The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-04
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

BarthOldi's Colossal Figure Approaching
I, Completion-A Public American Sub
scription for the Construction
of It's Pedestal.
From the New York Herald.
After six years of patient and hope
full waiting there seems a fair prospect
that Bartholdi's famous statue of Lib
.erty, the gift of the French people,
will, within twenty years at furthest, be
placed at the entrance to our barber on
Bedloe's Island. 1t has been slow
work bringing about this consumma-
ton, but now everything is about ready
to carry out in all its grand details the
gigantic scheme as originally project
ed. When the intention of making
this presentation was first intimatedby
the French donors the matter met
with the fullest accord on this side.
There was just appreciation of the mu-
nifcence of the gift and the kindly
feeling toward our government as
shown by the generous members of
the republic of France. The original
design was to complete the statue and
have it in readiness for presentation 10
our government during the centennial
year, as that time was more wildly
commemorative of the old affection
between the people of France and the
people of the United States in the
early days of our great revolutionary
struggle. 1t was found, however, that
this was impossible. Considering the
colossal character of the statue and the
amount of labor required to bring it to
completion much more time was con-
sumed than was. a first anticipated.
|. One of the first steps taken toward
carrying out this great project was the
organization of what is known as the
|"Union Franco-Americaine," a COM
mittee consisting of some of the most
eminent gentlemen in France and this
country. t, whom was intrusted the
carrying out of the "DETAILS. The first
thing thought of-in France, u course
after the making of the gift had been
positively decided upon, was to raise
the requisite funds. The expense of
the statue was placed at 200, 900
francs. All France, so to speak, took
hold of the matter with great ardor.
There were fetes and festivals, and
musical concerts, and theatrical and
operate performances throughout the
country to enlarge the contributions
to the fund. The whole amount was
raised, and all that remained was for
Mr.. Bartholdi to complete the statue,
which, by the way, has since been chris
tened Liberty Enlightening the
World" When the fact of the intend
ed gift became known on this side, Mr..
John Jay, who was then president OF
the Union League club, appointed
committee to take charge of matters
here, Mr.. William M. Evarts being
chairman of this committee. Since
then there have been several vacan-
cies through death, and these have
been filled by appointments, of equally
prominent gentlemen, so that the
present committee comprises some of
the representative men of the country,
although more largely made up of the
prominent residents of this city. AS
its first step this committee laid the
matter before congress, which passed
the requisite laws providing for erect
ing the statue on Bedloe's Island
and for its future care and
maintenance. A formal reception
by the president on behalf of
our government was also secured,
and not only this, but President Grant
wrote an autograph letter of thanks for
the gift During last October there
was, as will be remembered, a grand
ceremonial in Paris connected with
riveting the first of the plates to join
the statue to the pedestal, the first blow
being struck by our present minister to
PARIS, Mr.. Levi P. Morton. The artist
then expressed his firm, belief that he
would have the statue entirely COM
pleted by July, 1883.
With this great work thus far adj
vanced toward its finish the committee
here have deemed it necessary to take
immediate steps for the construction of
the pedestal. This, as will be readily
comprehended, has to be a gigantic