The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-11

The biennial report OF President Lan0s-
dale of the state soldiers and sailors mon
ument commission was submitted to the
governor Saturday. 1t says in substance:
No time has been lost In the progress of the
work, but the pecuiarities OF tue construction,
and the positive requirement. that both
work and materials should be of the best
makes the progress seem slow TO those
without knowledge OF the subject All con-
tractors have been held TO the most rigid per-
formance OF their contracts. To have resorted
to the law 10 compel contractors to meet the
requirements OF the boari as 70 time might
have induced them to slight the work to a de-
gree that would have been injurious to the
structure and preciptAted a conflict with the
board that would have caused greater delay.
-Four sculptural competitions have been
held. The hrst was Tor the upper astTagal, the
one containing the date lines Of the wars and
the contract was awarded to George L. Brew
ster OF Cleveland. o., for Sc. QUO. the cast nR
being done At the American bronze foundry.
Chicago. Mr.. Brewster WAS also awarded the
contract for the naval astragal next below at
$13, 200, which will be cast by Bureau Brothers
Of Philsdelphia For the army astragal the
model of Nlcoiaus Geiger of Berlin, Ger
many. Was adopted, the price being SCI. 600. In
the competition for the side group no q finite
action was reached, snt that matter remains
undispOsed OF. The premiums were, however,
awarded ss already reported.
In the process OF dey clipping the work il was
determined TO place the corps badges OF the
army of the United States upon the stone
tTHgal of the pedestal. aud this has been done;
also badges representing the several branches
OF the service, including the navy. so far,
however. il has been found imposs be TO OBJ
tam the design for the TWenty-hrst corps
badge il one exists, but space has been re-
served for il. so that it can Oe carved at some
future time.
The Growing Figure.
The browning figure has been the source of
much vexsIion. occa>ioned by the impossibilty
of getting it east n time TO be put in place dur
ing the present year. Various causes have
contributed to this the prime pal one being the
necessity OF the bronze foundry dong the work
to send to France for additional men and ma
chinery before they could proceed in a salts
focloTy manner, because Of the unusual size of
the statue and the character OF the work
quireG. The greater part OF the casting is now
done and its superiority is some compensation
tor The delay. IL will be completed during the
winter and raised to its placs =, soon as the
wtSher will permit. Its weight will be 5000
pounds, aud il will be the largest brouzs hgure
ever attempted TO he put at that height in any
couuirg. Artists " no have seen the work so
far completed speak Of It in the highest
terms.
Levels Of the structure have been taken by
the city engineer at intervals o. sboui one year
aud the d. erences have been so slight as TO
show practically no settlement.
A si1-inch driven well has been sunk to
depth OF go feet. at cost of Sl.2i2, which
ords abundant supply of exceisnt water,
rising to within twenty-s feet OF the surface.
IL will be utilized for machinery aud fountains
Other wells can be put down at any time
shou q 10 become necessary.
Ia the competition for the elevator the pro-
posais rense from Sl,967 to 5000. the price
being largely influenced By the kind TO be con-
structed. The board Wa desrous OF using an
electric machine. but investigation has shown
tnat Il is yet undergoing a ocess OF develop
ment. aud for this reason action has been de-
lav Ell Ia the hope that something satisfactory
may soon lie matured.
The original cascades have been abandoned
because they were beyond our means to con-
struct or operate them. and. for at least one
third of the time, wolld require that the water
be shut oil, which would make them anything
but ornamental during that period. They were
also Objectionable for tue reason that they
would cover the great terrace walls as to OBJ
scure their rugged beauty and thus detrsct
from one OF the beat features of the entire work.
Instead grass D ats, Ornamented with shrubs
and flowers, will be provided in their place. in
the midst OF which fountains OF pure water
will afor a pleasant spectacle. and at the Same
time furni-h natures best beverage for those
who are atnirst.
Grounds Around the Monument.
The grounds surrounding the monument are
to be divided into four parks. in accordance
with the plans of City Engineer Mansfield,
ellipss in form. and the space not occupied by
the . 'rks will be paved with artificial stone
The approaches to the starways on the north
and south sides, leading 70 the main ter sc-.
will be ninety feet wide. and the cast and west
approaches fifty feet. The engineers
estimate fer the work is 1896 p.
Alter much consideration the last general
assembly levi I'd a tax of i've mills each 500
o taxahi- property. and running three years,
To create a fund for the purpose of completing
the monument A part of this has already
been objected, and when il Is all paid in IL will
amount TO $iS0OOO-a cum not only sufficient
TO comp etc The monument IN the manner
contemplated hut also e. properly improve the
grounds and adorn them with statues OF the
representative military men of he four leading
military eDOohs of the state, who have
always remained loyal 10 the government.
The commission Is hampeTed. however. by
a clause OF the act making the levy and appro-
priAtion requiring the board TO give bond in
the amount OF 100000 that it would not sx-
pend more than $4,000 in completing the
monument in certain specified way, snd which
il is found cannot be done for tina: sum. The
board will not ask fer any additional apprO-
priHtion. but does ask that this restriction be
removed and the entire sum made available Tor
the work, or as much thereof may be neo-
essary.
This restriction. incorporated in the act max
ing the last al Preparation, has caused at least
one years loss OF time Ii created a condition
that couli not be overcome ct once. The
me- hod hHally agreed upon to hold oom-
petitions 10 determine what the cost OF the re-