Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-12-14
WHOLE NO. no.

I
who, in compliance with the act. selected
1.-THE plan, fixed the Site and procured. es-
sfirnn,es for the structure. An approprias
Il tion, not TO exceed one hundred thousand
dollars, was made by the legislature
The plans aud estimates submitted 70 the
commissioners. did not exceed the amount
appropriated. On the 9ed February 1850
the corner stone of the moument was laid.
with the most imposing ceremonies, and
the work was progressed with the most
Ienergetically. IL was understood tha. the
work with all its statues aud equipments
would require five years for its compile
ton. When the commissioners procee-
ded to enter into written contracts for the
work, it was Immediately found that the
estimates submitted were much less than
were necessary TO complete the design Sc
lected, and accordingly on part Of the
statues and equipments Were contracted
for, the commissioners prefening to leave
TO the general assembly the option of en-
ishing the werk according TO oihe plan. and
of appropTiating the necessary funds at
their own time. They therefore conirac.
ted with Mr. Crawford for two of the sta.
tues aud for The equestrian group which
is TO surmouat the structure. and for a.
few Of the equipments necessary 10 fill up
the plan--the whole sum amounting to
| S52, ,975. leaving forty seven thousand and
twenty-five dollars of the original appro-'
priation. which it was believed would be
sufficient TO construct the granite portion Of
the monument
BY the Code OF Virginia the actof 1919
twas amended. and the commissioners, who
had been previously appoiuted. were super
seded. Atthe commencement of my of
fetal career. upon examining into the sub
iect, found that about $4,000 had been
expended in the erection OF the strutuse.
and that a considerable part of the work
was yet 10 be completed Ifeltit 70 benny
daty to recognize the board ofcommission.
crs. Since that limo, there has been er-
pended inpaying for the work previously
executed and in carrying on the structure,
ab out $50, 900, aud Mr. Crawford has re.
ceiYed in part payment Of his contract.
mich was executed in 1850. Sil ,oo0.--
AT the last session Of the general asaeml-
bly, an additional appropriation OF $780,,
o00 was made. TO meet the drafts which IL
was expected would be drawn by Mr..
! Crawford in accordance with his contract
but as yet no drafts have been made. The
actual cost OF the work at The end Of the
last fiscal year was Si05,9d "a. leaving
unexpeRded of the two appropriations,
! $24.05 70.
| It is understood that Mr.. Crawford has
now cast, ready 20 be shipped, the two
statues of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick
Henry, aud that he has completed some OF
the the other equipments ofthe monument.
The equestrian statue of Washington Is
now in course of operation and will be
completed no doubt as soon as consistent
with its execution.
The granite portion OF tho structure 10
now nearly completed !; the iron stairway
will in a short time be erected tho flag
ging and curbing will soon be laid, and
the superintendent and laborers may be
dismissed during the year. hayo been
thus explicit, thai the general assembly
may understand at a glance the position Of
this work. Ifthe work is 20 be finished
according TO It's design-and DO yirginian
would wish TO see work, undertaken for
such purpose, nfinished-it would be-
necessary that the contract for the addi-
iionsl four statues. the eagles and 9TH
er necessary equipments, should be
made, in order that the monument shall be
finished in the time originally supposed
necessary, aud that an adequate appro.
priation be made therefor.
| In connection with this subject, l can
not refrain from respectfully bu. earnestly
recommending. 70 tho legislature the pro.
priety of the purchase Of Mount Vernon by
the state of Virginia. And I do 80 at this
time the more particularly, because there
is reason TO apprchend that il is about 70
pass into the hands Of strangers. The inn
portance Of the acquisition Of this proper.
/ 0,vl l,,ya kn ITnseo4 H.
been broughc 70 the attention Of congress.
and il is surprising that this commends-
bic project has met with 80 little favor.
For this we should ever feel thankful. be-
cause, IL once the property Of the federal
able TO repurchase L. This should never
that il should be the property Of the Union
rather than belong 20 any private indiyid-
ual, yet Virginia. and she only should be
the owner, and have control OF this sacred
and consecrated spot. where rest the NOR
tai remains Of her immortal son.
Who else but Virginia should own this
hsllowed spot-so gusrd protect The grave
Of him. whose name will be reycred so long
as one shall live 70 admire Ameriern liber
lty? And should some ruthless hand ever
disturb this sepulchre oftke honored dead,
or even change the primitive simplicity
{ of his former residence. a sense Of shame
would some over every Virginia. and he
would feel Ehat that had been lost which
I could not be estimated 10 dollars and cents.
II it can be purchased, then, upon fair aud
reasonable terms, let as dot &c once. that
we may preserve it IN It's primitive simpli-
city and besuty--to be freely resorted 10
L