The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-14
THE BATTLE MONUMENT
AS Solid a Piece of Masonry
as Can Be Made-The
Exercises.


TRENTON. Oct. IA. 1S93.-EverythIng
that pertains to the Trenton Battle Mon
ument is q matter of absorbing interest
at this time. Nj. George Balm, the fore
man for John Pierce. the contractor who
erected the monument, had an interest
ng story to tell Of the construction OF
the column Of victory that claims every
ones attention who ome In sight OF it.
From foundation to capstone. is is as
solid and compact as masonry can be
made. Every stone is anchored TO its
neighbor by irons twelve incnes long
fitted In the sides, then in addition every
course of stone aud every individual
stone Is kept.E In place by iron
bolts fitted into holes drilled for that
purpose. The joints are LAID in a quality
OF cement that becomes as hard as tins
granite itself. This strength OF construc-
ton is carried clear to the top. wnere the
statute or Washington IS. perched $50
feet from the ground. The force of the
wind at that elevation will be very great,
but there is no danger that the statue
will be loosened from its moorings. An
iron bar, four inches in diameter. ex-
tends from the base OF the statue
through the bell stone on TOP of tue Ian
tern. wnere 1t is firmly secured. aud still
other bolts secure the base and the figure
to the lantern. There are many opinions
advanced as to the taper there Is in the
shaft. and no two persons have the same
idea. The shaft seems to start from the
base, swell gracefully In the middle, aud
then taper off to the top. The men who
built it say the taper IL just eight inches.
SOME CRITICISMS.
1t would be sinEula-, indeed, IL criti-
cisms were not snowered upon the mon~
.. ~ Htx- - fha0A Mvhn auaasf ; toR
the rockfaced work on the base should
be made smooth like The shaft. Others,
again. claim that it is more In accord
aIce with correct architectural ideas as
il is, giving the whole work an appear
ance OF solidity and strength that more
tina counterbalance the effect that
might be produced by the proposed
change. the item of expense. too.
might be considered. as 1t is estimated
the cost of chiselinR off the base would
not fall far short of 1900.
Tine noteworthy Incident in connection
with the building of the monument is
the fact that III sre was not a blow of a
hammer or chidei upon q single stone to
make it fit. The cutting of the stoue
Maine. The different stones were
marked, and ca CHI one fitted to It's place,
aud but one was broker during the whole
work.
The tablets are ready. as are the
statues, but they will not be PLACED in
position until a day or two before the
dedication.
THE EXERCISES.
The speaking n other exercises will
take place at the monument.
The opening prayer will bs offered up
by Bishop Scarborough. Of the Episcopal
Church, aud the bensdiction by DIR. Han
Ion, or the Methodisu Church.
When President Cleveland touches the
rope that ~liberates the flag that envelopes
the statue of Washington, a national
salute of forty-four guns will be fred
from the very spot, near The corner OF
Princeton avenue and Rose street, where
Washington directed the battle.
ROUTE OF PARADE.
The Committee on Military Authorities
and the Committee Oh Ceremonies de =
cided udon the following az the route of
PARADE
The troops will form on Greenwood
avenue right resting on South Clinton
enu up South Clinton to East State
street, to Broad, to Monument. down
Warren to Front. to South Broad. TO
Greenwood avenue, where they will re-
main until they take their departure.
The Grand Army will form on North
Clinton avenue. The parade will be re-
viewed by the President In trout of the
Court House, instead Of on Fastory street
as was first arranged.
By authority of the Monument Assocf+
alton, an official souvenir medal will be
sold commemorative of the occasion.
One side Of the medal shows a repre-
s~entation of tie monument, around
which is the Observation-Disclosures Battle
Monument Association. Cornerstone
laid December 26. 1891. Dedicated Oct3-
her 10, 1893" On the diverse side ia
shown Stuart's head of Washington,
with the following inscriptIon:-''To
commemorate to Battle of Trenton,
Dece mber 26. 1776." The medal will be
suspended by u ribbon about an inch in
length, upon which is inscribed IN ap-
propriate quotation.