New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-24
TO LAY THE CORNERSTONE.
ELABORATE PREPARATIONS FOR wEDNES
DAY.
fRE.IDENT HARRISON WILL BE HERE AND GEM
ERAL GRANTS NOBLE TOMB WILL
At LAST DE ASSURED.

When President Harrison lays the cornerstone OF
fitting tomb for General Grant on "Wednesday, the
erection OF n monument will be assured which, whcn
completed Will be peculiarly and supremcly work
of the citizens Of New-Yors City. work In which
future genera ions may that this great town. with
its stock exchanges, and banks and truss all cehso'
essy engaged in trying TO get rich, can sui %
aroused noble sentiments, still pause 10 remem'
Der great deeds and pay its homage generously ana
completely. New-York has already borne the reproach
OF the country and of the world too long But IL is
no easy matter to enthusiasm In the Citizens OF
any large town. Other cities which tried 10 nave the
honor Of becoming Grants last resting place have
made New York target rebukc. Other cities have
erected monuments and statues in his honor. New
York has not been able. rich she is, to provide
tomb for him.
But this VIII be thing OF the past and IL tho
citizens now rise to the occasion and work with
long pull, strong pull, and pull AL together tey
may wipe the disgrace and erect what VIII be ~
great monument 10 themselves rs II VIII be 10 the
General whose body is to find rest in it, What Is In
this case n meaner sentiment may also be appealed
TO, for the monument will ify the city greatly
Its design architectural character are considered
lofty and noble. The site also Is much admireh-
The river is beautiful there The bay Is so Jar
distant that It's turbulent influence Is not frequently
felt and s enough for the strength ana freedom
OF the to lend breadth and power TO IT, In SUM-
NOR its broad often lie s and CLASSY all day.
and mirror the wooded Palisades on the other s'dc AZ
though ii a placid mountain lake. Natare mas
worked in rugged and broad touches there. mo
beauty OF the is its simple grandeur. well be
fitting tie strong and silent who lies there When
the tomb Is completed the first Of the morning
SUM- shining over sound and river, the last rays AZ
the sun sinks behind the Palisades will fall on II.
No traveller steam vessel no sailor on the azy
sloops and schOoners which pass up and down tho
river all day long. fail to see it, and to be
impressed by il. The temporary structure which now
hor ha
the river and many Newi Yorker has felt ashamed OK
himself when strangers, taking sail up or down tne
stream would ask where the tomb was, as the Vessea
came abreast of Riverside Park
There was a particularly noticeable incident Of this
kind last summer, when about 800 members OF Meane
Post, G. A. r.. OF Philadelphia. and Klnsiey fost,
G. A. R. OF Boston. took excursion up the river TO
West Point by invitation Of Lafayette Post u. A. k'
Of this city. The strangers made inquiries as 10 tho
exact site of the tomb long before the steamship efs
her dock and made preparations TO toll the shlps oeh
As a mourning salute when they passed the place. IL
was not a proud moment for the New-fork men Wneh
the tomb was last sighted. and While the VlstorS
were too polite TO say anything, none could hide MS
disappointment and surprise at the sight. Then, 10
add TO the chacrn OF the NewYorker, they began to
ask when the monument would be finished. The rpre-
sentatives Of this city bresthed sigh OF relief when
the spot was left behind. and many Of them declared
aeryard that they realized for the first time that as
a. the body OF General 'rranl
tomb so long that spot would be blot on New-fors
City.
But IL the movement for the erection OF the monu-
ment NAV now be called assured success, thas
esut has not been attained without much hard WORK
and trouble and efforts must be redoubled from now
on for unless the present spirited movement IS kept
rgidy up TO the mark past efforts Will be mane '"d
At first the association had uphill work But siowi'
hit by bit IL began to make headwsy The ho'ei
men to,ned II and gave II help. and encourage
ment Then the exchanges, and then, as "ehetal
Porter said recently, "we began to hear from uo
cranks and that proved to us thit we had Deguh ~
arouse popular interest For a few DAYS they De-
seged us with all kinds Of the most visionary scheme'
Then the business men began to take hold OF IT, From
n few committees day the movement soon gre" 80
tba. lately fifteen and twenty committees nave oee1
formed daily Now the Brooklyn people nave taAen
| hold of IT, The Mayor OF that otS mas appolnleu
| committee Of ll5 men, and they have pledged then-
selves to raise $4,000. orsht ioea 70 get 'ne
nuhlc interested was the one evolved By General
poror n enlist the aid OF the school children Prizes
ere offered 10 pupils In the public schools OF New
yorl, CITY for essays on Grant. Naturally this VIII
bring the subject before the parents and thew Will DO
interested and thus their aid will be secured
The amount required for the completion OF the tomb
is s35ooOO The foundations are now finished. ana
tho first course Of granite ten feet in height Is under
wav The height OF the mausoleum Will be ldO feet
from the base line. neatly 300 feet from the water
level Of the Hudson River and from the centre OF the
main hall floor to the dome will be 100
feet The outer gallery Will be 130 feet
from the ground afording complete view
q, the surrounding country Tor many miles. The body
is to be placed in black gnnte sarcophagus In ths
crypt below the main floor In tile centre OF the plan,
and directly under the DOME which will receive sghs
fron the sky In design the structure i classical tne
exterior being OF light material as Will stand the
severity of this climate The interior IS of pure white.
| ~ OFn1mputltlp0
no deemed advisable which will be OF black
General Porter and his colleagues have been worHinS
hard To make fitting preparations for lhe coming
ceremonial President Harrison will lay the corner
stone and Chauncey W. Depcw will deliver an orauon.
prcsdent Harrison will leave Washington on Tues
dav afternoon by the Pennsylvania Railroad. reach
! ing New.York about 30. he Will be accompanied
hv the members Of his Cabinet and their families
Ills party will stay at the Fifth Avenue Hotel Ihe
Governor with his staff and the members OF he
LEGISLATURE of both houses have been Invited In
| yitatons have also been sent TO the mayors ana
boards OF Aldermen OF Brooklyn and Ncw-fork the
! Senators and Representatives OF the state OF New
| York I'm Congress, the generals OF the Army, tha
| odmrnls OF the Navy. General O. O. Howard and his
staff from Governors Island. and the commandant OF
the Brooklyn Navy Iord and his stah ths DEPART
meut commanders OF the Grand Army OF the Republic
for all the States the members Of the Military Order
of rho Iovol Legion OF New York City and the Grand
Army M the Republic or New-YOr< City, and the
1-o members OF the committee, TO whose energy !.
so largely due the OF this movement.
The committee of arran genlents is much pleased that
Mrs Grant. with members OF her family, will be
present
| About noon the President, with his party, Will be
escorted from the Fifth AvenUe Hotel the grounds
by Troop 4 OF National Guard OF the state Of News
York Captan Charles G. Rowe commanding.
The ceremonies mt the cornerstone laying VIII Do
opcned with prayer, followed with statement nom
the president OF the Grant Monument Association IN
relation to the progress Of the work. This VIII DO
followed by the President OF the United States laying
the cornerstone in connection with which ceremony
he will deliver short address. This viii be follo"s@
by the Grafton by Chauneey VI. Depew.
II is expected that the ceremonies VIII oesln