Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-19
East Rock ObelisIk.

The Views of Some Prominent Citizens on
 The SubJect-Some SugGestfOns And
 Observations of Local Interest.
 In an interview with Captain Charles H.
 Townsend, that gentleman says as follows regarding the proposed soldiers and sailors
 monument: I heard with pleasure, while absent from the city, that ex-Governor En-
 glish advocates the location of an obelisk in
 East Rock Park, near the brow of East
 Rock, overlooking the city and it's harbor,
 in memory of New Raven's brave soldiers
 and sailors who fell in the different wars,
 viz. French and Indian war, war of the revo-
 Iution, war of 1872 and the war of the rebeI- lion Such monuments on conspicuous ele-
 vations are to be seen in the old world, and
 are objects of interest from afar. It would
 attract attention like, for instance, Wads-
 worth's Tower does for miles distant. The traveller also passing on the New Haven and
 Northampton railroad notices that landmark
 and interest is awakened regarding it and
 it's history; and in distant States are many
 who have seen it and jotted it down in their
 recolIections as an object of interest they saw in old Connecticut Such monument on
 East Rock would be visible for many miles seaward, and the traveller by steamer as he passes through Long Island Sound, especially when the Sound becomes the great eastern approach to New York as it will in the neal future, will in the far distance see this noble
 object that locates our beautiful city, and
 will learn that it commemorates the hero dead of our town who fought and fell for their country. It will also serve as a land mark for coast surveys, triangu.
 lations and other scientific objects It can be erected at small expense con- paratively and be financial success as well.
 It can be built of stone taken near by from
 the quarries formerly operated by the At waters or the stone taken from the building s
 there, and can be carried up to height of 300 feet or more at moderate cost. It can be made to pay for itself. A small fee can be charged for entrance to the obser vatory
 as is done with many such public landmarks, and who would be unwilling to pay trihing sum to obtain such view of the surround ing country as could be obtained from such an elevation. Enough could be soon real ized to pay the interest on the cost and event
 uelly a sinking fund could be established from the proceeds with which to wipe out
 the debt. It would attract thousands of wis., itors from abroad who could otherwise not visit the Park and make F'Rouge Mont," or ''Red Rock,' as East Rock was designated on the charts of the old Dutch navigators more than two hundred and fifty years ago, 1 more famous than ever. am informed that
 New Haven lighthouse. eighty feet high, built of cut stone, cost $1O,- GOO. Now a monument four times as | high, or say 32O feet high, could be built of
 East Rock stone, which would cost greatly l less as the material is on the spot; in fact an informant observes that an obelisk 300 feet !; h1-iIk T2<o f.1, $40, 900, the interest on which would quickly be met by the admittance fees which would ! also in time yield enough for a sinking fund that would wipe out the whole cost. And what grand feature such an obelisk would be in New Haven landscape scenery.