New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-20
THE MATERIALS TO BE USED.

THE MATERIALS TO BE USED.
Work las been resumed by the contractor for the
task Of laying the foundations for the soldiers and
Sailors Memorial Arch in the Plaza of Prospect Park.
and the excavations for the second foundation have
been made and the concrete Is being put in place The
first foundation laid last fall. and an especial
effort was made get n done in time to have the eX-
ercscs in connection Win the cornerstone laying before
election day with military parade graced by the pres
cncc of Governor Hill. But the Governor found his
political engagements too many to permit him to he
present General sherman laid the cornerstone. and
the Rev. Dr. Behrends. Mayor Chapin's pastor. dc
livered the grafton.
Delay in beginning the work upon the second foun-
dalton was caused by the fact that cartraclt cross
ing the Plaza in the way, and authority had 10 he
secured by the Park Commissioners from the street
railway companies to all the tracks near the
arch site ard relay them the outer edge Of the
Plaza This work expensive and had 10 be done
in such nIJ1ner not to interfere with the running
of cars. About fvccighths Of a mile Of tracks Oh
continuous had IN Ire laid. and the old tracks
were token up. and the space they occupied has
been Npaved. a railroad man said recently that
the new tracks OF the best quality, and there
were none better in tie city. The I rail taken up
was not PIT down again. hut the best quality Of
fat rail, even with the pavement has been laid
In cAc0vatng for the arch foundations. the con
tractors found il necessary to 20 much deeper than
was expected to find solid bottom to lay the con
crete upon. At a depth Of five or six feet below
the pavement. a bed of muck. forming the bottom
Of a pond once occupying that part Of the city,
was discovered. Uld residents recall it as Black
berry Pond in the days when farm lands covered
that region. and the old turnpike road 10 Flatbu~h
wound around the hills and passed through what i
now Prospect Park Below this muck deposit q
solid strata Of gravel Is found and in th, the concrete
formed Of broken stone and Portland cement, IS
grounded, each layer being allowed e. harden before
the next is put Above The concrete VIII be
laid q water table surface Of gray granite, three
feet high polished block OF which forms the corner
stone Of the castcrly foundation. Upon tlns the
light granite OF the arch Will rest The stone l. no"
being cut, and soon the foundations are ready
wOr,, upon the arch proper VIII begin.
The contractor has 300 days to Complete the work,
which Will enable the formal unyciling and dcdicl-
ton Of the arch with elaborate exercises, 10 be heh
In the campaign OF 1901 for Governor and other
state officers. The members Of the Grand Army
think that both tie laying Of the corner tone ana INC
dedication Of the arch should have taken place ON
Decoration bay, but the political ambitions OF Mayor
Chaplin decreed otherwise.
The arch VIII have total width Of so feet
and height Of Il feet. The open
ing will be d feet and sx inches
in height, and the width So feet The depth or
thickness of the walls Will be - feet Bronze groups
will adorn the tops of the pccsa in front of each
will be rcceSses for has relieves. on the inside
under the arch. will be equestrian figures IN nearly
full relief. The seal Of the United states VIII ad"rH
the keystone Of the arch, and the pandrcs Of the
side toward the fountain will b. The scas Of the stale
and city while upon the spandrcls m the opposite
side Will be figures Of victory. The Inscription over
the arch will be "TO the Defenders Of the Union
1sG1-1sC5.7
In the panels Of tho upper part Of the structure
Will be discs TO bear the names of the battles parcl
pafed iu by Kings County sodlcrs and 'ailors Tho
i'm each pedestal will b. staircase, by which the top
of the structure c:ln he reached and line Wow OF
the DIV on one SIDE alF1 of Prospect Park FlabnSh,
Concy Island ana the ocean on the other can be Sc
cured. Directly the opening # the Arch VIII
be "A room for memorials Of The war.
The site for the structure j. midway between me
fountain in tho centre Of the plaza ana I,c
main entrance tD the park. and was chosen Tor t''
reason that the structure can be NOR adequately H
from all sides there than anywhere else ana the 7l'ud
tOn will De a convenient one for public exercise, Oh
decoration DAYS. The architect objected 70 maxim.
The arch a part Of the fence Of the park. II would
have been had Il spanncd the drive and there wa 70
other suitable site the ono chO~cn uri"'S the
fountain had been removed and The competition stone
OF which that T. but made this practically impossible
without destroying Il. II IS proposed 10 Keep The
opening OF the arch usually closed from public travel
Ly chain other guard, and 10 throw II open only
for public professions and important pcrsOHag"S to
pas; through. Tho total cost of the structure Is
$250,OOO.