The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-05
Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.


stantly given him the idea that they considered
Bartholdi inefficient and his provisions for stay
ing the statue inadequate There was question
as to the support of the right arm, which upholds
the bronze torch and is outside the line Of the
base. General Stone said he would arrange all
that but when asked how he would do So he is
reported to have declined making a statement.
This in itself is curious circumstance. Why
should ne refuse to make known plan already
matured! Surely, there is no patent on such a
process The work is entirely public and open
one. Wherein hes the occasion for mystery? To
PROFOUND difficulties or to agree that they ex-
isted and then to withhold the solution, was
absurd, and savors of charlatanism.
Unfortunately, the controversy that has arisen
on this subject takes the direction Of some sup
posed dscourtesy to the French. There may be
persons who are glad to have it take that direc
ton, and who would like to have it settled on
such an issue. But that is merely a blind. There
is no discourtesy whatever intended by i'm
partial critics. Facts only are under discussion,
and it is we'll that we should find out what the
facts are and what they mean
At this point am compelled to touch matter
statue. I mean the foundation and construction
of the pedestal on which the statue is to stand.
This has not been investigated, yet it is literally
at the base of the whole business. At the very
beginning of the enterprise bid was made to
construct the entire pedestal of solid granite,
from the underground foundation to the very top,
for the sum of $I995S7. Bear these
figures in mind The committee rejected
this bid and went to work in its
own way. By May L. 1854, it had spent
$4,000 and the pedestal was no more than
fairly under way. Then Mr.. McGaw, engineer
of the Girard avenue bridge at Philadelphia,
offered to complete the structure according to
the plans Of Mr.. Richard Hunt, the architect.
for 1872, 900. This bid also was rejected, and
the committee continued to work in its own
way On the 10th OF June Just passed, Mr..
Evarts announced that the committee had re-
ceived $24l 900 for the pedestal. Now let US do
a little sum in addition: May l, 1884, the com
mittee had spent $4,000 At that time MIR.
McGaw was ready to complete the work for
1892 900 more; expended by the committee to
May, 1884, $l10OOO amount required for com
pletion by Mr.. McGaws bid 1872, 900. Total,
$242 000
Yet it appears that on June 10, 1885, $241. 600
had been received and that something like $780,
600 more will still be required to finish the
pedestal. In other words, if Mr. McGaw's bid
had been accepted only 81, 900 would now be
needed to cover the whole expense; while, as
matters stand, over 500, 900 will be needed.
On the face of it, this would Indicate that the
management has at least not been economical
In the first place, the committee could have had
the pedestal built and ready for the statue by
next autumn, at a cost of less than $500, 900, if
they had accepted the first bid. In the next
place they could, after spending $40, 600, have
had it built by accepting the second bid, at
total cost of $242 00O In either the original
design would have been carried out But, in
stead Of improving either of these opportunities,
they have gone on collecting and spending
money to the amount required, and have involved
themselves in still further expense, at the same
time that they have decided to reduce the height
of the pedestal by twenty nine feet. When we
inspect details we shall get some adequate notion
as to how it happened that the committee were
led into such egregious and bungling eXtrava-
gance. Thus after declining to have solid
stone foundation built at reasonable price, they
decided to adopt concrete because that would be
cheaper. The concrete, according to the esti-
mate Of the contractors, should have cost 500 900.
In fact, it has cost nearly 500, 600.
The reasons for this enormous increase in the
outlay were several. Day labor was used, and it
was continued all through the winter, season
in which experienced engineers familiar with
the conditions of our climate, would not think of
proceeding with such task. Again, frequent
changes were made in the composition of the
concrete and what is most extraordinary is that
the weakest layer placed at the bottom.
This was done by order of the chief engineer,
in defiance of the specifications to which the
tractors who were laying the concrete had
agreed. Another item was the vast amount of
''superintendence' ostenslbly required. Four
teen persons were employed to assist at inspect
ing an excavation which was only ninety
feet square. In seven months from the COM
mencement of construction October l. 1888 to
May |. 18S4-the expense for engineering superin-
tendence alone was $40 600. Judged by the usual
rules in work of this kind, it ought not to have
been more than 3d. 500. During that time the
chief engineer himself received So, 500, although
Mr.. Richard Hunt had proposed to direct all the
operations including engeering expenses, up to
the completion of the pedestal. for $40 900. Alto
gether a reasonable estimate shows that out of
the $4,000 expended by May /, 1884, $67, 900
went into actual construction, while $40, 900 was
spent for superintendent or was frittered away.
The frequent experimental changes adopted by
Gen. Stone caused great delay. Throughout
this delay and the periods when the cold made it
impossible to mix concrete the pay Of The large
corps of ornamental assistants and of gang of
unemployed laborers was continued. A still
more serious Indictment against the committee
and their engineer lies upon the charge that in
the simple preliminary Of finding out what sort
Of natural support the pedestal was to rest upon
gross carelessness was shown. In the entire
excavation of nnetyone square feet only two
drills were made to ascertain the nature
of the substratum One struck gneiss rock
and one quartz bowlder, at depth of
twenty-six feet Five wells were dug,
only twelve feet deep, with spades in other parts
of the area and without further examination
the laying of concrete began. Thus it is abso-
lutely uncertain to this day what sort of foun-
daton the island affords for the %. 000-ton struc
ture which is to stand upon it. What do you
think of this a great piece Of engineering?
Mr.. Evarts declares that it became necessary to
dig deeper. which alone involved an extra out
lay of 500, 900. | have received an assurance
frpy ne fbah ack of how
such act Of digging deeper. unless digging into
the pockets of subscribers be meant Mr..
Evarts has probably been taken in. The case at
present seems to be that the committee has used