The Portland daily press., 1888-11-10
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
A Circular : the Public From the
Executive Committee.

The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monu-
ment Association was incorporated in 1888,
succeeding an organization which although
for many years in existence had for many
reasons accomplished little. On Memorial
Day, 1888, by popular subscription which
will be long reu embered, over $1,000 was
contributed, an in 1884. as the gratifying
result of the gre fair held for several days
in the City Hall equally general and popular
in its character, $4,000 were paid into the
treasury At the annual meeting in 1885,
the treasurer reported s15,355 on hand.
The time had come when the work Of con-
structing a monument might be properly
undertaken, and it was necessary to select a
site; after a prolonged discussion the
executive committee recommended and,
the association approved of the lot In Mar
ket Square and the matter was formally pre-
sented to the city government. After the
hearing it was decided to refrain from press
ing the question until the annual meeting of
the association AT that meeting 1t was voted,
with but two dissenting voices to adhere to
to the choice, and to request that the voters
of the city might have the opportunity of ex-
pressing their opinion at the next municipal
election. The request was granted and the
vote was 1854 in favor Of and 654 opposed to
the Market So uare site. 1t had been antici-
pated that such decisive vote would justify
the city government in setting apart the LOT,
but a committee of the board finally proposed
to ask authority from the Legislature of 1887
for formal and legal expression Of the
voters. Such authority was given and in
March 1887, the popular choice was reaf-
firmed by ylte Of 41S1 to 1915. By the terms
of the law the mayor was to remove the
building. If required by September, 1887.
Two months before the latter date, the
committee accepted design for a monu.
ment, but before the lot could be lawfully
demanded, upon representation that the
tenants would like to occupy the prem
ises until the end of the year, the
removal of the building was delayed.
At the annual meeting following, a
prop position to remodel the building for me-
mortal purposes was defeated and the as:o-
citation decided to adhere to the original
plan.
Owing to the unexpected cost Of the de-
sign first selected By the committee, 1t
was reluctantly abandoned, and after much
and fruitless deliberation, in June 1888, Mr..
Franklin Simmons, an artist Of high reputa
| tion, citizen of the State, known abroad as
we'll as at home for work Of superior merit,
was selected to prepare design.
Mr.. Simmons proposed to place on ped
estal Of suitable proportions colossal
bronze figure representing the republic and
on the sides of the pedestal bronze groups Of
soldiers and sailors of heroic size, in high
relief, and this striking and original design
has been approved and adopted. Contracts
| have since been signed for the construction
| of the pedestal, (from the design Of r. NJ
| Hunt, an eminent architect), not to exceed In
| cost $4,000 and for the sculpture not to ex-
ceed $4,000. The foundation for the monu.
ment is now in place. The pedestal will be
| finished early in the year 1889.
The funds of the association are sufficient
| to pay for the foundation and the pedestal
and the advance, required in such cases, tc
the sculptor. What remains is to provide
$4,000 for the subsequent payments. To Sc
cure this amount we rely in part upon the
generous offer Of the ladies Of Bosworth Re.
| lief Corps, who are preparing already for
fair to be held In March next, the entire pro
ceeds of which are to be given to the associ
alton. This proposition has been accepted
and the committee earnestly desire that ev
eryone having this object at heart will pro
mote and encourage the work so seasonabl,
undertaken. But we must depend also up
on the liberality Of our citizens for gener
Gus contribution of money. We have ha,
popular subscriptions of small sums. maxim
a substantial aggregate, but the wealth O
the town has not hitherto, been invited h
bear its part in this testimonial of grateful
recollection. We already know Of man,
who are only waiting for the proper time :
give OF their abundance. The time has nov
come, the work Is in progress and will 500
be completed.
We invite, therefore, liberal subscription
to this most worthy object. Subscription
may be made to the treasurer, II. w. Hersey
Esq, or to the editors of any Of the newspa
pers published in Portland, who have kindl
undertaken to receive them. All subscrip
tions will be acknowledged through tn