The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-06
FoIey,s statue or jackson.

REPORT OF. THE GOVERNOR CONCERNING THE
! EXPENDITURES OF THE MONEY VOTED FOR
THE ERECTION AND INAUGURATIoS OF THE
STATUE. fs
In response to q resolution OF the House
the Governor yesterday transmitted to that
body "the particulars Of the reception and
erection of the statue OF Thomas j. Jackson,
by Foley, and an itemized account OF the
expenses incurred by the Board Of Commits
sioners charged with the performance OF
that duty" 'sIt is due to the comnls-
sioners to state that they designed reporting
the facts now called for, as was intimated in
q former message; but their remoteness OF
residence from each other, and the conse-
quent Inconvenience and expense OF such o
Joint task, naturally and excusably delayed
it's execution"
"The accompanying temized account OF
all the expenses OF the State in connection
with the statue shows total expenditure
OF $7,933.62; Of which the sum OF 81, ,425.09
was paid for the pedestal, its foundation
and circular tagging, the iron-work, gut
ters, approaches and other surrounding inn
provements, and for placing the statue in
position. OF the residue OF the disburse-
ments, the sum Of $241.2S was expended
for printing, telegraphing to London and
elsewhere, and for the construction and
establishment Of the stand on which the
ceremonies OF Inauguration were held;
while the balance OF S267.25 covers the en-
! tire costs to which the treasury was sub
iected on account of the guests Of the Com
monwealth, the public procession, the cele-
bration, and all the other incidents OF the
Inauguration. The only item of expense
which exceeded the expectations OF the
Or
accessory work."
The Governor, after stating the character
of the granite-work, says: "Of course the
commissioners could have procured a
cheaper pedestal than the one which now
adorns the public grounds. Perishabe ma
terial and unskilled labor could have been
employed for the purpose. But the Gene
raj Assembly had expressly provided for a
pedestal 'worthy Of the work. it was des-
tined to support. Virginia was enshrining
an example of immortal heroism and true
glory for the emulation Of the ages to come.
In receiving the majestic and imperishable
statue as priceless gift and tribute from
the Old World to the New, in aspiring to
transmit it to remote posterity, it was sup
posed its resting-pIace ought to be no less
than perfect in durability and artistic taste.
1t is hardly to be presumed that we would
have its material less durable than the Com
monwealth, or its pattern q perpetual
stigma upon the taste OF the period we re-
present.
"That nearly all the disbursements OF the
commissioners went to the structure for re-
ceiving the statue, and that no more than
a trifing sum was applied by them to the
inaugural ceremonies is due to the fact that
most of the expenses Of the latter class
were met by General Heth, by means of the
voluntary contributions of skill, labor, and
money, for which Richmond deserves CRATE
full recognition and remembrance"
The expenses of inaugurating the Wash
nton statue "Were more than nine times
as great" as these, the Governor states.
"The Board of Commissioners expended
nothing upon the guests Of the Common
wealth except in providing quarters for
General Johnston, and in defraying the
travelling expenses and carriage-hire OF the
family of Jackson and their escort. The
Governor esteemed it his distinguished
privilege to permit the use Of nc resources
but his own in the entertainment and well
come of these honored guests at the EXecu-
tive mansion. More than one person is
known to have made greater contribution
than the State to the expenses incident to
the inaugural celebration"
The Governor recommends that the COM
missioners be paid their actual expenses,
and promises fuller statement, including
the addresses, &C., ii wished.
The itemized accounts alluded to accom-
pany the message. There were paid to
Major Snowden Andrews, the granite con-
tractor, 80 for material and work on pedestal
and tagging, $4,000" I" for material, work,
tagging, and hauling for erection OF statue,
80 957 80 -