Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-28
OUR SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
The ASSOCIATE N Votes toAccept the Struc
ture as it Stands
And to Approve the Contra ctors' Bills
The Monument to be Turned over to the
City
WITH APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES

| oaturday eVenlng,with President Nash in the
chair.
Judge w. p. Whitehouse, from the Com
mittee of the Soldiers Monument Associa.
ton, reported that they had approved the
granite work, and had paid the Hallow ell
Granite Company 81, $50. their bill in full.
Mayor Fickery has signed warran, on the
city treasury for $1,000, and had added to
this further personal gift of $3.50. At a
meeting OF the Association on February 2lst,
1880, a committee of ten was chosen to select
design, and contract for the mechanical con-
struction of the monument. After CORES
pondence with various parties, they finally
accepted the plans of Maurice J. Power OF
New York, and contracted with him to fur
nIsh the bronze portion Of the monument for
si,5oO. In April, 1881, at the urgent request
of Mr.. Power, the committee on the inscrip-
tons, Messrs. Common, Myrick and Smith,
having performed the duty assigned to them.
forwarded the inscription to New York July
I'd, 1881, Mr.. Power being in Augusta. both
contracts were formally executed. These con-
tracts were presented to the Association at a
meeting held July 9TH, when the following
| action was taken:
poted, That the cont acts with Mr.. Power OF New
| York and the Hallowell Granite COMPANY entered
into BY the committee in behalf of the sociation be
| and they hereby ae ratified.
Previous to this meeting, however, the As
s0ciation had voted to have the ''fact appear
in the inscription that the monument was
/ nra TOD b. ,l,A g
committee who executed the contract with
| Nr. Power July I'd, had no knowledge what
ever of this action Of the Association until
July eth. when a written notice was received
from the secretary; and no notice was given
in the call for the meeting of July lst, that
any question was to be made with reference
| to the inscription.
| Dissatisfaction has been expressed with the
plate containing the soldiers names and the
trophy. Judge Whitehouse here read letter
from the designer these points. He had
omitted the names of the regiments, because
if these were inserted it would be necessary
to diminish the size of the letters to such an
extent that the names would hardly be legible.
|
taste of the artist, who designed the emblem
Mr.. Power put the figure ''l'' on the cavalry
hat because it was the first figure, and not for
the purpose of clarifying any particular reg
iment of cavalry. 1t will cost % cents to
have a mechanic take a chsel and chip off
the offending figure, if any soldier requests
that it be done.
Charles H. Stone-''I am a soldier, and
would like to have that Il cut off" Laugh
ter.
Continuing his remarks, the Judge made
strong case for the committee, and sat
down amidst applause.
| Captain II. F. Blanchard stated that he had
signed the protest, and that he did not think
the committee had done right to disregard
the inscription which the Association had
ordered to be put upon the monument. The
| contract with Power specified the names of
the soldiers and their regiment should be
put on the tablet Mr. Power admits in a
letter to Judge Whitehouse that he has not
come up to the stipulation in this material
DO int. 1t is now for tho Association to say
whether it will accept the work, or whether
the changes shall be made.
Joseph A. Holman explained why the de-
signer put on the rank instead of the regiment
of each soldier.
President " sh-The list of names was
prepared about year ago, and sent to Mr..
Power; and the Association passed vote
that the Christian and surname and regi-
ment of each soldier should be inscribed on
the tablet.
r. b. Copsn.-It appears to me that in
this matter of names the contractor has de-
waited from his instructions at his own re-
sponsibilty.
committee accepted the work of Mr.. Power
Judge Whitehouse.-It has been accepted
bv the committee but Mr.. Power has not
vet been notified of the fact.
s. w. Lane said that ip literary point of
view it would be impossible to improve upon
the inscription; but the monument was
erected bv the citizens and not by the city OF
Augusta.
VIM. r. Smith made spirited speech. ad-
vocating the acceptance of the monument
and the adjournment of the meeting. He was
opposed by c. b. Morton, who thought that
Mr.. Power should suffer the consequences OF
his deviating from the plain text of his in
structions.
The Association voted upon the question:
shall the nscr iption plate it now stands on the
monument, be accePtefF
This was decided in the affirmative.
Rev DIR. Quinby counseled harmony, and
thought that the inscription was beautiful in
sentiment and correctly worded. and that the
verdict ten wears hence would unanimously
sustain the committee.
On motion of Mr.. Lane it was voted thai
the trophy and other plates be accepted.
The report of the committee was next ac'
cepted, and the treasurer authorized to ORA"
his warrant for the amount due Mr.. Power
Mr.. Holman moved that the President o
the Association take such means to transfer
the monument into the custody Of the city
1