The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-27
FINE BATTLE MONUMENT
Erected In ~ommemoratio
of the Battle of
Trenton.
FACTS ABOUT THE GREAT SHAFT.
First Efforts Towards The Work
Assistance From the State and
Congress-Description.
FACTS ABOUT THE GREAT SHAFT.


TRENTON. Sept. 20, 1s93.-Eyer since
there are recorded instances In which he
has sought to commemorate his deeds of
valor by enduring monuments which
should tell to future generations the
story of his proves. All down the ages
are found these pillars this tell of con-
quests made. Of victories won, and of
mans ambition to have his memory
TRANSMITTED to the latest generation.
Nor is the desire con fined to the remote
periods of history; In the present day and
time the desire to commemorate i'm
portant events by enduring monuments
is general. II Is claimed by some that
this country Is too young to claim q
place In this history of great nations. but
the deeds Of valor achieved py It's sous
are worthy to be inscribed upon the
highest pinnacle Of fame. Historic spots
abound in this fair land. but few of
which are marked in such a way az to
cause future generations to inquire
why such mementoss exist. This
country made history very rap
idly during the period OF
the Revolutionary war. So me of the
places made memorable by Important
events in that struggle have besn marked
by monuments that will tell the story of
the effort of the col0nists to throw OF
the yoke of foreign oppression. : A.
Saratoga, Bennington. Monmouth and
YORKTOWN stand beautiful shafts OF vic
tory. object lessons of 81 lf-sacrlncing
effort Il indomitablc puiposs TO be
free. The battle of Trenton, though not
the fe rcest nor the bloodiest battle Of
the K evolution, was yet an important
event In those eventful days. It marked
the tar ming point in the history OF the
patriot army. From the time 1t was
fought the star Of freedom for the colon
les was In The ascendant. and victory
rather thau defeat perched upon the
banners of the Continentals.
FIRST STEPS TAKEN.
For fifty years the subject OF the erec-
ton of d monument to commemorate the
battle of Trenton has been discussed.
Many plsns have been eonsiuered aud
more Or less effort made to attain Lh Q
desired eud. However, il vas not until
the 7th Of May. 1884. that matters as
suIned u really practical shape. AT that
time the TreuIou Battle Monument As
sociation WAS formed, consisting Of Gen-
erui William S. Stryker, President; Eek
ford Moore, Secretary; Colonel S. Ners-
dith Dickinson, Treasurer; Carrot d. w.
Vroom. hugh 81. Hamill, William II.
Skirm, john Briest, TnoinasS S. Chambers.
Barker Guninere. Jr., William l. Dayton.
J. Hart Brewer, William s. Yard, john
Taylor, Frank A. Mcgowan, John B.
Fell.
An appropriation was secured from
the Stale of \ ew Jersey, anu after some
delay The Congrr IS Of The United States
made an appropriation In al / of the pro-
jet, and individual subscriptions TO a
vrn RtCnn para apr ThA zA~f
thing WAS the consideration and
ado ption of a plan for the proposed
monument.
When The Association began to con-
sitter the designs for u monument, they
had some twelty plans submitted to
Them. For q long time they st udied
these plaus, both with regard TO Gust, aud
appropriateness as y Quinn of VIC
tory. Only Que OF the plans seemed to
commend itself 10 the committee. Then
q subcommittee took up the subject,
aEa made q very careful study of all
the columns OF victory i'll the world.
Exhaustive special reports were made
by ths subcommittee, aud ffualiy the
design submitted by john II. Duncan. Of
New York city, Was selected. MIR. Duu-
can was tee designer OF the beautiful
Soldiers aud ) .ilors' arch Ia Brooklyn;
the successful cempstitor for the design
Tor Gensral Grants tomb at Riversids
"a 6AV
monumeate~as unanimous.
STYLE OF TIE MONUMENT.
Tbs style OF the column erected is
known as rhe 10 Han-D oric. III bass of
the pedestal Is twsnty-nine fset eight
inches square and rising from the peiss-
tai is 3 hollow huted column of hand
some proportions. The cap Of which forms
an observatory. Tue top of the grauiEs
work ID 135 feee above the foundation.
and win tho tbirteen feet statue Is l4S
feet In height, or $50 feet ABOVE the streSs
level. Tnn foundation is Of concrete,
nineteen feet deep. and the whole m0uu-
mens weighs more than 1000, 900 pounds.
The white granite used in tne coa-
struction OF the monument IL from the
Hailoweli Granite Works ut HaiIowell,
Maiue.
There, is a room inside the pedestal,
nineteen feet across, OF crnclform shape.
In this room are three inches Designed
10 recsfve such revolutionary d histor-
tcsl trophies as may be presented to the
Association.
Access to tie observatory at the top OF
the monument WILL be had by means Of
an electric elevator. The view from tue
observatory Is one of great Beauty; the
country fer miles around being spread
out LII n panorama at oue's feet. Tnir-
teen slect1ic lights will crown the top of
the observatory, aud l5 is hoped that at
least i've OF them will be lighted every
night.
There will be two bronze statues at the
doorway, one representing an infantry
man and the other \ cavalry man. On
the ole above the base are blanks on
which will be placed four bronze feliefs
of events connected with the paEtIe OF
Trenton and the Revolutions arg War,
which will be fully described later.
The States OF New York, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts and Nav Jersey, with the
Phfladeiphis City Troop, and the New
Jersey Society of the Cincinnati have
contributed largely ii different ways to
the success OF the Drojscr.
The location OF the monument was oc-
cupied by n large brick building Used as
a carriage factory. This Was finally
RACED TO the ground, aud ground for
the monument -broksn September. 20.
1891.
LAYING OF THE CoRNER STONE.
The &orner stone was laid with impress
sive ceremonies on Saturday, December
26. 1891. the one bundled u fifteenth
anniversary # the battle of Trenton.
III exercises were conducted in tho
rain, hut little attention was paid to II,
however. The City Troop under COM
mand Of Cfpt. e. v. r. chards escorted
Governor Albeit, the Monument Com
Diittee and invited guests from the State
House to the monument Mayor d. j.
BechteI presided. Prayer was offered