Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-31
Ritbmona enquirer,
BY RrrcHIH, DUNNAvANT, TYLER WISE.
FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 81
GOV. WISE AND THE MONROE MONUMENT.

we cllp the loilowlilS from tlc local roiUhiH
Of the Wing" of YESTERDAY:
Why WAS IT Some of The mechanic .: this iii,
are complaining "f Gcv. Wi,r ,,- contracting with i
PhilIclphin ila for the ca>iing an', -r""li oi al
iron enclosure 10 the to,nb Monroe. III lioll.
Cemetery. They contend tia. :he work could have
been executed well here in arv ".hrr "i! IL th
Union. The Governor. who In, always lrotr>s-,l t
lie te friend nj Virginia mechanics. .iiI "'nc.d III.
interest III The rrn"ticitrI the "i'.Nr" nurs'itS
the old Dominion. ml!-j have had ooilc good and
,I;c-ni reaso. ior >"udi. beyond tie border, oi
the Cnrum,onwc.th for an iron casting. The public.
aud especially the nrclanc- "h" have spoken /" H.
on :c ,un;ct' would k. - knor 's!a. .'a: Tear"h
WIS.
The reason" is easily gwen. The appro-
priation placed at the Governors disposal. to
I've expended on a monument to James Monroe,
was 50 small rs 10 require Very careful hus.
bandiny->o small. indeed. that stone monu-
nent, constructed for the price. would have
presented an appearance entirely incoinncnsu'
rate with the dignity Of Stat" tribute TO the
memory Of her grest citizen.
Governor Wise consulted Will, Mr.. a. Ly-
brock, RieAmond arrh;tcc', and employed
him to prepare suitable plan for miniature
Gothic temple. 10 BE- constructed Of cast iron.
Mr.. I.ybrock accomplished his work like true
artist-prepared drawings oi plan so graceful
and imposing as To Surpass the Governors
highest expectations Indeed, our city may
be well satisfied with having originated this
novel and beautiful monument. The artistic
triumph far exceeds in value the mere profit to
br derived from the mechanical work.
Governor Wise wa, still de>irous that the
entire work should he done by Virginians--
and. Ia this end. further employed Mr.. l.vbrock
IN procure the estimates Of different iron.
masters aS Ia the cost Of construction. Had
the difference in estimates received been o:
trivial amount tn. Governor might even have
l;sregar,led such difference in order 10 en-
courage Virginia artisans. But the estimates
stood as follows:
The Philadelphia contractor undertook 70
construct the monument for ......Sl,I I"O
Richmond contractor ........... 100
New York contractor ........... 5000
Another New York contractor. &c. 1000
Baltimore contractor. ........... 1910
We publish these estimates with srati!ica
ton since tue exhibit show, well for our Rich
mond iron works Indeed We are informed
that the entire difference between the Richmond
and Philadelphia estimates, is attributable to
the fact that the Richmond manufactory Is moi
at this time supplied, like that Of Philadelphia,
with the peculiar n,ouldS and other appliances
required Tar th;s "rr'ic"i'r ao't '"r"a'"eSta'
castinq.
The "Whig" will agree with us, however,
that Governor Wise would have been in n,
manner justified in an unnecessary expenditure
of one thousand dollars Of the public money.
merely for the purpose Of giving the preference
to our own workmen. The Governor WOULD
surely have been gratiticd to afford an addition
| al example Of his warm interest i'll the pro
motion of the industrial pursuits Of the old
Dominion" could he have done SO consistently
with strict sense "i public duty and official
integrity.