Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-26
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.
How the Great Work Destined for
NeW Work HarbOr Ngns Wade.

New York Harb0r was Made.
Charles Barnard has contributed 70 the
81. Nicholas graphic account Of Barthol-
dis great statue of liberty, from which
we make the following extract; In the
first place there had 70 be sketch or
model. This was a figure OF the statue
in clay, to give an idea of how it would
look. The public approved of this mod
ell, and then the first real study Of the
work was NADIA plaster statue, just
one-sixteenth the size of the intended
statue.
The next step was to make another
model just four times as large, or one
fourth the size of the real statue. This
quarter size model being finished, then
come the task of making the full-size
model in plaster But this had to be
made in sections. For instance, the first
section would include the base on which
the figure stood. the feet. and the hem OF
the garment The next section would in
clude circle quite round the flowing
dress, just above the hem The third
section would stand above this and show
more of the folds of the dress, and reach
part way up to the knee. In like man
ner, the whole figure would be divided
into sections.
The quarter-size model was first diyid
ed in this way, and then to lay out the
full-siZe plan it was only necessary to
make plan of each section four times
as large as the section actually was in
the model. Every part of the model was
covered with marks or dots for guides,
and by measuring from dot to dot, IN
creasing the measurement four times, and
then transferring it to the larger model,
an exact copy just four times as large
was made. For each of these large sec
tions, however, there had to be a sup
port of some kind, before the plaster
could be laid on Having marked on
the floor an outline plan of the enlarged
section, wooden framework was built
up inside the plan. Then upon this
framework plaster was roughly spread.
1t soon resembled, in a rude way, the
corresponding section of the quarter
size model, but was four times as large.
Then the workmen copied in this pile of
plaster every feature of the model sec
ton, measuring and measuring, again
and again, from dot to dot, correcting
by means of plumb lines, and patiently
trying and retrying till an exact copy
only in proportions four times as large
was attained.
The great irregularity of the drapery
made it necessary to put three hundred
marks on each section beside twelve
hundred smaller guide marks, in order
to insure an exact correspondence in
proportion between the enlarged sections
of the full-size model and the sections of
the quarter-size model. Each of these
marks, moreover, had to be measured
three times on both models, and after
that came all the measurements, to
prove that not single mistake had been
made.
When these sections in plaster had
been completed, then came the work of
making wooden molds that should be
exact copies both in size and modelling
of the plaster These were all carefully
made by hand. 1t was long, tedious
and difficult. Each piece was mold of
part of the statue, exactly fitting every
projection, depression and curve of that
portion of the figure or drapery. Into
these wooden molds sheets of metal were
laid, and pressed or beaten down till
they fitted the irregular surfaces Of the
molds, All the repousse, or hammered
work, was done from the back, or inside
of the sheet. If the mold is an exact
copy Of part of the statue, it is easy to
see that the sheets of metal. when made
to fit it, will, when taken out and turned
over, be a copy of that part of the statue.
These sheets were of copper, and each
was from one to three yards square. Each
formed part of the bronze statue, and of
course no two were alike.
In this complicated manner, by making
first sketch, then quarter-size model,
than full-size model in sections, then
hundreds of wooden copies, and lastly
by beating into shape three hundred
sheets of copper, the enormous statue was
finished. These three hundred bent and
hammered plates, weighing in all eighty
eight tons, form the outside of the statue.
They are very thin, and while they fit
each other perfectly, it is quite plain
that if they were put together in their
proper order they would never stand
alone. These hammered sheets make
the outside of the statue; but there must
be also skeleton, bony structure in
side, to hold it together. This is of iron
beams, firmly riveted together, and
making a support to which the copper
shell can be fastened.