed by Kathryn Harris.
daughter of Municipal Architect Al
bert L. Harris. which probably will
be passed upon by the Commission
Of Fine Arts next month, was voiced
Yesterday by Gen. John A. Johnston.
District Commissioner from 1910 to
1913.
Despite the claim that the Harris
post is artistically beautiful, and
will enhance greatly the appearance
of the thoroughfares on which it
would be placed. Gen. Johnston con-
tends that the so-called Millet posts,
which are now on some of the main
streets of the city, cannot be i'm
proved upon from an artistic stand
point. The Millet posts. some of
which are on Massachusetts, and
Maryland avenues, Gen. Johnston
said. ''are the most beautiful I have
ever seen" IF the authorities In
tend to stick to the spindle shart
with the globe on top, it should be
the Millet. OF course. some moditica-
tions could be made by placing differ
ent globes on the posts, but the beauti-
full design of the base and shaft should
be retained'
Gen. Johnston said the Millet posts
are now being used by several
municipalities where they are known
as the Washington post Inc
name Millet was given Ethesa lamp
posts in honor Of the late Francis
u. Millet. an artist of national fame
who lost his life in the Titanic
disaster. Mr.. MHlet was at one time
a member of the Commission or Fine
Arts, and also was in charge or the
American College of Art in Rome.
MiIlet's Last Work.
Gen. Johnston pointed out that Mr.:
Mnlet was devoted to the city of
washington. and the Improvement
of its artistic beauty, and was pc
loved by all. His last work in the
District was devoted to the beautl-
flea tion OF its lamp-posts
The history of the Miilet lamp post
dates back to August. 1910. when an
improved electric lighting system was
installed on 10th street. shortly
thereafter james Rush Marshall sus-
gested for future installations the
adoption of more dignified and
graceful design of poSt-one that
would be in keeping with the artistic
development of the city and in har-
mony with the prevailing archi-
tectural style in government build
irgs. Mr. Marshall indicated roughly
the shape and proportions OF the post
he had in mind, which Information
was given to Richard l.. Watmough.
architect. Of New York city. then con-
nected with the office OF the super
viSing architect Of the Treasury De-
partment. whose services were
cured by the District for the purpose
of perfectinS this design.
After several conferences with
ha, Ill 1+rin
gineer of the District. Mr.. Watmough
submitted a sketch, which Mr.. Mar
shall verbally approved as embody-
ing his ideas. Mr.. Watmough then
prepared full-size drawings which
We're given to Ernest Bairstow. sculp-
tor. from which to make a plaster
model. In March. 1911. this full
size clay model was finished. but be-
fore being cast in plaster it was
viewed JIM the sculptoFs studio by
Engineer-Commissioner William V.
Judson: Maj Z. NJ Markham assist
ant to the Engineer Commissioner:
Mr.. Millet, who was then a member
of the Commission OF Fine Arts;
James Rush Marshall; Albert L. Har-
ris who was associated with Mr..
Bairstow, Mr.. Watmough and Mr..
Allen.
Improved by MiIIet.
every point of view, and several
alterations in the ornamentation and
few other minor changes were
made. such as the distance from the
lamp to the street sign frame and
the method of fastening Il to the
shaft. Mr.. Millet was not satisfied.
however, with the outline of the base
of the post, and. taking the modeler's
tools in his own hands, shaped it to
the curvature he considered best.
Those present agreed that the change
he made considerably improved It's
outlines.
The model was then cast In plaster
and sent to the foundry. After the
first of these posts had been erected
In the street, Mr.. Millet was not sat
1sfied with the lines of the base; the
patterns were therefore changed in
conformity with his Ideas. and all sub
seQuent posts were so cast.
In 1912 when the question of the
proper kind OF lighting for Pennsyl-
vania avenue was under considera-
ton, Mr.. Marshall was engaged by the
District to design the post. Because
OF the great width of the avenue
lamps of higher candlepower and
posts of greater dimensions than those
for other streets were found neces-
safy. In designing a post to con-
form to these requirements Mr.. Mar
shall retained the base of the post as
modelled by Mr.. Millet, in all its pro-
portions and with its original orna-
mentation. simply enlarging it about
one-quarter; but the slender, tapering
shaft used in the original post, en-
larged proportionately. was not large
enough at the top to contain the
mechanism of the arc lamps and so 1t
was necessary to redesign this men,
ber.
In only one material feature does
the Pennsylvania avenue post differ
from the design with which Mr.. Mil
let was connected. This Is the shaft,
which does not have the slender ta-
pering shape Of the latter. The bases
OF the two are identical in their pro-
portions and ornamentions; the shaft
in each is fiuted and each has a cap
ttal ornamented with a conventional
leaf design.