The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-08-13
THE BARTHOLDI STATUE,
Fair Frances Great Statue-Its History
Other Statues.
THE STATUES HISTORY.

THE STATUES HISTORY.
The history of the great undertaking
which will give New York Harbor the
largest statue in the world begins near
ly ten years ago, when the first steps
were taken in the matter by a body of
distinguished Fronchmen, enthusiastic
lovers of liberty, whom it's originator
and creator then interested in his no.
BILE conception. These gentlemen form
cd themselves into a society called the
Union Franco Americaine de France,
and held banquet Nov. 6, 1875. to in
augurate the project N. Bartholdi's S
design was enthusiastically approved,
and subscription for the erection of
the statue begun. The City of Paris
subscribed $1,000, and in five years
France had subscribed, chiefly in small
sums, the $3.50. 900 necessary for this
purpose. Another banquet was thcn
held in tho French Capital, at which
an address TO the people of the United
States was adopted, recalling tho al
lance of France with this Nation in
the cause of liberty during the Revo-
lutionary War, and ombodying senti-
ments expressive of their hearty ac-
cord in the maintenance of democratic
principles of government. Work on
the colossal statue was promptly be-
gun under the superintendent of its
designer. who has witnessed its COM
pletion. The United States Minister
to France at that time, Mr.. Morton,
drove the first spike. Oct "a, 1881, rivet-
ing the first of the bolts which were to
Join the statue to tho pedestal. Only
the right arm, head, and shoulders
were at that time ready, but all the
plaster casts were completed, and
steady work was being done with the
bronze OF which the statue is made.
The hand and wrist holding the torch
had already arrived in America in time
to be exhibited at the Centennial Ex-
hibition, and were afterward tempor-
arily placed in Madison Square, New
York.
Meanwhile on this side of the Allan
tic measures of cooperation with tho
generous French nation were taken.
Jan. 2, 1877, a meeting of citizens of
New York was held for the purpose of
presenting the undertaking to the
American people, to promote the leg
islation necessary for the reception and
Inauguration of tho statue, and to ere
ate financial means for erecting a suit
able foundation and pedestal. Con-
greSs passed resolution providing for
the erection of the statue on Bedloo's 8
Island. New York Hsrbor, and for its
maintenance in good order. More
over, its formal reception by the Presi-
dent of the United States on behalf of
al
ident Grant thanked the French peo-
pie for the gift by autograph letter.
An address to the people of this coun-
try asking subscriptions was written
and circulated, but funds have come
in with provoking slowness, and the
statue has seen dark days when its fate
trembled in the balance.
ITS SITE.
Springing up from the waters OF
New York Bay, near the center Of the
harbor, and commanding an unob-
structed view out through the Narrows
to the ocean, Bedloe's Island is an es-
pecially favorable site for the erection
of beacon-light that shall at once
guide the mariner to a safe haven and
symbolize to the emigrant when he first
reaches our shores the idea of liberty
which has been SO largely instrumental
in bringing him hither. The island it
self is much larger than appears either
from the New York shore or from the
photographic pictures OF statue and is
land which have recently been scatter
ed over the country. 1t has an area
of four or five acres, and will doubtless
be delightful breathing-place for the
city resident. and Mecca TO the Won
der-hunting country visitor. when it
has received the last identifying touches
of the Pedestal Committee and return
ed to the Governments.
The foundation on which the pedes-
tai is to rest Is vast mass of gravel,
and sand, and lime, ninety-one feet
square at the base, Sixty-seven feet
square at the top. and tifty-two feet
ten inches in height. 1t rests on bed
of gravel some twenty feet below the
surface. This huge mass of what is
for all practical purposes solid block
me granite represents the actual work,
out, idle of plans and designs, which
bag thus far been done for the reccp-
ton on the statue. Upon this will be
bsiIt tire granite pedestal, III feet
high. and twenty feet square at the
ton. The facirg of the pedestal is OF
Leetes Islasad (Copn.) granite, which
is rich purpls i'll color and of great en-
huranee. The statue will be anchored
to this pedestal by heavy iron rods
passing from .eaes corner of the statue
through the pedestal to its base. The
statue itself is 15I foet high, made ol
copper and iron, and weighs nearly 2O
tons. An elevator and stairway vii
ascend from the base of the pedesta
up through the statue to the head
whence the stairs will continue through
the uplifted arm to the torch held IL
the hand. Upon the small balcony be-
meath the torch there is standing room
for fifteen persons. The height of the
entire affair is reckoned as follows
HEIGHT of base of foundation above
hic6-water mark, feet; height OF foun
dation-mass, So feet; height of pedestal
III feet; height of statue. l5l feet.
TOTAL 329 FEET.
This raises the torch several fee
ao,oye the pinnacle of Trinity churcf
suire. the ioftiest editice in the cit,
nrpper. and makes it nearly rs high a
th. water-tower on the bluff near Hlgl
Bridge, which is the highest poin
above the sea-level in the city. An in
comparabIy beautiful view will be hat
OF the harbor, the city, and the sur
rounding country from the apex OF tn
statue
Aside from its value as an earnest
French good will. as an artistic trl
umph, and as an observatory, tn
/ statue will be useful as a lighthouse
A a..f.,l olnntrin Enht will illumin