The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-10-07

iI1w1STN1I its selection of the prize-winnng
WNNllllHVll design for the monumental light
II WlIILH house which is to stand facing the
IL - harbOr of the City of Santo Do
- mingo in the Republic of Santo
Domingo in the West Indies.
The prize winning design lighthouse in the
form of cross, is the work of an English archi-
tect, twenty-four-y ear-old ]. L. Greave of Not
tngham, and when the lighthouse is completed
it will be unique among memorial structures
throughout the world And certainly it will be
the kind of memorial which Columbus himself
would have most desired-this great beacon
which shall safely guide the sailors of both the
sea and the air who follow him to his last rest
ing place in Santo Domingo.
The prize design according to Frank Lloyd
Wright, the Chicago architect and member of
the international jury, not only reflects monu-
ment of distinguished and impressive simplicity,
but it presents a memorial form with purpose.
Anything in the nature of monument" said
Mr.. Wright, lis today somewhat old-fashioned
in thought. This happens to be more memo
rial than a monument in that it serves a USE
full purpose. Through it's radiated lighting the
Columbus Cross will serve as both a good air
beacon and good lighthouse. AS a navigators'
and aviatorS' beacon it has, unlike many other
monuments, some reason for existence The his
tOric spot chosen for the memorial on Santo Do
mngo harbOr, not far from the ruins of what
was once the palace of Columbus brother, Bar
tholomew, is an appropriate site for this endur-
Ing symbol of friendship between North and
South America"
From its harbor side the lighthouse will be
reached by flight of broad low steps. Accord
ing to the design the main entrance carries
into building which, as described by Mr..
Wright, becomes a series of high cool canyons,
the walls bearing sculptured motifs. Standing
in the center of the largest canyon are six small
affairs. From these affairs light is radiated up
ward through cefts Tin the mass of the struc-
ture) in the pattern of cross. 1t is this light
ing system that forms the air beacon. The re-
volvfng navigators beacon Ga horizontal beam)
will be mounted at the center and highest part
of the cross. In its memorial chapel there will
be tomb where the bones of Columbus which
some students believe to be in the Cathedral Of
Santo Domingo, will be laid.
While the harbor portal may be called the
main entrance there two others almost as
impressive. They also form part Of the setback
design of the pyramidal pattern. There is
fourth portal at the diminishing point of the
cross, affording view of Santo Domingo's avia-
ton field visitor may enter at the harbor side,
and after traversing the several canyons leave
by rear door. terrace on top of the struc-
ture also open to visitors commands a fine view
of the harbor and city. The affairs, which stand
free and clear down the center of the major
canyon, will tell through bas-reliefs the story of
Columbus and his journey of discovery to a
strange land.
That there is no idea of height in the me-
mortal structure, Mr.. Wright considers an i'm
pressive feature of the design. Here Is some
thing finer in the idea" said Mr.. Wright, "some-
thing little more natural, little more organic,
little more a part Of the historic plot it is to
commemorate. The simple thing, when you want
to mark spot is to drive in post, and in the
case of most present-day monuments and sky
scrapers the higher the post the better. This
memorial is more like making symbol Tin this
instance a CROSSE on the ground and giving it
architectural character that will endure for
turtles. 1t is earthquake-proOf. In time, the
jungle may grow over it, it may disappear from
sight, it may be rediscovered. But it will still
be a worthy symbol suitably concentrating
great discovery"
More than $4,000 has already been contrib
uted by this country for the monument, which
will cost in the neighborhod of $1,500,O00. Santo
Domingo and several South American cities have
appropriated several hundred thousand dollars
for the project which is in charge of a COM
mttee of the Pan American Union.
So after more than half century of persever-
ing effort, during which the idea of building
fitting memorial to the man who is universally
hailed the discOverer of America kept
alive by a few enthusiastic Latin-Americans,
the dream is nearer reality than ever before in
this four hundred and forteth year since Co
lumbus made his first epochal voyage.
The honor of first suggesting the erection of
great memorial lighthouse to the eternal glory
of Columbus belongs to son of Santo Do
mingo, whose people have for many generations,
despite their small numbers and limited means,
done so much to honor the name of the great
navigator. Don Antonio de Monte Tejada of
Santo Domingo the spot Columbus loved above
all other lands be discovered, wrote in 1852:
1.-THE time has arrived when the YER
dict of iposterity should be proclaimed. This
dict must be as noble generous, memorable and
eternal as his deeds. Let America proclaim it
in unison, and let her acknowledge by all means
that the honor of the discovery belongs to Co
lumbuS that to him as the initator of such
great exploits are due the many discoveries that
have been made by others to this day
and in order that this acknowledgment may be
worthy of the New World, let us erect in the
most visible and notable place in America, in
central point and where it may be visited by
travellers as they approach her shores. the statue
that his greatness and remembrance demand.