New Britain herald., 1924-04-17
Cost Estimated At From sleS,OoO to s25o, 900 By Designer, Who Ex- plains Project to Com- mon Council.
City May Be Asked to Issue Bonds for Part of Expense; Rest to Be Raised by Public Sub scriptiOn.

Details of permanent memorial to New Britain's war victims were ex- plained to members of the common council last night at an official in- spection of miniatures and pictures of the design adopted by the committee. It is proposed to construct the memo rlal at the crest of the hill which forms the eastern section of Walnut Hill park.
 The cost Of the monument If con structed Of granite, would be 250,00O, and if built Of Indiana limestone s16S,a0o. H. Van Buren Magonigle of l0i Park avenue, New York city, who was the designer Of numerous monu.
 nents and war memorials through out the United states, including the Si,5OO,000 memorial now in course of construction at Kansas City, Mo, drew plans for the proposed monument tere and was present last night to ey- plain its detail.
 As yet there has been no financing plan evolved. Ii is likely that the city win be asked to bond itself 10 pay for the major portion Of the work while popular subscription will be relied upon for the rest.
 The outstanding feature of the monument will be shaft 90 feet from Inc ground and Si feet from the cir ,ular platform which is at its base,
 Describing his plan last night, MT. AIagonigle said:
 hlt may be of service 10 record here some of the considerations which have guided or governed me in the design have made for New Bntain's me- mortal to those who made tho sv- rreme sacrifice in the world war.
 "lou will recall that I made a re- port to you on possible sites for the memorial some time ago and recm- ntcnded the top of the hill where the old reservoir was. now a wading pool for the children. It has all the ad- vantages Of central location. easy &C., cess, visibility for miles around, and, m the pool and the surrounding paths and hedges, an established foreground and setting of beauty and human in- terest, with possibilities of develop mcnt into a factor of future useful ness in the life of the city. one of tho reasons for erecting a memorial 10 brave men or great events is to re- mind succeeding generations of what those brave men did or what these events have signifiod to mankind; and to inspire our future citizens to emu late the courage, sacrifice, loyalty aud patriotism they represent.
 "It is my belief that . memorial placed here where the children of New Britain may play about its base will have the influence upon them not less profound because it will be large- ly unconscious. It is in the sensitive and impressionable years of childhood manent impressions.
 '1 propose to place the memorial al the northerly end Of the pool, slightly retire from the area used by the children in their play. and preceded by a circular platform raised by a few broad steps above the area, to give it a measure of retirement without im- pairing it's close relation to the pool.
 Great Eagle on Shaft Top
 "The most salient feature Of the memorial is a tall shaft, surInounted by a great eagle and draped in the flag with it's forty eight stars. This will be landmark for all the country around New Britain and be visible from the streets 0 fthe city.
 "To perpetuate the general idea Of memorials, now temporarily installed with the archway at the entrance to this park. there are pro- .ided, on the exterior face of the wall surrounding the circular platform above referred to. a chain of 120 in- dividual bronze tablets with the name and record Of each man inscribed thereon in gold letters; and beneath each tablet a bronze hook on which 10 hang the wreaths or other floral offerings that will be placed there. These arc shown in the general view and in the drawing al full size.
 Upon the faces of the two piers aanking the steps up to the platform would be carved the device of the American Legion and the seal Of the ity of New Britain. The inscription 1n the northerly side Of the pedestal gf the shaft would be in bronze let- .ers in harmony with the bronze work Of the tablets. The inscription ,n the southerly side would be carved m the stone.
 Around the circular platform is a 1 continuous seat and from here can 1 Je obtained an even finer view Of the l ,eautiful hills and valleys that girdle l he site than now may be had.
 No work of this kind is com i 1lete without the softening and sym lathetic accompaniment of living | md growing things. and. therefore, have indicated the character and ind Of planting consider appro- 'rfate and in scale with the whole composition.
 "As part Of the whole compost ion of which the pool. the memo iaI proper and the present southerly pproach and flag staff are units. I nggest two shelters on the easterIy
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