The Portland daily press., 1896-04-18

Here will be placed one on each siIc
equestrian bronze statnes, heroic size, OF
General Sheridan and General ShernnH,
guarding the entrance proper 20 the tonb
Here begin the steps, and JUST neyGnd
them are two broad sweeps, forming y
circle, and by easy grades tho upper lcse
is reached. where stands Grants mcnG-
ment Across the center of the circle mrs
broad flights of marble steps, Suggestive
OF the approach of the Capitol in Rome
In the center is q smaller circle, anu
here will bs situated beautiful foun-
tain.
This circle, SO admirable in design, is
in the center of square, the four sides
of which are lined with double rows OF
trees, and IN each of tho four quadrants
are to be planted beds of flowers 4
military character is given to this por-
ton of the work by eight statues of
armed soldiers, in marble, and of heroic
size, guarding this the principal entrances
to the TOMB. The trees in the SO unrs
are planted in regular order, SO as to the
have effect Of double avenue.
The masonry throughout the entire ap-
proach will be of white marble. Tha
bride paths in the avenue of approach
are each twenty feet wide, the carriage
way fifty feet wide and each Of the side.
walks twenty feet wide. There will ba
four rows of trees in the approach. as
well as in the Boulevard, chiefly elms
and horse chestnuts. The square, which
is 440 feet square approximately, will bs
surrounded by horse chestnut trees. This
flights of steps above and below the foun.
tain are fifty feet At intervals on the
staircases will be bay trees.
A GLIMPSE OF THE INTERIOR.
The interior Of the monument will be
most interesting. The main part of the
structure under the great dome is to be
called Memorial Hall, and is to be a most
imposing apartment. Around the dome,
niuety feet above the main floor of the
tomb, stained glass windows will let in
a soft light. Directly under this dome,
in the middle of Memorial Hall, circu-
lar opening eighteen feet in diameter and
surrounded by an iron railing will per-
NIT the visitor to look down at the
coffin as it rests on tho sarcophagus in
the middle of the crypt below.
AT each of the four corners of the maui
solemn will ba a square pier, and these
piers will be hollow. In the two south
ern ones spiral stairways will admit yisi-
| tors to the crypt, where they will walk
entirely around the saroophagus, which
will be raised enough to allow them to
| read the Inscriptions ON it and the coffin.
| In the two northern piars will be an
exhibition of Grant relics. In these
inches will be shown battle flags, swords
carried by the General and 9th er souyen.
irs of Grant Spiral stairways in the
corner piers will allow visitors to climb
up to the top of the base or square part
of the structure. Here they can walk
out on balcony around the circular part
of the monument, from which a Emo
view of the Hudson and upper part of
the city may be had.
| The lower part Of this round portion is
to be of plain, smooth blocks of granite
while above that q series of granite col
umns 27 feet in height will support a sec
ond balcony over 100 feet above the
ground. Inside this part of the structure
winding stairway will allow visitors to
reach the second balcony, and from this
point on clear day one will be able to
see twenty-five or thirty miles up the
river. The top of the dome is to be 1865