The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-30
The Bartholdi Statue.

| The statue of Liberty stands at last solid.
| ly upon her feet in the harbor of New York,
monument to the generosity of France, the
genius of Barthodi, and the advancement OF
civilized liberty
Crowds upon crowds visit Il colossal stat
ne daily, wondering at the huge proportions
which impress them more forcibly the near
er they approach and examine.
This stupendous statue, the largest ever
erected, being 3O5 feet above the tide water,
is now attracting the eyes of the world, and
as gift to the French people to America.
party of French gentlmen, having made
up their minds that it would be good thing
to get up a costly gift, to be paid for by
small prescriptions of the masses, they en-.
gagged Auguste Bartholdi, young promis-
ing sculptor, to carry out their idea, and sent
him to America to confer with committee
here as to what the most acceptable form OF
showing the good will of France to America
would be. On his arrival, he was struck
with the beauty of New York's harbor and
seeing Bedoe's Island, conceived the idea
of an immense statue, which should be much
larger than anything yet heard Of AS Lib
erty had its birth in this country, it seemed
right that the statue should represent Lib
erty Enlightening the World" This would
be lasting acknowledgement of Frances
good will, and at .he same time light up the
harbor at night and be great benefit.
AuGUsTE FREDRIo BARTHoLDI
when he returned home the plan was put
into exec ion, the money raised and W, rk
commenced on the statue. The weight of it
is 1000 pounds, of which 1900 are cop
per and the remainder wrought iron. The
height Of the statue is 151 feet and that of
the pedestal 150 feet. The cost of making it
was $40, 600, which does not include making
models, ETC., but simply the manufacture of
the statue. The pedestal, which was built
by American Inscriptions and an app opria-
tion of Congress for putting up the statue,
has cost $3.50, 600.
THE FAM US STATUE.
The pedestal contains elevators to convey
sight-seers up and down, and the lookout
on the torch may be reached by stairs
through the statue. To give some idea of
the size of this enormous undertaking, we
state that twelve persons can stand on the
torch at one time, from which magnificent
view can be obtained. The width of the
eye is % inches, and the length of the nose
8 feet inches, and the forefn ,er I Il, es ii
inches long.
Tie statue is situated upon the site OF an
old fort, the Bedloe's Island, on which it
stands, is one of the most accessible as well
as one of the most pleasant breathing spots
around New York. The solid granite walls
Of the old fort, which are in a good condition
balaLce well the height Of the statue and
contrast nicely with the beautiful grass and
shade trees with which the island is covered
There are about 10 acres area in the
island, and the solld pedestal with its sur
rounding wall Of stone leave but little out
sid 10 nj tba fNfy nj al, ~,
statue on an island was twofold first, as a
beacon to light the harbor. next from the
fact that an island was not SO easily reached
in the case of riots. The fall of the column
Vendome in Paris, at the hands of the COM
| mune, may have influenced Bartholdi some
what in his choice.
Considerable feeling has been engendered
about the change from the original PROPOSE
tion to light the statue by a circle of electric
around the outside instead of the present
plan to light from the inside only. 1t is held
that in the former case it could be seen much
further out of sea. ReflIctors are used, how
ever, which will greatly intensity the light.
THE HEAD OF THE STATUTE.
The statue will be well protected from
lightning, four lightning rods running fom
the top of the torch to the foot of the pedes-
tai, and thence into the water. The statue
has been struck several times during its
erection without damage, the rods protect.
ing it.
The de- iguor Of the statute, Auguste Bar
tholdi, is the greatest living sculptor of col
ossal statuary, and France conf rred upon
him the Cross Of the Legion of Honor for his
statue, the "Son of Be f1it," an in.
mense statute carved from solid rock in 1878
| He also designed the statue of Lafayette in
Union Square, New York, and was awarded
the medal for sculptor at the Centennial
Exhibition at Philadelphia. upon the mer
its Of his Genius in the Grasp Of Misery,
"Peace," and ''The Young Vine Grower,
all bronze statues. This gifted sculptor wa
born at Colmar in 1888, began as painter
but abandoned it for sculpture, and won his
| first laurels at the age of nineteen. He foug h
as volunteer in the Franco German war
| His name will be immortalized by this great
I oI, hn FIJI IL -. A..