The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-23
Completion or the Jefferson MOnu-
ment-Its Cost. &c.
fBy telegraph to the Dispatch.

By Telegraph 10 Inc Dispatch
WASHINGTON, October 22.-Lieutenant-
Colonel Thomas l.. Casey, OF tue Corps OF
Engineers, United States army, who was
charged with the execution OF the Joint
resolution Of Congress providing FOR the
erection 81 a suitable monument over the
grave Of Thomas jefferson. Of Monticello,
Va, has made report TO the Secretary Of
Ststc announcing the completion OF that
work. 1t appears from the report that the
buryng-gromd At Monticello. the property
OF the heirs Of Thomas j. Randolph, de-
ceased, grandson OF Thomas jefferson. lies
entirely within the boundaries OF the estate
called Monticello, and about quarter Of a
mile from the public highway bordering
that estate, and is located upon hillside
In thick grove OF sccond-growth pines,
oaks, and other deciduous trees.
The estate Of Monticello, excepting the
family graveyard, with full accession to the
latter. i now owned by Mr.. Il. j. Levy, OF
New York city. A survey OF the burying-
ground showed il 10 be nearly square in
plan, diagonals Of the lot lying about north
and south and east and west. The surface
OF the lot is quite uneven, the northeast
corner being 1G feet inches higher than
the opposite southwest corner. The ground
was surrounded by a wooden fence, and
the old monument to Jefferson was much
worn by the weather and disfgured by
rclic-hunters. In the enclosure were a
number Of other graves Of the Randolphs,
CARROTS, Bankhcads, snd Cars, and the
underpinning Of several OF the horizontal
slabs was in a dilapidated condition.
The work Just completed consisted In
grading, seeding, and soddns Of the sur
face; repairing OF six Of the old graves
erection Of new monument over the grave
Of Jefferson, and the building OF strong
and handsome fence about the burying-
ground. The monument consisted first oi
two foundation courses. the lower twelve
feet square and the next eight feet square,
and each nine inches in height, which cover
the grave OF Jefferson and four OF his kim
drcd who are buried at his head and feet
on either side. The foundatOn-stOncs are
surmounted by die four feet square at the
base and three Feet seven inches in height,
and this by granite Obclisk three feet two
inches sQuarc at the base and twelve feet
eleven inches high. The total height OF the
monument above The ground is therefore
eighteen ioet. The inscription, composed
by jefferson and in accordance with his
directions placed on the obelisk, is as fol-
lows:
"Here was buried Thomas jefferson,
author Of the Declaration Of American In
dependence, Of the statute OF Virginia for
religious freedom, and father Of the Uni
versity Of VIRGINIA; and upon the die,
Born April 2, 1T43, o. s.. died July 4,
1926" On the upper surfaces Of the four
sides Of the lower foundation.step are in
scriptions, making the four graves above
mentioned IS surrounding that OF JelleT-
sou-viz, the graves of Martha Jefferson,
his wife; those OF Martha j. Randolph and
Maria j. Eppas, his daughters, and OF Gov
ernor Thomas VI. Randolph, his son-in-
law. The total expenditure for the work
was 1882, leaving balance of 81 Gas Of
the appropriation still uneXpended.