New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28

eHort to be made to complete the work within
the specified time. To achieve the end desired
the committee appealed to every line of trade
ana business in the city. The members OF the
ASSOCIATION went TO the men in control OF the
churches, hotels. theatres and halls Of the city,
asking for rooms in which to hold public meet
ings, and these requests were granted without
exception, so that for time there was scarcely
an evening when there were not a number Of
Grant meetings held in the city.
The clubs of the city. the various patriotic
organizations and the Chamber of Commerce
also took prominent part in the movement.
At the meetings held temporary organizations
In the form Of subscription comm
formed, and every effort made arouse
the interest of the public and to empha the
Importance of the cty's fulfilling the promise it
had made to the country. The committees ap-
pointed were thoroughly organized and pro-
vided with subscription books. Subscription
lists were printed and placed in all the large
shops. banks, hotels, manufactures, clubs and
places where numbers of men frequently met.
Appeals were also made to the churches. schools.
armories and financial Institutions Boxes for
the reception Of smaller contributions were also
placed in stores. banks. hotels and the elevated
railway stations. The newspapers early entered
into the spirit of the movement, gave much
space to the accounts Of the progress
made and lent their influence TO the accom-
plishment of the desired end. The sum men,
toned as the least that it was needful to raise
S350,0O0, and these were the figures kept
in mind during the campaign that was pushed
so vigorously. General Porter made numerous
eloquent appeals.
Much accomplished by stimulating spirit
Of friendly rivalry between various organizations
engaged in the work of raising the money. From
time to time meetings of the committees were
held and progress was reported. and plans were
r'ade for future endeavoIs There were 30 OF
these committees engaged in the work. and the
total membership of them was about 2,ooO.
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE.
Half Of the sixty days sc: for the raising OF
the necessary $4,000 had expired when Cen
eral Grants birthday. April -, 1892, arrived.
and that day the cornerstone OF the present
monument. was laid with appropriate ceremo-
MES. President Harrison. who was present with
his Cabinet laid the cornerstone: Chauncey NJ.
Depew delivered an grafton. the Rev. DR.. JOHN
John Hall. pastor Of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain Church offered prayer and General PoF-
ter, president of the Grant Monument AssOCia-
ton, announced that in the thirty days or the
campaign 500 $50 had been raised a num-
Der OF articles were deposited in box beneath
the cornerstone. They included copies OF the
Constitution of the United States. the Declara-
ton of Independence. the Articles Of Confedera-
ton, the Bible the Memoirs Of General Grant,
the Grafton of Mr.. Depew; the prayer offered by
the Rev. DR.. r. S. Storrs and the Grafton dellV-
cred By John A. Logan at the first memorial ser
vices he'd owe. the temporary tomb after the
Generals body had been laid there; a silk
American flag badges Of the Loyal Legion and
the Grand Army OF the Republic. eleven medals
concentrating occurrences in General Grants
life and struck of in United States mii.ts, copies
OF New York and Brooklyn afternoon papers of
the date OF April 26, 1892, and morning papers
dated April 81. 1892, together with a complete
set OF the gold and silver coins Of the United
States.
After the cornerstone was laid, interest In the
project seemed to slacken for some unknown
reason and the officers and trustees OF the as
ISOLATION saw that unless some extraordinary
means were employed the necessary sum would
not be raised within the time contemplated
Somebody hit upon the idea Of offering prizes to
the school children for the best essays on the
life of General Grant and the plan was adopted
The result was surprising. The school children
took up the idea and went to work on the essays
with WILL They asked questions about Cen
eral Grants life OF everybody with whom they