Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-28
GRANT TOMB DEDICATION.
CONTINUED from page o.

Tain 81 design which sHOuld at once De
work of art, picturesque to the popu-
lar eye. and durable enough to last
through the ages. great caution was
taken and>ideas and plans We're criti.
cised from every standpoint. 1t was
not until september. 1890, that the plans
of j. II. Duncan Of New York, were ac-
ceptad by the association, and on the
anniversary of General Grants birth
day in 1891 ground was broken. with
appropriate ceremonies, for the con-
struction of a tomb to cost between
$1,000 and $600,0O0
BY January, 1892, with the work OF
construction under way, the fund had
languished. Despite all effort the funl
had for several months remained sta
tionary at S155. 900. From other states,
where there had been strong opposition
to the burial of General Grant in New
York. protests came that the city had
not fulfilled it's promises to erect a
suitable tomb A growing sentiment
that the remains should have been de-
posted in the National cemetery re,
suited finally in the introduction of n
bill in Congress by which the removal
was to have been made from New York
to Washington.
Prominent citizens became alive to
the situation and an organized move
inent resulted in the election of Cen
eral Horace Porter, who had been
Grants chief of staff, as president of
the Grant Monument Association.
Frederick ID. Happen, president of the
Ciallatin National bank. was made
treasurer. 1his was in February, 1892.
and at the same time the Legislature
amended the charter of the association
80 that 100 citizens took the place of the
former committee of SO. All officers Of
the newly organized association served
without compensation, d. O. Mills pro-
vided offices free and the expenses IF
collecting the fund became nominal al
though the work-because of the I'M
mense amount of detail and the small
ness of individual donations-was
onerous
Then began the memorable campaign
Of 60 days in which time it was pro-
POSED to raise the remaining 1850, 600.
The actual work began in the early
days of April, 1892, and in a week such
had been the effort that the city fairly
dead general.
As a result of this stirring up of pub
lie feeling. when half the allotted 60
days had expired. ON April p, the day
the corner stone of the monument was
laid, the Grant Monument Association
that $202 S90.50 had been
raised during the month. When the
campaign closed on May 3, 1892. the
amount had reached the necessary
$3.50. 900 Before that year was out
S4o4 900 had been subscribed, which
added to the earlier subscriptions Of
$155, 900 made a total of $3.50 The
balances left in the trust companies
have brought the fund up TO 5000 600.
One hundred feet above mean high
water of the Hudson river the Grant
monument stands, a solid pile of white
granite $50 feet in height The first y
feet of. this height is a cube of the
Grecfan Doric order which measures 80
feet ON all sides.
The entrance. on the southern side, Is
enclosed by a portico made up of row
of recessed columns. Above and be-
hind the portico rises an almost blank
wall. which will one day be relieved by
he four equestrian statues SHOWN
in plans Of the monument. ana
finishes in Il parapet which shows upon
It's face the sculptured figures of Peace
ard War.
Above the parapet. there starts alb
ruptly a cupola, 20 feet in diameter.
surrounded, as a relief, with Ionic
columns.
Around the crown of the cupola line
Of fasces, surmounted with eagles.
connects the columned drum with the
pyramidical top.
The fiawless granite of which theI
-onb consists is of dotted whitish gray
taken from a quarry of uniform grain.
ard is 50 light in tone that in the
strong sunlight it is hardly distinguish
able from marble.
Passing up the great steps which eX-
-end three-Quarters of the way across
the front of the structure, one comes
il st to the doors of the tomb, filling q
space 16 feet Az inches in height and
.ine feet in width. OF bone-dried ash,
covered thickly with a composition of
copper and tin, these doors weigh three
and one-half tons. In each door are
-hree panels. ornamented with liSI
bronze rosettes, the "A on the larger
central panel being each twice the size
# a mans fist, and all riveted to the
doors with heavy bolts.
Beyond the doors. after a clear space
If 3S feet, is Is foot opening directly
lver the crypt beneath. The interior Of
he monument is cross shaped and the
our corner arches are so feet above the
loor. On these arches rests an open
gallery with an inner diameter of 43I
'eet, which is approached by two cir
ular corner stairways, each with 6s
steps. Above the gallery extends the
dome. 1-5 feet above the floor.
md below through the opening can be |
cen the lower floor, and still lower the |
rypt with the sarcophagus.
The pendentives formed between the
circular dome and the arches are
decorated in high relief sculpture, en-
,lematic of the military and civic life
# General Grant.
The windows are II in number three
n each side of the cross-shaped in
erior
The crypt is reached by side stair
Ways which lead directly into the pas
age encircling the space in which rests
he sarcophagus. This passage is shut
l.