Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-25
THE DESIGN FoB A SOLDIERS, Mox-
CMENT.

| nes, tnat pubic alluslOn should
not De made to designs not accepted. vitbou,
consent OF the artist, We are REQUIRED 10
omit the principal part Of the report OF
"udge Whitehouse, touching the relative
merits of the different designs before the
committee, and give the following:
Ihe invitations forwarded by the chairman
VI the committee to the artists, architects
ana designers, specified the shape, dimensions
and location of the park in which the monu-
ment is to be placed, and stated that the
maximum expenditure which could be made
III the erection of it was $40, 900: that by the
terms OF the trust deed of the park to the
CITY; the monument must be ''creditable as
nork OF art, and in design be emblematic Of
iioerty; that while at that time a majority
aPpea&ed to be IN favor of a granite monu-
ment as massive and imposing as could be
secured tor the amount to be expended, some
claiming to prize the beauties of art more
than architectural pile, expressed decided
preference for bronze: and that each was re-
quested to forward design for a monument
rom % to 30 feet in height, surmoun.ed by
ngure illustrative Of liberty. patriotism. or
some sentiment in harmony with the pur-
poses OF the monument. 1t was further sug-
gested that it would not be considered de-
sirable to have for the principal figure the
conventional "soldier'' found on monuments
IN so many New England villages.
| In response to these invitations seven de-
signs were received. II
should also be mentioned that at this meet
ing april l5), the beautiful and artistic
model forwarded from Italy a wear ago, by
Mr.. Simmons of our own State, was again
before the committee. 1t will be remem-'
oered that this was a model for bronze
statue, entitled by Mr.. Simmons the Figure
OF Liberty" mounted upon a pedestal of
granite. But it was obvious that the granite
must be entirely subordinate to the bronze;
and while it was the judgment of the COM
mittee that the figure would be highly credit
| able as work of art, the monument as a
whole would not reach that elevation and as
sumo the massive proportions contemplated
| by majority of the committee. 1t would
| not, moreover, be so distinctly a soldiers
| monument could be desired, and AS its
| cost was full 10000, it did not receive the
approval of the committee.
The choice therefore finally came between
| design for a monument of combined granite
and bronze, presented by Maurice J. Powers,
proprietor of the ''Fine Art Foundry of New
York" and very attractive design for NON
ument to be constructed entirely from granite.
ing Victory and Peace the entire column being
| fifty feet in height. The shaft is #. in.
| in diameter, and the die 4 IT, Q in. square.
| The design presented by Mr.. Powers also
represents a column fifty feet in heighth in
| the aggregate. 1t is a granite structure with
artistic lines, 424 #. high, with a hexogonal
base and pedestal, presenting three broad
sides, one to each street surrounding the park
where it is to be placed 1t is surmounted BY
| a bronze figure Of Patriotism of original
design, q feet high, enwrapped with the
| American flag, held in its position with a
| sword for its defence. The shaft is 3 feet
| in. in diameter, and the die feet in. in
breadth. At the base of the column are
groups of the seals of the United States and
State of Maine, entwined with oak branches,
| and a group of flags, sails, drums, cannon,
and the arms and equipments of cavalry and
| infantry.
| Bat the purpose of this monument will more
distinctly appear and the story of patriotism
and its achievements be told, in the large
bronze reliefs on each of the three broad Pc
destals. The first panel, in high relief, will
represent, in a spirited manner. citizen
leaving his home and family to follow the
| flag with other volunteers. The second will
| illustrate the patriotism of the sailors, ship
builders. and lumbermen Of Maine; and
third will represent Liberty as benefcent
being extending protection over groups and
| symbols illustrating education, law, domestic
happiness, agriculture, manufactures and
| commerce.
| Upon tablets of bronze, under these sculp-
tured panels, would be inscribed the names
| of the fallen soldiers of Augusta. The mod
els for the sculpture would be executed by
artists of superior skill and merit, and all the
details of the work, as it progressed would be
1 subject to the approval of the committee to
be appointed by the Association. The ma
terial will be guaranteed to be of standard
brerze and the execution not inferior to any
similar work of art in the country.
| Before making a choice between these de-
signs, it was deemed essential to ask for pro-
pOsals for building the respective monuments.
The proposals of IIallowell Granite Co, for
for the granite monument was $500, and
for the granite postures of the Powers monu-
ment is 81, 900. One other proposal a little
larger than the latter. was also received for
that work The expense the bronze statue
of the three large bronze reliefs and all the
bronze work on the Powers monuWent is
a. 800. The aggregate expense of each is
therefore the same; and mathematical cal
culation made by the committee to-day shows
that the cubic measure Of each, above and
including the base of the pedestal. is sub
stantially the same. The shaft of the Pow
ers' monument is five inches larger in dame
| ter.
In view of these facts and considerations;
in view of the fact the Powers monument
would be equally as grand and imposing as that
constructed entirely from granite. and that it
would at the same time be a work of art
which would proclaim its distinctive charac-
ter as a soldiers monument. with sculpture
in bronze. in a manner that would not be
I l.. 80. hat fin ri w