Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29
Titanic Memorial
Continued from Third Page

watertight compartments failed to function
efficiently.
The Titanic was S82 feet inches long and
had beam of 80 feet inches The vessel
was OF 46, 900 tons gross register dispacing from
81 900 to 60, 900 tons. She was equipped with
three screws, and the cost of the palatal craft
was placed at So, 489, 500 In addition to this
fortune that went down to the bottom of the
North Atlantic with her sinking a cargo of
great value was lost.
Almost Immediately after the sinking the
raising Of funds for the erection of a suitable
memorial started The response came in
the form Of great numbers of 81 bills from
women here and abroad. Women in various
parts OF the country sent in proposed plans,
sketches, designs and statues for the memorial
because OF the feminine touch given the project
and the fact that the Women's Titanic Me-
mortal Association was sponsoring it. 1t was
therefore, eminently fitting that woman
Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney-should have been
chosen as the sculptor of the memorial which
represents the figure Of a man with arms
outstretched.
Included in this list of heroes of the Titanic
are the names of Maj. Archie Butt close
friend OF Roosevelt and Taft; William Thomas
Stead, the London editor; Ebert Hubbard
writer; Francis d. Millet, the Union Army
drummer boy who became a noted American
artist; John Jacob Aston inventor and capitalist
and the fourth of his name in America; Ben
Jamin Guggenheim, . member of the famous
metal magnate'S family; Charles M HAYS
president OF the Canadian Grand Trunk Rail-
way; Henry B. Harris, theatrical manager:
Isidor Straus and wife, who declined q place
in q hfeboat; John B. Thayer vice president
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and JACQUES
Futreile, the author.
CONGRESS was quick to sympathize with the
program for the erection of a suitable
memorial for the Titanic in the Capital, for it
granted this authority in the District Of Co
lumba appropriation act approved March g.
1917, when the Nation was thinking of Ameri-
cas- entry into the World War. This act pro-
Vided: THAT the chief of Engineers United
States Army be, and he is hereby authorized
and directed to grant permission to the
Women's Titanic Memorial Association for the
erection on public grounds of the United States
in the City of Washington District of Columbia,
other than those of the Capitol the Library
Of Congress, Potomac Park and the White
House. of a memorial appropriate as lasting
tribute TO the heroes who sacrificed their lives
that women and children might be saved in the
tragic catastrophe of the sinking of the steam
ship Titanic"
The law likewise provided that the Site
chosen and the design of the memorial should
be approved by the Joint Library Committee of
Congress and the Commission of Fine Arts and
that the Government should be put to no
expense in the erection of the memorial A
site on the intersection of E street with New
Hampshire avenue on the Potomac River front
was selected by the Womens Titanic Memorial
Association upon the advice of its architectural
designer.
Erection of the statue. designed in marble by
Mrs Whitney, was deferred, pending the COM
pletion of the Rock Greek and Potomac Park
way and the construction of sea wall in that
vicinity, so that the foundation Of the monu-
ment might be safeguarded. Lieut.. Col U. S.
Grant, Sd, director Of Public Buildings and
Parks. has co-operated with the Women's
Titanic Memorial Association in furthering the
program.
Mrs John Hays Hammond is chairman Of the
Women'S Titanic Memorial Association and
Mrs Robert s. Chew is its secretary They are
now engaged in drawing up plans for the
unwilling ceremony and expect to have invita-
tons issued ut an early date for the dedication
IN May.