The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-30
"A DISGRACE
TO ILLINOIS.
Says Gov. Tanner at the
Lincoln Monument.
STRUCTURE is CRUMBLING
The Historic Pile Will Have TO Be
Entirely Rebuilt.
APPROPRIATION TO BE ASKED FOR

Springfield, Ill. Sept. 30. This is a
disgrace TO our state, said Gov Tanner
as he sauntered through the underground
passage Letween the foundation wall OF
the Lincoln monument and viewed the
crum bled, ruin and decay that Is fast put
ting In an appearance at the place. Gov.
Tanner was companied by several per-
sons on the trip Of exploration, and oil of
these were astonishingIy surprised at the
manner the walls are going 90 ruin.
Upon the nyestigatinn of DIR. Wohlge-
muth, the president of the board of man
ayers of Oak Ridge cemetery. there
assembled at the city hall party OF rep
resentative citizens OF the city of Spring
field. They represented the city council,
the board Of managers Of Oak Ridge Gem.
etery, the committee chosen To SEQ what
could be done towards paving Monu-
mental avenue % tho cemetery, Gov
Tanner and Mayor Wheeler. All took
carriages and were driven 10 the monu-
ment, where careful examination was
made. The party was composed OF tho
following:
Gov. Tanner Mayor Wheeler, Dr.
Wohlgemuth. Col ID. W. Wickersham,
George W. Krodell, Aldermen X G.
Steele, John Ettle brick, John L. Phillips.
Fred Zum brook; ex-Mayor X. ID. Law
renee, City Comptroller VIM. ConkliD,
City Clerk, Il. /. Hickman, City Treas.
urer August w. Kosshergor Major j. w.
Southwick, Superintendent OF water
works. Edward ID. Keys, member bonrd
OF education. Prof. j. ii. Collins. city
superintendent of schools; Henry &.
Latham, mem ber Of social COMMITTEES on
paving OF Monumental avenue; Louis H.
Miner OF Illinois State Journal; Ed Pate
of the Evening News, and Will Colyin,
OF the State Register.
Upon the arrival at the tomb of the
martyTed president an examination was
made OF the outside walls and the monu-
ment in general, and all expressed sur
prise that the monument should be al
lowed to 20 to ruin in the manner that it
Is going. The hand of decay has Ger.
tainly laid "A strong hold upon the his
tOric pile, and in IA short time the entire
monument will have To be rebuilt frouI
its foundations On the outside it was
found that many uf the corners of the
stones used in the construction were
crumbling, and many of them have be-
come loosenod. and with little jarring
could De forced from their places OF lodg.
munu TO the ground. TIE cement be-
tween the stones has become looscned. de-
cayed, and has fallen away, leaving an
appearance that Is anything but Tleasing
TO the eve. Even the steus leading to the
top Of tho monument are in IA state of de-
coy and tho cement has fallen away from
these, leaving them in such shape that it
will TO but a short time until they Will
Dc unsafe 20 mount.
From tho outside the party proceeded
TO the memorial hall on the II side OF the
structure. The decay here is not so
noticeable as in other places. The walls
are covered with mementoes. but the yain
from above has soaked through and had
NJ IN AZ lx- ra n.
ing. The colors that were used in the
decoration Of the ceiling ana in the fres-
coe work have run together and are an
unrecognizahle mass of what was on 90 a
handsome piece Of art, In tho line Of fresoo-
ing. Ihe plastering OF the ceiling of the
memorial hall has also become cracked
from boiug water soaked. and IL wiz not
be long until new ceiling will have To be
put In or the present one will fall.
A lantern was next secured. and under
the guidance Of Col johnson, the GUS
todian Of the monument, the trip was
made into the dark passages between the
foundation walls. The monument was so
heavy that at the time il WAS built
several walls were placed beneath it 10
support the great weight. IL was well
those walls were placed in position, or
now the monument would not be stand
ing. and as IL is they will not be Of sutfi-
nient strength 20 hold the weight much
louRtT. IL WAS lUuetu "a prise tO All Tue
mem beIs of tho party 20 find the decay as
extensive as IL is, and 10 cannot be
described so that the exact extent of 1T
cannot be fully realized. The only way
TO get correct idea of the decay OF the
monument Is TO take a trip below 10 and
view the walls with tho naked eye.
Tpero are walls running in oil four OF
the directions and In these are to be found
largo cracks that would admit a mans
finger The greater part OF the decay Is
on the east side of the monument and the
walls that support that side. The arches
are cracked at the top and many of the
bricks have fnllen out. Others OF these
have Crumbled and ore OF hut little use
for so great weight IA they are support
ing. Many of the parties viewing the
crevices and cracks in the walls were un
easy and anxious 20 get out Of the place
| fearing that tho walls might fall befor,
! they could get out.
Upon invitation Of Mai. Johnson anC
wife, coli was paid TO the new lodg,
| which was erected as residence for TIT
| custodian OF the grounds some time ago
| Tho lodge is small but cosy place. an,
Mrs. johnson says she is in love will
! her home
a stop wns made at the home OF .Iohr
| Shaupp, the Superintendent Of th
| Rrounos, and here came the finishing
touch OF the afternoon. II was COLLATION.
| Htt lhitu W NlIt. ouhuID Auu SUI AIbl
] tho lawn. beneath tho shading branche
! Cf large oak tree. The ropGst consiste,
q friou chicken. salads, grapes peaches
/ etc. A vote CO thanks was rendered Mrs
| Shaupp for her goodness in preparing
such n repast for hun gry lot of TCrsons
| At the conclusion OF the luncheon lJr
! Wohlgemuth maue "a few hiiei remark
and concluded by asking Gov Tanner {
| say few words. Ibo governor respOude
! AMI said that 20 would be willing 90 d
/ ANYTHING In bis power TO have tho monu
ment put ~ proper shape but he though
| thls was imuossible until the next ses
| sion of the legislature year and y hal
hence, when IL would be well to make q
I ondCayor Co get an appropriation OF a
! least slO0. uuO for the rabuiidiug of th
monument from tho foundation up.
Hon X ID. LnwrorCe also delivered
short address One Of the remarks q
Mr. Lawrence. who is n practical cor
tractor. was: H. ought 20 be- criminal fo
n mnu 90 90 piece of work as this on
has been done
As suoa ne rosgiuio an cndcayor VIII D
made 90 have nov homo sfoCtai for ~
surcrintCBdent ~ the comstrry IS the or
now occuri q bv him f. quito az ancieu