Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-19
THE TOMB ALMOST BUILT.
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which are lined with double rows of trees,
and in each of the four quadrantS are to
be planted beds of flowers. military
character is given TO this portion Of the
work by eight statues of armed soldiers,
in marble and of heroic size, guarding
this, the principal entrance to the tomb
The trees in the square are planted In
regular order, so as to have the effect OF
a double avenue
The masonry throughout the entire ap-
proaeh will be of white marble. The bril-
die paths in the avenue of approach are
each 20 feet wide, the carriageway 80
feet wide and each of the sidewalks 20
feet wide. There will be four rows of
trees in the approach, as well as in the
boulevard chiefly elms and horse chest
nuts. The square, which is 440 feet
square approximately, will be surrounded
by horse chestnut trees. The flights of
steps above and below the fountain are
80 feet At intervals on the staircases
viii be bay trees.
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 most
imposing apartment Around the dome,
so 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. circular open
ing IS feet in diameter and surrounded
by an iron railing will permit the visitor
to look down at the coffin as it rests on
the sarcophagus in the middle of the
crypt below.
At each of the four corners of the maui
solemn will be a square pier, and these
piers will be hollow. In the two southern
ores spiral stairways will admit visitors
to the crypt, where they will walk entire
~ around the sarcophagus, which Will
be IA .sed enough to allow them to read
the inscriptions on it and the coffin.
In the two northern piers will be an eX-
hibtion of Grant relics. In these inches
will be shown battle flags. swords carried
by the general and other souvenirs 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 a
balcony around the circular part of the
monument from which a fine 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 a series of granite col
umns 81 feet in height will support sec
ond balcony over 120 feet above the
ground. Inside this part of the structure
a winding stairway will allow visitors to
reach the second balcony and from this
point on a clear day one viii be able TO
sac twenty-five or thirty miles up. the
river. The top Of the dome is to be 1855
feet from the ground and $50 above the
level of the river
Two statues of General Grant will
shortly be unveiled. One will be unveiled
on April % in Brooklyn. 1t has been
erected by the Union League club of that
city. The granite pedes al is 16 feet high,
and the statue itself, from the fore hoof
of the horse to the top of the riders hat,
measures Is feet s inches. Many as;o-
Citations of war veterans will take part,
also the family of Col. Fred D. Grant,
the generals eldest son. still more
pretentious statue is under way for the
city of Philadelphia, but it will not be
ready for unwilling until June.