The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-24

GENERAL SHERMAN, who went to New York
last Monday evening with Miss Sherman, made a
formal official visit the next morning to Major General
Hancock at Governors Island. The party was re-
cciyed at the wharf by General Hancock and members
OF his stan and escorted to his residence while the
usual salute OF seventeen guns was fred. At the
residence formal reception heidi and all the oili-
GERS at the post presented to their military chief
After the reception the party, accompanied by Gene
raj Hancock and number OF other distinguished
officers, took steamer and proceeded TO Fort Wood,
on BedlOe Island, where 1t Tansplred that this visit,
like most of the Generals trips the country had
special and o1cia object 1t seems that the American
committee having In charge the proposed erection Of
the great BarthOldi statue OF Liberty Lighting the
World have submitted proposition TO the War de-
partment, which resulted In the visit. The original
idea Of the sculptor, Barthod WAS erect the statue
ON grand pedestal on Bedoe's Island, looking ont
through the NarrOws TO sea, as If lighting with It's
flaming torch the fleets OF the world to safe anchorage
at Its feet. The committee proposed that the Govern
ment perpit Fort Wood, Fashioned stone fortihca-
ion, to be entirely filled to the parapets with solid
masonry and on this place the statue. General Sher-
man. ON visiting the spot and examining the surround
ings, dissented 10 the proposition, but expressed
willingness to that the southern bastlon may
be allied up asproposed and used base This bastion
Is very strong the walls very thick, the founda
lon very deep and rm and the front is very Impos-
Ing as viewed from the entrance TO the bay. we'll
known Army officer, In conversation this subject,
told a New York reporter the following:
The Army officers generally do not think that the
hng up OF the southern bastion Of the fort on
liedloe'S Island viii weaken the defenses of New
York harbor. With the long range guns now In
use Bedloe's Island is about useless AS Fort VIII
liam Il In military sense. General Grant pointed
out sOnie years ago that the only defense for New
YORK was torpedo line. Since that time It is be-
lleyed that tOrpedOes would have to be supplemented
by land batteries in order 10 protect the wires from
An enemy. sec no reason whatever why BcdlOo' s
Island should not be given up TO the statue. The
foundations OF the walls are Deep and those the
southern bastion would make good 'hOlding
ground, ~ to adopt nautical phrase, for the pro.
posed foundation Of the statue II would be useless
to nl up the whole fort with masonry, and IN his
suggestion think Gen. Sherman has shown the
committee how they can save great deal OF
money.
The total amount yet subscribed for the base and
PEDESTAL which by the terms Of the gift must be
provided for In the United States, Is under sGj OOO
the metropolitan milllonalres Offering the to them
plcayune sums OF $3.50 to 81, 900 each.
Deep regret must be felt that this nobly conceived
statue far larger and grander than the famous
Colossus at Rhodes, should meet with such scant
welcome In the greatest and richest American city,
The wild struggle for wealth has evidently nearly
oblterated both civic virtue and civic pride In New