Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-06
TRIBUTEs NO THE GRNAT.
Plans Which Were Early Made for
Memorial Buildings in Washington.
From tho Philadelphia Tunes.

| W ASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The almost
universal verdict in favor OF the National
Capital as the most appropriate place of
/ sepulchre of the remains OF Gen. Grant is
a spontaneous popular Endorsement of a
conspicuous feature both in the inception
and the working out of the original plan
of Washington. The embodiment of the
! idea ofthe national character Of the city
was constantly before Its designer. In
submitting this approved plan to Presi-
dent Washington in 1871, or nearly CEN
fury ago, the eccentric French engineer.
LEnfant, mentioned In his explanatory
notes, among other details, shat fifteen
squares "are proposed TO be divided
among the several States of the Union for
each of them to improve" with 'statues,
columns, obelisks or any other ornaments,
to perpetuate not only the memory ofsuch
individuals whose cOunsels or military
achievements were conspicuous in giving
liberty and independence to this country,
but also those whose usefulness hath
rendered them worthy OF general imita-
! tion, to invite the youth Of succeeding
generations to tread in the paths OF those
sages or heroes whom their country has
thought proper to celebrate"
| On the present site Of the Washington
equestrian figure Of George Washington,
a monument voted in 1888 by the CONT
mental Congress-" The selection of the
spot for the purpose indicated was APP
proved by Washington.
Where now stands the bronze enamel
patton group. erected to the memory Of
Lincoln by the contributions OF the freed
men and women throughout the United
States, in Lincoln park, east of the Capt.
"A n
the erection OF an "historical column"
At the foot of Eighth street West, on the
| banks OF the POtomac. was also planned
"a naval itinerary column, proposed to be
erected to celebrate the first rise of the
navy and to stand a ready monument to
consecrate its progress and achieve
ments."
A NATIONAL MAUSoLEUM.
To still more fully carry out the idea Of
a Federal city, national in all its inspira-
ions, associations and fuliilments, the
designer set apart an entire square, which
is marked on the original and approved
drawing, still preserved in walnut case
in the office of the Engineer of Public
| Buildings and Grounds, upon which to
erect a national church or mausoleum.
n the language Of L'Enfants explapa-
| tory note, THE church is intended tor ma
tiOnal purposes, such as public prayer,
! LnAOkbklNlUEEs
| signed to the special use OF no particular
acct or domination, but equally open to
all. 1t will be likewise a proper shelter
| for such monuments as were voted by the
late Continental Congress for those heroes
! who fell in the cause Of liberty and for
! such others as may hereafter be decreed
! by the voice of a grateful nation" When
the government in 1867, was looking
| about for a site for the Patent Office build
inn hnufar nA hNr nit ,nI
upon this commanding site, which Wash
ingtOn and Jefferson had approved for the
national walhalle.
The erection of that huge pile of DOric
| architecture. the Patent Office building,
| upon the square set apart 81 wears ago for
| the emtOmbment or monumental COM
| memoratiOn OF the deeds OF the national
dstin pushed dead, frustrated the latter
| purpose, but the idea was subsequently,
! revived in lS35-48 IN the original design Of
the Washington monument which was to
! be erected on the spot laid down on the
| original plan Of Washington, 1871, for the
equestrian figure of Washington, voted
him eight years before at the close of the
war OF independence.
THE PROPOSED PANTHEON.
The original design of the Washington
monument prepared by Robert Mills, APP
! proved by the Washington Monument
society and commenced in 1S4S, cOntem-
plated an Obelisk shaft 600 feet high or 45
feet higher than the Obelisk as completed
ny the government, and pantheon. The
latter, then estimated TO cost $50 900, bur
which would probably reach $750,000, en-
| brace the idea OF grand circular colon
! naded building, % feet in diameter and
| 100 feet high, above and out of the centre
at which the Obelisk should rise 500 feet.
This vast rotunda, forming the grand base
# the monument or Obelisk, was TO be
| surrounded by columns of massive pro-
portions, II feet in diameter and 40 feet
high, elevated upon lofty base or style
bale of 20 feet elevation and 300 feet
| >quare. surmOunted by an entablature 20
feet high and crowned by a massive bal
ustraGe Is feet high. The walks IL closing
! the cellar or rOtunda gallery within were
to be fretted with 80 massive pilasters, 10
| feet wide. 10 feet high and IL feet pro-
lection. The recesses were to form arches
! tor the reception OF statues. A teirasts le
portico, four columns In front, in triple
rows, was to distinguish the entrance
and serve as pedestal for the triumphal
car and statue of Washington.
THE PLAN VERY ELABORATE.
over each column in the great frleze Of
| the entablatures around the entire build
ing were to be scuptured escutche0ns of
the States in the Union. The statues sur
/ rounding the rOtunda outside under the
colonnade were to be Of the signers Of the
Declaration OF Independence. The rO-
| tunda gallery was To be 80 feet wide,
800 feet IN circumference and 68 feet high,
with a massive pillar, the foundation OF
the Obelsk shaft 70 feet Ia diameter in the
centre and around which the gallery
would sweep. The gallery was 10 be di-
vided into spaces like pilasters, elevated
on continuous ZOcle 5 feet high, forming
an order, with its entablature, 40 feet
! high, crowned by a vaulted ceiling 20 feet.
The spaces between the pilasters we're to
be sunk into inches for statues OF the con-
| tempOraries Of w ashingtOn and tablets 10
receive the national paintings Of the
scenes OF that memorable period. Oppo-
| site the entrance was TO stand a colossal
statue Of Washington.
All the details are described with the
greatest precision, and had the plan been
| carried out the Washington national
| monument would to-day DO the finest
monumental construction on the face Of
the globe, the Tai Mabal at Agra, India,
not excepted. The Obelisk shaft OF the
! monument az It now stands Is the loftiest
work OF human skill.
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY