New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28
THE MONEY FOR THE TOMB.
HOW THE ASSOCIATION RAISED THE
100000


HORACE poRTER-HIsToRy OF THE srRUCr-
URE-THD TOTAL NUMBER OF CON-
TRIBUToRs ABOUT 10000
The story of the selection Of Riverside Park
as the site Of General Grants tomb and the man.
rer in which the money raised with which
TO rear a monument worthy Of the great Gen.
eial is one of much interest. 1t will be remem-
bered that at one time. after the work Of rails
Ing the necessary funds had been about one
third finished. public interest in the undertake
ing appeared to have slackened and almost died
out. Indeed, to many it seemed that the project
was destined never to be carried out. And yet,
as a matter of fact, the massive tomb that now
overooks the Hudson and inoloses the body of
the illustrious soldier was built in a shorter
time with few exceptions. than any other i'm
portant memorial on any continent.
Five years have elapsed between the laying
Of the cornerstone. on April 81, 1892 and the
dedication Of the tomb yesterday. The Bunker
Hill Monument. which cost about a third of
the sum expended upon the tomb. was seven
teen years in building. The Albert Memorial in
London and the Kaiser Wilhelm Denkmal in
Berlin were built in a comparatively short time.
but they all built with money raised by
taxation, while the Grant tomb was built with
money contributed entirely by popular subscrip
ton.
Hardly had the news of Grants death been
flashed over the country on the night Of July %.
1885. when the question arose. Where shall he
be buried? 1t question that difficult
10 answer satisfactorily. To many It seemed
appropriate that the last resting place of the
dead General should be in Washington. where
ne had lived es President for eight years and
where lies the body Of General Phil Sheridan.
From Illinois came demand that his body
should be buried at Galena, where he had lived
for several years Of his young manhood before
the war began. And. OF course New-York. with
one voice, claimed the honor its due. But it
the fact that. nearly those about him
In the days just before his death could deter
mine, the General himself wished to be buried
in the city of his adoption. the metropolis Of his
country, which led TO the final choice of this
city. and when Mayor Grace promised that the
city would provide suitabl, spot for tho tomb.
either in Riverside Park Central Park. the
Generals family hesitated no longer.
BEGINNING THE WORK
Five days after Grants death at Mount Mo-
Gregor. Mayor Grace sent out call for meet
ing Of prominent citizens. to meet the trus: i'm
posed upon the city. and at the City Hall com.
mittee was appointed, which. with ex-President
Chester A. Arthur its chairman. started the
movement which resulted in the erection of tho
memorial which now looms above the Hudson
at Riverside Park. The Grant Monument Asso
citation itself was not organized until February,
1856. when ex-President Arthur chosen
president Office which. owing to the progress
OF the fatal nalady which caused his death, he
held only week, being succeeded by Sidney
Dillon. All this time efforts had been making to
raise the monument fund ans they had met with
considerable success, $4,000 having been
cured After this, progress was slower for sew
sral years. The Office OF president was taken in
1857 by Cornelius Vanderbilt. and in 1888 by ex-
Mayor William r. Grace.
Up TO 1890 the efforts Of the association were
directed only toward raising money. but it
seemed likely that II the plans for tho monu-
ment itself assumed more tangible proportions
II would stimulate subscriptions and consequent
ly architects We're invited to submit designs for
an appropriate memorial. After much careful
consideration the plans Of J. II. Duncan. Of this
city. accepted IN September. 1890. They
provided for the structure to cost between $780,
900 and 100000. and their provisions. except in
some minor details have been carried out.
BREAKING GROUND FOR THE TOMB.
SO much having been determined the associA-
ton proceeded rapidly with the work OF carrying
out the plans. The initial contracts were made
and ground was broken on Grants birthday
April o. 1891. Tho ceremonies attending tho
breaking Of ground were comparatively simple
They were held under the auspices of the De-
partment OF the State Of New-York, Grand Army
OF the Republic, whose commander, Charles H.
Freeman, was the presiding offcer. The prin-
cipal feature Of the programme was an grafton
by General Horace Porter
Up TO this time the fund for the tomb had risen
10 only about S155, 200. and at that point 1t
Seemed inclined 10 stay. In the rest Of 1891 con-
tributions were few and small. and complaints
OF the hardness Of New-York IN performing
what 1t had promised began to como in from
all parts OF the country. For about year New
York was made the target for the abuse and at
tacks Of the newspapers and public men Of tho
entire country 1t was said. and repeatedly said.
and said with some show of reason. that New
York showed a lamentable lack Of public spirit
in delaying 80 long TO subscribe the money 1t
had virtually promised to give for a fitting me-
mortal TO the Nations great soldier. So high did
the feeling run that it even found expression in
Congress, where bill was introduced providing
for the removal Of General Grants body to WASH
ington.
OF course, this proposal Immediately aroused
a violent storm Of wrath from New-York State
and city. and a vast deal Of comment from the
rest Of the country, and the New-York Congress
men raised so strenuous an opposition that the
bill finally failed Of passage. The effect OF all
this agitation. however, was beneficial. 1t
stirred the city up to realization OF Its duty
and its responsibility to the country and TO the
old soldiers, who more than anybody else felt
the apparent neglect shown to the memory OF
their commander.
NEW ERA FOR THE ASSOCIATION.
In February. 1892. General Horace Porter was
elected president Of the Grant Monument Asso-
citation. a place he has held ever since. With
his advent 10 the office the association seemed