The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-23
THE ARMY ASTRAGAL
Their Report in Full-Subsidiary
Statue PedestaIs Nearly Ready
Other Monument Matters.

The monument commissioners were in
session yesterday afternoon. President
Chadwick. of the Terre Haute stone
works, was present and informed the board
that with the exception OF a few pieces,
all the stone for the subsidiary statue
pedestals was ready for shipment, and that
the pedestals would be in place within a
few weeks. The model for decorating these
pedestals was approved. 1t is the work of
c. b. Atwood. OF Chicago, who was chief
Of architecture at the worlds fair, and
the design corresponds to that on the big
monument.
j. II. Mahoney was allowed $3.50 for work
on the model of the Clark statue and 5000
was ordered sent to Bruno Schmitz. Laak-
man and Sherer were notified to at once re-
pair the pavements in Monument Place.
President Langsdale was directed to as
certain the cost of four large flags for the
monument and report to the commission at
its next meeting.
Louis II. Gibson, w. Forsyth, ]. II. Ma
honey and Il. G. Steele, who were chosen
some time ago as a committee of experts
to examine the photographs, drawings and
other presented in connection
with Mr.. Geiger's army astragal for the
monument, submitted the following re-
port: 1.-THE design submitted and photo
graphs shown indicate a great improve
ment in the spirit and character of the
work over that formerly shown TO US.
While the photographs do not give an
adequate idea of the work as a whole. yet
there is a sufficient amount Of detail shown
which. together with the drawings, justify
our good opinion OF the work recently
done. Ii Is our judgment that II Will be
f tinne aa aSobpg proper per u nre dire Sb,c the a ars aSne 20 eo he
has now laid out for himself.
While the drawings and photographs do
not go greatly into detail we notice evil
dence OF a lack of historical accuracy in
the construction of the cannon, guns, har-
ness, knapsacks, dress and other accoutre-
ments which should receive attention on
your part. While Ii Is true that in an
artistic production OF this kind exact pro-
are not always necessary or desirable, yet
1t must be apparent that there should be
a Foundation of truth as to all details. 1t
would be unfortunate III any or the ac-
coutrements named and worked In as a
part or this design should not have been
used in our wars. For instance, we notice
list asking for a Winchester rifle, while in
point of fact the Winchester rifle was not
used In any OF our wars. The use of a
form of cannon unknown to our people
would justify disagreeable comments. 1t
is for that reason that we advise your
board of commissioners TO assure itself OF
the reasonable historical accuracy of the
materials used in this composition. Bear
in mind we do not, pretend to say that
always possible, yet the foundation Of
truth should be preserved"
In connection with this report the let
terS OF President Langsdale to MIR. Geiger
on the subject were read TO the commits
sion, and. together with the committees
report, concurred in. Mr.. Geiger's eagle
doesn't exactly suit the commissioners,
who regard 1t as too short a bird for the
genuine American brand. Mr.. Geiger will
be cautioned on this point, and will, no
doubt, have his eagle up to the standard.
The commissioners have had so much
trouble with eagles in connection with the
monument, especially with the one perched
on Indiana's head, that they don't care to
take chances on any more of the birds.
They want an eagle that is not liable to
criticism, from an artistic standpoint at any
rate.