Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-22
A SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
President Harrison Assists In Laying
the Corner Stone.

4 GREAT DAY foa NpIAxAroLls-yIYrY THous-
AND srRAxoERs IN TIE orrI, WHICH n Drco-
RATED WITH FLAGS AND BuNTNo-msTolY OF
rHI MONUMENT TO TIE INDIANA SOLDIERS.
lNDIANAPoLrs, IND, Aug. 22.-This, the day
on which the corner stone Of the great soldiers
monument 10 to be laid, IL one Of the proudest
In the history Of the city. The
fact that President Harrison 10 present
70 assist In the exercises adds much to the
interest The weather ia all that could be
asked for. The city is crowded with people,
1t being estimated that fully $1,000 strangers
stions, and many public buildings are entirely
hidden BY festoons and flags. The arrange
ments Tor the dedication of the soldiers mopu-
ment are very complete and everything will 60
on according TO program. The President held
public reception this morning from 10 until IL
IN the parlors of the Denison. He was assisted
by Marshal Ransdall, Attorney General Miller
and Secretary Rusk. President Harrison an
nounced that he would speak ct the corner
stone laying. 1t had not been known whether
he would do 90 or not.
HIsToRY OF THE MONUMENT.
The scheme for q monument to the soldiers
and sailors Of Indiana was originated by Mr..
George ]. Langsdale, editor Of the Greencastls
Qndiana) Banner.
In 1875 at the meeting Of the State editorial
association in Indianapolis he presented his
plan, which was heartily Endorsed and resulted
In reunion in October of the same year in In
dianapoiis OF all the surviving soldiers and sailors
fairly begun. the Indiana soldiers and sailors
monument association being organized. The
work Of collecting funds was commenced,
but the panic Of 1915 put . stop to the
work with only 81 900 in the treasury. In 1883
the work was again taken up and the associa-
tod md "a a
state, with MIR. Langsdale as president.
The association after meeting with many
reverses secured the passage of a bill by the
legislature Of 18S6-87, appropriating 5000 90 for
the erection of the monument This, with the
$4,000
CONTRIBUTED BIZ THE O. A. a.
Enabled the committee to begin work in
earnest. Advertisements for designs were made
and on January q, 1888, that of Bruno Semitz
of Berlin was accepted.
The contract for the main central foundation
was let to Enos E. Hoge of indianapolis, and
was put in during the summer Of 1888, at o cost
Of $31 $3.50. II. 1t is made Of volitic stone from
the Bomena quarries, Owen county.
In December, 1888. the contract for the
erection Of the main shaft and appendices Of
the monument was let to the Terre Haute stone
company for S139,0OO The contractors expect
to finish the work Of the FIRST shaft or pedestal
by November Of this year and by the same
mOntn IN loSU Will nave tnelr contract cOm-
pleted and the monument ready for the orna-
mentation.
THE MONUMENT WILL BE Built
of light gray volitic limestone from Stinesville,
Ind. quarries. When completed it will be 268
feet high; the diameter of the ground to be oc-
cupied is 1872 feet On the north and south sides
will be wide steps of stone seventy feet III
length leading to the platform Of the terrace,
from which the interior is reached by big
bronze doors. Above these doors will be
large tablets with inscriptions commemorative
OF the part borne in the war by the different
counties, and above the tablets is the inscrip-
ton of dedication: ITO Indianas silent victors,
by grateful state"
the following articles will be deposited in the
corner stone: Terrills reports; GAR. re-
ports, badges, ritual and roster; W.R.C. re.
ports, badges, ritual and roster; s.
Of Y. reports, badges, ritual and
rosters; the monumental reports and
documents since January l, 1888; photographs
and plans for the monument; Indiana
in War;" in two volumes; Loyal
Legion reports, first memorial serv-
ice Of the GAR; reports OF original
G. A. r.; minutes of legislature which
passed the monument bill: American 1r,-
une, this State and city papers. The
monument is being erected in Circle Park
in the exact geographical center of the city
and when completed will be the most magnifi-
cent and imposing structure OF the kind in
America