Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-08-11

A correspondent makes several in
quiries about the Confederate monu.
ment on State capitol grounds, the an
swers to which may be of interest to
others:
1. The first public suggestion Of such
monument was made by Mrs. Luther
Manship in the spring Of 1886. In June
of that year the Ladies Confederate
| Monument Association was organized.
! The foundation stone ION which the
statue of Jefferson Davis stands was
laid by the Masonic grand lodge May
25, 1858.
?. The monument cost s14. 1000, of
which the ladies raised 1000 and the
State appropriated $4,000. 1t was un.
yelled in 1891, June s, anniversary of
the birth of Mr., Davis, on which occa-
sion Senator E. c, Walthall and Ex-
Governor Robert Lowry delivered ora
tions. The United Confederate Vete-
rams, of which General Gordon is COM
mander, was organized in the capitol
on that day.
8. The monument is 60 feet inches
from base line to top of cap on soldiers
head. 1t is built of Alabama granite,
the foundation blocks being from Bowl
ing Green, Ky, and the statue of Mr..
Davis from Carrara, Italy. Capt. j. T,
! Whitehead, jackson, Tenn, was the
contractor and builder.
T. 1t is for the legislature to say
whether the monument shall remain
where it is or be removed to the new
capitol grounds That is a matter to
be carefully considered, and it is well
to be thinking about it before any leg.
islative action.
5. The Confederate soldier was in.
tended to be, and is considered a good
resemblance to Colonel George NJ. Go
van, then secretary of State. The
statue of Mr.. Davis, in the octagonal
chamber was accepted by a very close
vote in a committee of fifteen, who
knew him personally.
| "Ihe NatCheH, jackson columbus
Mr. Wilson, in his Picayune Current
Comment, has done good service in d.
recting special attention to the neces
sity for, and advantage Of, extending
the Little j." as originally intended,
from Jackson through Rankin, Leake
Winston, Noxubee and Lowndes to the
coal and iron mines of Alabama. This
writer was one of the delegation from
jackson that attended the first public
meeting in Natchez, to consider the
building of a road from that point to
the Illinois Central. Col. Garland, of
Summit, made great speech in favor
Of that point, and offered immense in.
ducements in the way of donations of
| lands; but when Hon. Geo. l.. Porter
made the argument for the route indi.
Gated above, making an air line by
placing a cotton string on Natchez ard
| Columbus, he captured the meeting,
and the jackson and Columbus route
was voted The arguments so ably
made are fully as strong now, and 1t is
hoped that the prophecies then ex.
pressed will soon materialize.
Judge Chas. b. Howry. of Mississippi
and L. S. Court of Claims, Washington,
and Mrs Buckingham X. Smith, nee
Sallie Pickens Bird, were married July
25 at Sans Souci, the home of Col. Perry,
near Greenville, S. c., Rev. DR.. E. P.
Palmer, of Virginia, formerly of Ok.
ford, officiating. The Judge has great
army of friends in old Mississippi who
congratulate him on this among the
many successes of his honorable and
useful career.
The Republican central committee
will meet in jackson August IA to NOM
mate ten candidates for presidential
electors from the state ut large.
Wiley P. Ennis, of bonneville, q
been granted a patent for combinev
scruhbipg brush and mop.