| Show pe r maia or M gwit u a it i n the ua 1 M emora OF a 0 st r fa 91 I 1 r 11 adzi 1 J neriman N 7 T Z R vp V tt KI 4 R V f i 7 by ELMO SCOTT WATSON TIL a few notable exceptions amer lea has usually waited malted anywhere from two decades to a whole century before paying honor to some of her presidents with memorials in keeping with tile the dignity and importance of tile the office which they held and with their contribution to the history of our nation so it Is all the more remarkable as well as all the greater a tribute to theodore roosevelt that within ten years after his death not just one but several important memorial projects are either completed or are well under way n ay A short time ago james it R garfield son of president james A garfield and president of the roosevelt memorial association announced that Ana lostan island in the potomac river a tract of 80 acres in tile heart of the national capital had bad been purchased by the association BS as the site for a national memorial to roosevelt and it will be presented to the nation to be used as a public park and to be incorporated into the park system now being developed along alon the potomac by the national capital park and planning planning commission bridges will connect the island with the mainland on the north at roslyn resign and on the south near the virginia end of the new washington memorial bridge ultimately tile the association intends to erect on the island on an appropriate monumental structure which will be designed by john russell pope architect of the association and built under the supervision of the national pine fine arts commission and the national capital park and planning commission such a memorial set in so largo large an area isolated by the river from the life of 0 the city yet easily accessible will be unique Ana lostan island lies iles due west of the white house between the francis scott key bridge and the new washington memorial bridge within the territorial limits of tile the district of columbia bia in its location its physical conformation and its heavy growth of timber it Is the most picturesque area in the district which has remained undeveloped tile the land rises slowly on the northern end and sharply on the southern some reet feet to a comprising approximately 20 acres with a clear view toward arlington the lincoln memorial and the tha lower reaches of the potomac toward the north the tha key bridge with the towers of georgetown university beyond provides an interesting and pleasing feature toward tile the west are the slopes elopes 0 of f arlington toward the east a tongue of w wooded land beyond a small bay now BOW filled in cuts oft off completely the industrial plants which line the waterfront water of georgetown the tha island gives an impression of wild country peculiarly appropriate as a setting botting for a memorial to roosevelt the roosevelt memorial association was founded immediately after Roosevel ts death in january 1019 and raised a fund of by popular subscription nod in 1020 1920 secured a charter from congress its dims alms are first to erect a suitable monumental memorial to theodore roosevelt in washington second to establish and maintain a memorial park la in oyster day bay N Y and third to perpetuate colonel Roosevel ts memory by spreading the knowledge of his character and career the purchase of Ana lostan island Is the first stop step in accomplishing the first aim in fulfillment of the second aim 85 35 acres of land were purchased in the town of oyster coy boy and a memorial park has been completed at a cost of it was formally dedicated on may 30 and Is now in use ule tho she sum of has been set aside for perpetual maintenance tho the further sum of lias las been set aside for the perpetual care of Roosevel ts grave in youngs memorial Me cemetery la in oyster bay i 1 theodore theodora roosevelt author naturalist explorer soldier and president of the united states 2 Ana lostan island in washington D C proposed site of a national roosevelt memorial it la Is in the potomac river between the francis scott key memorial bridge and the washington memorial bridge in the upper left corner of the picture may be seen the washington monument and in the center at the top the lincoln memorial 3 A lookout point on an Ana lostan island with a view across little run to the tha virginia shore 4 the roosevelt memorial obelisk in marlas maria pass on an the continental divide in montana 5 6 the new york roosevelt memorial a part of the american museum of natural history in new york city under the third aim the association has established certain institutions and carried forward certain activities na as follows 1 co operated cooperated with the womans comans roosevelt memorial association in the completion of roosevelt house the rest restored gred birthplace of theodore k roosevelt noo sevelt at 28 east twentieth street N X Y and in its maintenance as a national shrine and point of inspiration for public spirited citizenship and sound bound nationalism 2 gathered one of the most noteworthy collections in the united states of memorabilia centering about a single individual and established at roosevelt house a permanent museum for its exhibition the tha items chronologically arranged cover Roosevel ts entire career S established also at roosevelt house a roosevelt Roo library ot of research and it a bureau of at information for students writers and others desiring information on his bis career the library contains approximately looks books and pamphlets including ell all the books and articles written by roosevelt Koo sevelt most of the material written about him and an extensive collection of books relating to the period 1881 of his public life it contains furthermore 2500 cartoons pictures and countless clippings as well a as extensive