The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-20
A MILLIoNAIRE's TOMB.
The Magnificent Mausoienm Which Senator
stanford Is Erecting.

The Magnificent Mausolenm Which Senator
stanford Is Erecting.
Washington Special
The architect who planned the magnificent
mausoleum of Senator Stanford. at San Fran
cisco was in Washington last week. He says
that IL will be the most elaborate repository for
the dead built IN this country. The beauti-
full rnausoleum of Jay Gould at Woodlawn. and
the magnificent tomb of the Vanderbilts at HUI
genois, Staten island. will all be eclipsed by
this work of monumental art
In style of architecture. the simple but eff
fective methods of the ancient Egyptians will
be followed. Massive. imperishable granite,
a light shade of gray, with an interior lining
the finest italian marble, will be employed.
Ie item of expense has not been considered,
designers being given carte blanche as to
cost, and directed to ecure the best OF material
and workmanship TO be had.- The total outlay
necessary to complete the tomb and prepare the
surroundings will reach 500, 600, and may con-
sderaby exceed that amount The Item or
transportation alone will be a large one, as the
granite will all be shipped from Vermont and
the marble from Italy
The site selected is beautiful four acre plot
in the Senator's grounds just outside of San
Francisco. Ii already contains handsome shrub
berry, and occupies altitude commanding
magnificent view of the bay A drive way sixty
feet wide will be made. circling around a slight
elevation. on the brow of which will be the
tomb The art of the landscape gardner will be
employed to beau,ify the approaches and render
even more effective the vistas of the park.
The structureiwill be in the form of a temple
and will be twenty five feet square. There will
be double row of massive granite columns
supporting the roof of the portico at the front
On each side of the entrance will be a majestic
sphinx carved from single block of granite.
Heavy bronze gates close the entrance. and
ite The roof and sides also
OF granite. and to be built in the
most substantial manner. The stone employed
Is the Barre granite, from Barre, VT 1t has
slight bluish-gray tint. which shows delicate
carving to advantage and retains its color
without change. Each block cut the
designate its position They were then boxed,
to prevent injury, and shipped to San Fran
cisco. All of the main portions of the structure
have been sent on and work on the excavation
for the tomb has been commenced.
The carving of the sphinxes. and the more
delicate portions of the stone-work, have been
done in this city,. under the direction of Messrs.
Caterson q Clark, the designers of the tomb.
The two majestic sphinxes are admirably done,
and as worthy guardians of the ashes of an
American money king their prototypes were
of the remains of the ancient Ptolemies.
The interior of the mausoleum will be done in
white marble. The ceiling will be single
arch of marble. with span of twenty-five feet.
There will be- crypts vaults. and provis-
ion will be made for the remains of only three
persons-those cf the Senator and Mrs. Stan
ford and the These will occupy sar-
cophagi placed the three sides of the
chamber. The body of the con- which
DR.. Talmage preached the funeral Grafton
vault in San Francisco awaiting tho completion
of the tomb The sarcophagi being made In
Italy; each one will be hewn from a single block
of the purest white marble. The lid will be
made of a separate piece, and the exterior orna-
mented with the most exquisite carving. The
caskets containing the bodies will be Enclosed in
a leaden casing before being placed the
phagus. Each receptacle will contain appro-
pirate inscription. and the name Stanford will
appear over the entrance.
The mausoleum will be completed durin the
coming summer. and, when finished, will be a
fitting abode for the remains of of the most
successful men of the dey: railroad maGnafe,
a millionaire and a phianthropist. who is build
ing university that will cost between 5000.
600 and $50 900 000 q who lives magnI6-
Gently. with wealth and friends, and everything
that makes life worth living. vet who has bad
the great sorrow of losing his son, his only
child. and when he and his wife called to
another world, and their remains occupy their
stately tomb, the family history will end.