New-York tribune., 1884-03-24
TIE GREAT PEDESTAL.
ESTIMATED COST OF THE GRANITE.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

THE FINANCIAL CONDITION AND OUTLOOK OF TIE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The bids for stone for the pedestal of the
Rortholdl statue were opened recently, but no con-
tract has been awarded. The amount needed was
}n round numbers 5000 cubic yards, OF which
about 4o0O were for the exterior including the ln-
terror of the loggia open gallery near the top.
The dilninSons of the stone required were large,
the weight ranging from four tons to sixteen tons ana
half. Many bids came N, prlnclpaily 1oT granlei
since no other stone seemed work OF
such colossal character The BIDS ranged widely IN
price but for such granite seemed 10 the EXecu-
tive Committee and Richard NJ Hunt, the architect,
of suitable color and quality the average cost was
$50 per cubic yard. This would make tOtal OF
$3.50 900 for the granite alone supposlhS tne stone
same grade aud cost. But calculating the
cost of the exterior 1000 cubic yards at 200 per
yard ana OF hS of 600 As the Estimated
total cost of the pedestal had been $25O,OO0 the
Executive Committee were fairly staggered, and
have come TO no decision 1t is obvious that The
cost of the pedestal was much Underestlmated. .
The pecunary position Of the Executive Commit
tee is as follows: In round numbers they nave
received Si 40, 900 and have spent S1OOOO f0r the
concrete foundation and for necessary expense
They have in hand about SlO,OOO, ana are recelI-
ing from their solicitors in tins city ana from VaIl-
ous sources about 81 900 per week. lhelr money
weakness is not due to any lack of energy. W nat
ever has been raised has been raised almost
exclusively bv them directly indirectly. They or
panized more than year ago committees Tor the
leading States and cities particularly those Oh the
great West from whose libeIahty ana eager parl-
quarter have not amounted to 5000. Ihe local
committee formed of leading citizens have obvious
ly supposed their positions to be honorary for they
have done little or nothing capable agent has
gone through the Western States, carefully explain"
ing that the statue is the gift of France to the
United States and does not belong to New-foTk,
but has been placed on Bedloe's Island In the
barbOr of New-York by the Nation. But 1t seems
still to be felt by the people of other states that IT
does belong New-Iork, and that Newly or
ought to furnish the money. The statue was pald
for by the gifts of quarter OF million OF french
men and the Executive Committee have resolved
that the pedestal must be built by gifts as truly
national in character.
But $3.50 600 will not be sufficient. The con-
crete foundation is up 32 feet of the total 52
feet. and $4,000 had been disbursed. To COM
plete this part alone and TO place over 1t the systt
of concrete arches devised by General Stone Will
reouire at the least $4,000 more. The concrete
part may be finished by the middle of May. BY
that time the receipts of the committee may have
swollen to 100000 They will have to meet the
disbursements needed for the stone; and for the
laying the sum of $50 O00 which Is altogether in
adequate. The chances are therefore that there
will be long wait between the acts.
The workmen on the concrete foundation arc now
above the ramparts of old Fort Wood. The con-
crete is ak feet above the subterranean arched pas
sages. arranged in the form of a cross, that lead
from the outer passage-way TO the central well;
This goes down to the level of low water, and Will
be utilized to show the pressure of winds upon the