Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-03
The Roosevelt Memorial.

Ten years ago this week the Roose-
welt Memorial Association was formed
to perpetuate, in some tangible form,
the name Of a great American. APPROX
mately one million Americans contrib
uted to a fund Of more than one mil
lion seven hundred thousand dollars
An announcement from the association,
In connection with its tenth anniver-
sary, states that the fund has been
noticeably increased by the accumula-
ton OF interest. A park at Oyster Bay
has been dedicated, and is practically
completed, at cost of about eight hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars; nine
hundred-and-ninety-nine-yea lease has
been acquired on the western half of
the restored birthplace in New York
City and museum and research library
established there; Roosevelt distin-
guished service medals have been estab-
lished and are being awarded annually:
library of moving picture films has
been collected, showing various phases
Of the former Presidents career, and
numerous Roosevelt writings have been
assembled in volumes for popular use.
But the greatest of the projects is
yet to be completed. The first aim of
the Roosevelt Memorial Association
was to erect in Washington a suitable
and adequate monumental memorial.
A fund Of about a million dollars was
appropriated by the association for this
purpose. Congress authorized a site,
and plans were drawn for great memo
rial near the Tidal Basin, which con-
templated q complete Encouragement OF
the basin and the erection of an impos-
ing structure. These plans have been
awaiting congressional approval for
about two years, and meantime there
seems to have developed q sentiment
against this form of memorial In the
minds Of members Of Congress, the park
oficials, and even, 1t is understood, some
of the officers Of the association.
Whether the project on the Tidal Basin
viii ever be realized is matter Of con-
lecture, with the odds against 1t.
As the result Of suggestions from the
Washington Board Of Trade there is
now being considered plan to change
the form Of the Roosevelt Memorial and
to make Of 1t q great outdoor forum for
the accommodation of large public
gatherings, the display of pageantry
and the holding Of public ceremonies.
A site has been suggested for this
memorial near East Capitol and Nine
teenth streets, the memorial to lie on
what is now undeveloped park land be-
tween Nineteenth street and the pro-
posed Lake Kingman. Those in favor
of this site point to its location at the
eastern extremity Of the axis, which
cuts through The Capitol and the Mon
ument and ends with the Lincoln
Memorial. II would also be designed
as a monument entrance to WASH
ington for the traffic that now enters
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Fifteenth and H streets northeast.
Within the next few years 1t would
come to be the main gateway, for road
traffic, to the Capital.
In ten years the Roosevelt Memorial
Association has recorded great progress.
The temporary delay in deciding upon a
fitting form Of memorial here in Wash
ington should be counted as fortunate.
1t would be source of unending regret
If q memorial was built that was not
generally approved. And SUFFICIENT in
terval has passed since Mr.. Roosevelt's
death now to permit of an examination,
not be swayed by sentiment, Of all sue-
gested plans. Whatever form Of memo
rial is finally adopted, it must stand as
fitting testimonial to a great man,
enhancing the beauty Of city that
knew him at his best.