New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-01
HARHARUS MEMORIAL HALL.

HISTORY OF THE woRK-ITs OBJECT AND ITS CHAR
ACTER-FINAL REPORT or HE BUILDING COM
MIrTRR.
tFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUSE.l
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, June 29.-The compile
ton of Memorial Hall and the final report OF the Build
ing Committee, as made Wednesday to the alumni
form OF the most conspicuous facts in the material
prosperity Of Harvard College in this generation. No
college in the country can boast or nober memorial
The spirit which it ORIGIN and the manner in which
Its completion has been successfully achieved. ought
not pass suddenly from the pubic recollection. The
OF Harvard who fell IN the for the preservation
of the Union numbered by hundreds. As early as
the troubled times Of 1862 the late Walker
in a public address at Cambridge, proposed that
some fitting monument be erected to their
memory, but IL was not until May 1865,
that a meeting was called TO consider the
subject. After long and general discussion at that
meeting. committee appointed TO report
upon the various plans which had been named In
July they made elaborate report in which they said
that memorial hail. constructed in such manner as
TO indicate in its external arrangements the purpose Tor
which II is chiefly designed, in which statues, busts
portraits, medaons and mural tablets, or other appro-
pirate memorials may be placed, commemorative Of the
graduates and students Of the college who have fallen
and OF those who have served in the army and navy
during the rebellion in conjunction with those of
the past benefactor and distinguished sons OF Harvard
now in her keeping and with those OF her who shall
hereafter themselves to be worthy OF the ike honor
will be the most appropriate, enduring aud acceptable
CONTAMINATION of their heroism and self-sacrhee On
day. 1865, the report was adopted and
committee OF fifty appointed with full powers. Charles
@. Loring made chairman, and among the members
were r w. Emerson Robert c. Winthrop, Oliver Wen.
dell Holmes, Richard H. Dana jr, and Edward Everett
Hale Eleven members OF the committee have died since
they were appointed Subscriptions were started IN
January 1885, and in July S177,77O had been raised
Much trouble was experienced in securing appropr
ate site and It was not until 1867 that what Is known as
the Jarvis Field secured. 1t cost the commit
too S33,974 95, and contained 277,09i square
feet. This draft the treasury convinced
the committee that there would not be sufficient
funds hand within year or two to justify the CON-
mencement Of the building One Of the architects went
to Europe ana committee continued its work OF Sc
curing subscriptions
In May 1869, another report was made, In which the
committee declar that the original plans were wanting
in many respect. the features which monumental
structure required. and proposed many changes and
general enlargement Of the plans The cost OF the strue
ture they proposed would be not less than 100000,
while the funds hand and In prospect amounted to
only S29s,3S4. The erection Of such a build
ing they went on to say, was, however,
merely a question OF time, the money on hand
" compounded at per cent interest. would produce in
April $780, the sum Of $404 500 o. In answer to an
application the corporation OF the college agreed on
June o. 1862 to contribute toward its cost $4,000,
and u the following January with round sum OF
100000 on hand. the committee resolved to begin
work in the following Spring. Contracts were entered
into, tho foundations were begun, and on October,
O. 1870, the cornerstone appropriately laid
Distinguished men were there. among them Sumner
and Wilson, General Meade and General Burnside. The
building is In form OF the Latin cross and late in
the Autumn Of 1871 the dining-hal comprising the
longest arm was rooted in and slated The following
March the transept which forms one long and lofty
THULE, with four small towers aud one great central
tower was begun and finished before the seasons close
Land was sold during the next year, portion OF
IL being purchased by the Agassiz Museum, for
$40 go and this with other funds warranted the COM
mittee in setting aside the sum OF SoO9oo IOr he eom
pletlon of the interior.
AT commencement IN 1874 this portion OF the building
was inaugurated In the presence OF large and dstin-
cushed company and IN the Spring Of 1873 the remain
der OF the structure forming the of the cross was
begun git Of S5S9i3 25 had been received as the
beouest of Charles Sanders for theatre TO be u.s. on
commencement and other festal days, and this with
other funds was devoted purpose In June, 1876
the Sanders Theatre far completed as to be 0ccu
MED on commencement day. The time since then has
nanent and In laying out grounds The Sanders The
has its stage OF the end near the raLsep SO ta
the circular form OF the galleries OF the INTERIOR Az Tue
further end OF the long arm Is ooiser beautifully or
namened with cOloDnade It's Inner wall being used
for mural tablets The entrance TO all parts OF The stre
ure tho end Of the transep waere one the
yestDue with rich tablets incased In heavy mould
ings and high vauited and paralleed arch overhead
The whole edihce completed IS 300 feet long The
dinng-hall is lao feet long, "a wide and AZ high The
great tower Is 100 feet high and 81 by SO feet square
Tho style OF the building Is plain Gothic Oh the early
type.
Colonel Henry Lee. the treasurer OF the memorial
fund.- to whom great credit is given for the success OF
the undertaking. in his final report says That the hope
that the memorial would bo q tribute from the alumni
has not been realized The number OF givers has been
small out Of 4O40 alumni living during the progress
OF the work. 500 (only onefth have responded to
the annual appeals. Eighteen classes with members
living have made returns Colonel Lee further says
NJ the memorial: II was have been completed by
1880 il was completed and occupied commencement
day 1876 We were warned that we could not raise
75 OOO we have collected subscriptions to the amount
OF $4,000 We were warned that the building eOuid
moi be erected less than 100000 the architects
estimate was 100000; 1t has been most thoroughly
ut for OOO1O per cent less than the architects
calculated and 40 per cent less than the prophets fore
bodied"