The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-21
COST OF THE
The Committee Overcome Many Diff.
entities Before the Obelisk Reaches
its Final Resting Place,

In August, 1871, the Association thought
they had COLLECTED sufficient money TO justify
Thorn In purchasing Il sight o which to erect
the monument, nnd they bought the lot OIL
Taylor's Hill over-iooiing Sidney Park and
The valley Of the tOngarcp. For this they
paid the city Of Columbia 5000 cash.
4 contract was made with Muldoon, Wal
ton & Co., Of Louisville, Ky, TO have the
! monument made and erected. All the mem.
hers OF this firm and oil the architects and
workInen employed on the monument be
longcd to the Southern army. Tho granite
for the foundation was given to the Associn
tlon by Judge John S. Green from his quarry
on the COngarcc near Columbia.
THE FIRST LOCATION.
After work had been commenced on Tay
lnr's Hill it WAS found that there was IL sub.
stratum Of quickSind below the soil OF tho
hill which rendered 1t unfit for the purpose
the weight OF the monument being too great
to be supported OH q small area OF unsound
land. Completely discouraged, the Board o.
Directors were now at Il ~Stnndstill, because
they had not only spent this large sum OF
money uselcssly, but they could not find an
other situntLon IN Columbia which would
Of both the State and city governments they
could not of course ask them for a place t.
put monument to the Confederate dead.
II SECOND LOCATION.
While they were in this condition OF
trouble, DR.. J. W. Parker. President of the
Board OF Directors OF Elmwood Cemetery,
kindly camr forward and offered them the
crest 0l the hill which crowns the entrance
to the cemetery. Moving the foundation and
laying 1t on this latter spot cost the sum OF
S5S5.
The marble portion of the monument was
made ~ ~tnrlara. Italy. md II was brought Ia
Columbia in september, 1915. BY the terms
Of the contract, McSsrS. Muld0on. Walton &
Co. were to he paid 5000 when the base was
put up. and the whole price, Slo.OO0, was to be
paid wlen the monument reached Columbia,
But the Association not having raised thai
sum, they merely received the boxes, insured
the monument for its full value, and had IT
carefully stored away without opening IL
even for inspection till they could honestly
claim 1t free from debt, though the contract.
inal price and offered to put up the mOnu.
mrnt and walt til the Association could
raise the money. The monument was stored
In the promises Of Mr.. HOWE, to whom they
IT'S THIRD AND, IT IS SUPPOSED, IT'S LAST
RESTING PLACE
When the change from Radical to
Democratic rule occurred In the State gov.
eminent. the Association began to hope that
they might erect the monument in tho State
House grounds, and at the session OF tho Leg
islaturc for lS17-7S, they sentn petition to thai
body asking permission TO do so. This was
not only unanimously and cordially granted,
but they passed an act directing The Score
tary of State to advance In every way the in
forests of the Association. \. large number
OF tho members moreover contribute 4 one
days pay to MD them. In lS7S the LegiSla.
turc passed an act apprOpriating $3.50 to help
pay for the removal OF the monument to the
State House grounds. Again many Of the
members contributed one days pay. since
that time the work has gone on rapidly and
unintcrruptcdly until now this beautiful
memorial stands complete and cOnSccrated
to Its holy purpose. 1t Is u source of great
qualification that there has never been Il
drop OF Intoxicating liquorlto aid In paying
for IL, nor has there ever bccn q rattle for that
PURPOSE by the sanction of the Board Of Di.
rcctors. No means has ever been used to
raise money for 1t that the mos %scrupulous
church man or religious person could object
to. The lndics will shortly publish q correct
statement showing from whom tho money
was received and how every cent was OK.
pended. The following summary shows the
gross amount received:
Collected from all sources, .:.............. 81 ,502 81
Interest on ISL 50
Appropriated by the Legislature" $50 %
Total Sll,13i Al
While the monument remained here before
erection, the Association paid interest on
their debt to the contractors, forwarding to
them such sums as they received from time
to time, and these were deducted from the
principal and accruing interest.