Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-03-05


liant sunshine and the sharp wind, flut-
tering the flags that decorated the build
ings, lent animation to the scene. Both
the civic and military portions Of the
parade were very effective, and it was
pronounced one of the finest ever wit
messed in the city.
After the dismissal of the procession,
Senators, Representatives, the Diplo-
matte Corps, and the invited guests as
sembled in the Hall of Representatives,
where aprayer was made by the Rev.
S. A. Wallis of Pohick Church near Mt
Vernon, and the Hon. Robert G. Win
throp's address was read by Represent
alive Long ltclosed with the sentence:
"God be praised, that character is ours
forever
After an interval devoted to music,
the Hon. John w. Daniel, spite of the
difficulty attending the attempt to say
| aught more in praise of Washington
after all words of laudation seemed to
have been exhausted, made an eloquent
address in which he succeeded in linn
ing this noble life in new and brilliant
colors.
The proceedings closed with bene-
diction uttered by Rev. John S. Lind
say, chaplain of the House of Repre-
sentatatives, and more than century
after the date of the first conception of
a memorial to Washington, embodied
in the unanimous resolution of the Con-
tinental Congress August 9TH. 1888,
THAT an equestrian statue of Washing
ton-be erected at the place where the
residence of Congress shall be estab-
lished'' the mighty shaft was dedicated
to the great man whose memory it CON-
memorates.
The work of finally completing the
structure whose unfinished condition
had long been reproach to the nations
patriotism was resumed on the 7th of
August 1880. on which day the first
stone was laid. The capstone was
placed in position on the 9th of Decem-
Der 1884. The cost of erection up to
date has been 81, 1877, 7l0. 81 1887, 7lo. 81
having been contributed by the United
States, and about 100000 by the Mou-
ument Society. The height of the mon
ument from its foundation is sos feet
81 inches, and it is the Hottest struct-
ure ever built by human hands, unless
the Tower of Babel (reputed to have
been 55S feet hlgh) is excepted.
The public ceremonies were closed on
Saturday night by magnificent display
Of fireworks in the monument grounds
which. spite of the intense cold, was
witnessed by thousands of people,
Some of the rockets assembled 800 feet
or more above the apex of the column.
The reception given by the President
on the same evening was attended by
nearly three THOUSAND persons, and was
unusually brilliant, many of the men,
bers of the various military organiza-
tions being present in uniform, having
together with ladies visiting the city
awaited themselves of the opportunity to
see the Executive mansion by gas light
Marshal McMichael, who undertook to
present the guests by name found it
necessary to stop after the first hundred
or two and the crowd passed on through
the red parlor. where President Arthur
sometimes shook hands with two visi-
ors at once by using both his right and
and lett hand. On Monday, which,
in the eye of the law, was regarded as
Washington's birthday, the public Off
ces were all closed, but there was no
celebration in this city, the ceremonies
on Saturday being considered sufficient
| for one year.
Only one week now remains before
the close Of this session of Congress, but
| the business is so well advanced that
unless something unexpected occurs
| there will not be an extra session. 1t is
believed that the silver-suspension pro-
vision will be passed or the matter in
question withdrawn, the democrats re-
garding it rs extremely impoltic to
have their administration begin with a
quarrel between the President and the
silver wing of his party.
The proposed postal reforms-an ex-
tension of the two-cent rate to one
ounce, and reduction of the rate of
local letters to one cent have, it is
said, been decided upon by Congress.
Welcome news to all pen drivers,
The Des Moines Settlers Titles bill
has been passed by the Senate, but Mr..
Lapham's amendment, exempting from
the operation of the act such lands as
were covered by the joint resolution of
March End, 1851. and whose titles the
Supreme Court had decided that the
joint resolution had rendered valid,
was defeated by vote of 20 to IA.
The bill declares all the lands i'm
properly certified to Iowa by the De-
partment of the Interior under the act
of August 9Th, 1916, for which indemni-
ty lands were selected and received by
the state of Iowa, 10 be public lands of
the United States. 1t also confirms and
vaiidates the claims of all persons who,
with intent in good faith to obtain I'M
der the presumption or homestead laws
entered or remained upon any tract of
the land prior to January $780, not
Exceeding one hundred and sixty
acres, and provides that on due proof
thereof and payment of the usual price
or fees (where not already paid) patent
shall issue.-lt also confirms and rem
ders valid the titles of all bona-fide
claimants under color of title from the
state of Iowa and its grantees, or the
United States and its grantees, which
| do not come in conflict with persons
who, with intent in good faith to obtain
| title under the presumption or horne.
stead laws of the United States, settled
upon the lands prior to January, 1880.
i The sentence imposed upon Judge
Advocate Eanaral Cua;n, 49, L.