newspaper files every effort has been made to obtain material that Is critical of roosevelt and ills his policies or adverse to them atheni as well na as material in their favor 4 A roosevelt motion picture library has been established the first biographical motion picture library in the world negative and positive films film relating to Roosevel ts career and photographed on four continents have been collected and assembled la in ten productions 0 5 the collected works of theodore roosevelt have been prepared tor for publication in a limited edition and an inexpensive popular edition and published through regular commercial channels 0 6 numerous special publications have been issued including a collection of Roosevel ts wartime editorials an account of his life na as a ranchman in an north dakota and a book of selections from his writings tor for use in schools 7 for seven years an employee of the association has been engaged in sorting arranging and calendaring calendar lug g the roosevelt correspondence in the library of congress for the benefit of future historians 3 established E shed roosevelt awards for distinguished public service la in fields associated especially with Roosevel ts career these fields are Admi of public office development of public and international law promotion of industrial peace conservation of natural resources promotion of social justice the study of natural history promotion of outdoor life promotion of the national defense the field of american literature the field of international affairs the expression pres slon of the pioneer virtues virtue 4 the leadership of youth and the development of american character another striking memorial to this many sided strenuous american came into being when the theodore theodora roosevelt memorial obelisk author iced by congress to honor the president who wha made forest conservation a national policy was waa dedicated at summit mont list last fall summit the apex of marlas marias pass on the continental dinice of the rocky mountains la Is 12 miles west of glacier park station and 16 1 miles from great falls and the obelisk stands on a line which separates the lewis and clark national forest from the flathead Flath pad national forest this memorial Is a stone shaft CO 60 feet high standing on a 23 foot base and bearing two bronze tablets the tablet facing the east has this inscription LEWIS WIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST memorial to theodore roosevelt this memorial was authorized by a tin bill introduced in the congress of the united states of america by representative scott leavitt leavatt february 15 1020 1029 and approved by president hoover on june 2 1030 1930 1 the inscription on the tablet facing the west reads FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST memorial to theodore roosevelt in commemoration of hla his leadership in the conservation of the forests of the united states the forest problem la Is in many ways the most vital international problem of the united states theodore roosevelt the memorial stands on oa the theodore roosevelt re oe international highway extending miles ml les from portland maine to portland Port lani ore the formal opening to motor travel of marlas marias pass the last link in the roosevelt highway took place in the summer of 1930 with a celebration during which miss corrine alsop a grandniece of roosevelt officiated at the laying of the cornerstone of the obelisk which was dedicated last tall fall last tall fall also saw the laying ot of the cornerstone of the new york theodore roosevelt memorial which Is being erected by that state ns it a part of the american museum of natural history in new york city to symbolize the scientific educational outdoor and exploration aspects of theodore Roosevel ts life according to thi the plans of the architect jolin john russell pope designer of the memorial to tobe ba erected on Ana lostan island in washington the facade of the new york city roosevelt memorial will bo be patterned after the triumphal arches of ancient rome the entrance arch will rise GO 00 feet above a base reached by spreading stairs and Is to be flanked by huge columns of granite on the solid parapet which to Is to surmount it will be cut the following inscription STATE OF NEW YORK MEMORIAL TO THEODORE ROOSEVELT A great leader of the youth of america in energy and fortitude in the faith of our fathers in defense defence of the rights of the people in the love and conservation of nature and of the best in life and in man the man himself will be visualized in the heroic equestrian statue to stand on a granite pedestal thirty feet in front of the archway it Is to come from the studio of the famous sculptor tames james B E fraser tho the fIgu figure reIs Is to be in the hunting garb of the west and mounted on a horse of the type roosevelt usually rode especially when he was on his hl north dakota ranch on either side of the horse and on foot will be the figure of a gun bearer one a native african the other a north american indian ind tan these figures typify his deep interest in two aboriginal peoples members of which accompanied ac him so often in his hunting both in the new world and the old men who in character su suggested the th ideals of roosevelt and whom lie he greatly admired are represented in statues of heroic size which are to cap the four classic columns of the tha facade they are daniel boone john james audubon george rogers dark clark and meriwether Merl wether lewis in niches on either side of the entrance arch will be the sculptured figures of two typical specimens or american big game the buffalo and the bear the bear was chosen to typify courage and strength the besen romance bardl hood and endurance outstanding characteristics of roosevelt 9 Q by vve tarn newspaper union |
