Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-14
ORDERLY SCULPTURE PLAN
URGED TO DIGNITY CAPITAL
Spiritual Vision of Nations, From An
cient Egypt and Greece to Modern
Times, Expressed in Monuments.
1787-FederaI Convention

s. 1787-Federal Convention.
z. 1789-Federal Government estab-
lished under the Constitution and
Washington inaugurated
8. 1803-Louisiana purchase.
9. 1807-Fulton's steamboat. CNote:
John Fitch and James Rumsey are con-
testants for the distinction of first ap-
plying steam to navigation. Their ex-
periments date back to the 1780's.)
10. 1823-Monroe Doctrine.
IL. 1826-First railroad in the United
States.
IL. 1837-Emerson's Phi Beta Kappa
Grafton on the American Scholar"
(Note: Lowell said THE Puritan revolt
had made us enthusiastically, and the
Revolution politically, independent, but
we were still socially and intellectually
moored to English thought, till Emerson
cut the cable" Holmes said This
grand grafton was our intellectual Dec
laration of independence"
10. 1844-First telegraph line.
IA. 1850-California admitted to the
Union. (Note: This event may perhaps
be taken as standing for the whole
Western movement)
Is. 1861-Lincoln inaugurated.
16. INSTRUMENTATION proclamation.
II. 1S65-Appomattox
IS. 1879-Incandescen light
10. 1898-Peace of Paris. (America
a world power.)
90 1903-Wright brothers conduct
their successful experiment at Kitty
Hawk, N. c., with motor-driven air
plane. Mote: Langley is to be recalled
for his work in the same field of ex-
Fermentation
81. 1913-Federal Reserve act.
%. 1917-United States entered the
World War.
%. 1920-Woman suffrage.
Transatlantic Steamer.
P S.-Among the omissions, "epochar
both Of them. are the first steamboat to
cross the Atlantic and the Atlantic ca
BILE. The automobile and the radio also
might have been included, and the in
ternal-combustion engine as well. Pc
troleum was thought of, and the ques-
ton arose Immediately, Then why not
coal? The cotton gin undoubtedly
played tremendous part in American
history. And Ito make a wide and
and Woodrow Wilson. In another field
the year 1898 (the year of the Chicago
exposition) has sometimes been pointed
out as marking the fact that art had
definitely come to its own in the United
States. Obviously, then, If the above list
is to be numerous, 1t would be only too
easy to pass from the epoch" to the
'non-epochal" in the countrys history.
Mr.. Burnham and his commission
placed the Columbus monument in
front of the Union Station.
This, therefore, suggests an orderly
arrangement of the monuments of the
city.
Sculpture, to have It's proper effect,
is much dependent on the treatment
of its surroundings; therefore, we should
pay great attention to this phase of the
subject and provide an architectural
setting that will bring harmony to the
composition. Let us assume, as an ex-
ample, that the new park area between
the Union Station and the Capitol is
to be devoted to monuments to the great
events between the time of Columbus
and the building of the Capitol The
treatment authorized by Congress is a
splendid preparation, but the plans do
not take advantage of all its possibili-
ties.
For Additional Dignity.
1t would add to the dignity Of the
Capitol If this area would be enclosed
by arcades and hedges connecting the
Union Station with the Senate Once
Building on the one side and the Capt.
toll on the other, similar to the APP
proach to the capitol hill in Rome or
the approach of st. Peters. This would
furnish protected walk from the
Union Station to the Capitol and 1t
would add great dignity TO the Capitol
and to the city.
My preliminary study Of this sub
ject convinces me that it is possible
and 1t seems to me necessary If the
Capital is to express the best that is
In us. It means only a modification
OF the plans already provided for by
Congress. Such secluded area would
give sense of peace and quiet In the
midst Of our rushing life and make a
fitting background for such sculpture
as might appropriately be assigned to
this space.
The location of the Grant and Meade
monuments at the foot of the Capitol
and designating that part of the Mall
as Union Square Is commendable be-
ginning of orderly Arrangement and
is an ernest for the future.
The proposed avenue of State build
ngs would give an opportunity for
placing in connection with them the
statues presented by the several States
and temporarily placed In the old Hall
of Representatives
These are merely suggestions that
naturally come to mind for a proper
grouping which seems TO me should be
planned for, just as streets, parks and
buildings have been planned for, In
order that sculpture may fulfil its pur-
pose.
To bring this down to a practical
basis would suggest that Congress
MAKE an annual appropriation of at
least 100000 to be expended by the
Park and Planning Board and the Art
Commission and so administered that
each noted sculptor may have at least
one example of his art in the decora-
ton Of the National Capital With
such an appropriation an orderly plan
Will have the right of existence.