Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-09-06


INDIANAPOLIS SOL was spread eV-
DIERs' MONUMENT. cry W ere, and
many handsome decorations were seen.
President Harrison was in attendance
and this fact added greatly TO the en-
thusiasm of the people. The procession
of old soldiers, with which the cere-
monies began, was an hour and half
in passing the reviewing stand.
The laying OF the cornerstone OF the
soldiers monument in Indianapolis is
one of the result of movement that has
been in progress in Indiana for many
years. AS long ago as 1875 the first step
was taken. II was at a reunion Of the
soldiers of the state.
Years later the work was taken up by
the Grand Army of the Republic, and in
1857 S22, 900 had been raised for the pro-
Jet, of which $40, 900 was gift from the
city OF indianapolis. The deadlock leg
isature of that year was induced to pass
a bill appropriating 100000 for the
erection OF the monument. A commit
tee was appointed, with George j. Langs-
dale, a newspaper editor, as president,
and one OF the meml ers was Dan NJ.
Ransdell, who was recently appointed
United States Marshal for the District of
Columbia. Gen. Harrison was among
the most urgent supporters of the pro-
ject.
Men of the most extensive knowledge
of monument building were called into
consultation and architects and sculp-
tors throughout the world were invited
to offer plans and specifications. There
were seventy competitors, nearly all
men of fame for great achievements, and
from among the number the plans of
Bruno Schmitz, the Berlin sculptor, were
chosen a. the most suitable. Work upon
the structure was begun year ago, and
less thIn twenty-five feet OF the base,
which will be SiXty-eight feet in height,
has been completed. The work can not
bp finished, it is thought, before the fall
OF 1892.
The site of the monument is the Gov
ernor's circle, a round square, situate
precisely in The centre of the Getty of
Concentric Circles" The dimensions OF
the structure are as follows: Height.
26S feet diameter OF circle, 1872 feet; di-
ameter OF foundation and terrace, 10
feet; height of terrace, IL feet; height OF
pedestal, 80 feet; height of shaft, 149
feet; height of lanterns, 81 feet; height
of victory statue, Is feet; diameter of
base, 6S feet; diameter of pedestal, 40
feet; diameter OF shaft, % feet to II
feet. The sculptured figures are COM
memoraJive of different periods Of the
states history and development.
The monument will be built of light
gray volitic limestone from Indiana quar-
rics. On the north and south sides will
be wide steps of stone seventy feet in
length leading to the platform OF the ter
race, from which the interior is reached
ny big bronze doors. Above these doors
on large tablets will be inscriptions com
in"morativH OF the part borne in the war
llv tnr different counties, and above the
tuoIvt9 - til" de-cr,n ion OF dou!.utiOn: {:
"To Indiana's silent victors, by CRATE
ful tate
When completed it will, with one ex-
ception, be the highest monument In the
world, The Washington mouHmenr, alone,
being higher. The next below ,uiianas 5
structure and the third in hrignt, is The
Bunker Hill monument of Massachu-
.etts.
Previous to proceeding to tho site of
the monument, the president held pub
lie reception and shook hands with every
man, woman and child that passed him.
Freq emily somo veteran would halt 10
inform him OF the number OF his regi-
Went and 10 recall some incident of bat
tie the president was expected 20 re-
member. al was in your regiment, g"n-
oral. was rema K tat wa frequently
heard, and it always meant an extra
handshake with the veteran.
Two lines Of people passed the presi-
dent and it Is estimated that in an hour
about y 900 people viewed the nation S
executive, he giving the usual handshake
20 fully 5000. There were many promi-
nent men from all PARTS of the state in
line.
The ceremonies included a speech by
the president, and the vast crowd cheered
the distinguished speaker at every oppor-
tBnty. In the course OF his remarks, he
said:
Il did no. expect to mako an address
on this occasion. 1t would have been
pleasant il | could have found leisure to
make preparations 70 have a"c'p'"t the
invi' atior of the committee having the
c,.crci -es in charge to deliver an Oration
II would have folt IL an honor tn as s,n.
ciate my aame with an occasion - great
as this. Public duty, however. reyrntr,l
the a"ceptann. of the invitation and /
couli only + omise to be- present with
You today. 1t seemed to me- most appro-
pria q hat | should take part with my
fellow citizens OF Indiana in the great
ceremony.
"There have been few occasions in the
history Of our state 80 full of .n.crpst, so
magnificent so inspiring a that which
We now witness. The suggestion that u
monument should he banded to COM
memoralc the valor and heroi-m of the
soldiers of Indiana. who gave theirlivcs
Tor the flag, attracted my interest from
the beginning. Five years ago last
January, when the people assembled In