The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-22
INDIANA MONUMENT DEDICATED.
Greatest Structure Ever Erected to Memory
of Fallen Heroes.


The Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Mon
ument, the greatest structure ever erected
to the memory of fallen heroes, was for
mally dedicated May Is, in the presence
of probably 100000 people. Indianapolis
was flied to overlooking with veterans
and other visitors in attendance at the An
nual Meetings of the G.. A. R., W. Il. c.,
the Ladies of the G. A. R., and other pa
triotic orders The National Guard was
also assembled under arms. The younger
veterans of the SpanishAmerican War
and the veterans of the Mexican War, to-
gether with troops of the Regular Army,
| also participated in the exercises.
Early in the day veterans assembled in
front of the State House, and escorted the
old flags from their resting place i'll the
Museum of the Capitol to the platform
temporarily built around the north side Of
the monument. Fully $4,000 veterans par
ticpated in these ceremonies.
At 10 O'Clock the formal exercises were
held at the monument.
Gov. Durbin called the assemblage to
order. Gen. Lew Wallace presided Past
Chaplain-in-C Chief of the Grand Army of
the Republic, ID. L. Lucas, delivered the
Grafton, and the address of the day was
delivered by Gen. John w. Foster. Jacob
WhtcOmb Riley read an original poem
written for the occasion, and a chorus of
400 voices furnished the music, assisted by
the gathered thousands.
In the afternoon occurred the parade of
the veterans through the downtown
streets, ending at the monument where
veSper services were held. COMMANDMENT
Chief Ell Torrance delivered an GRAFTON,
and the touching ceremony of bidding
farewell to the old flags by the veterans
who fought under them followed. The
tattered remnants of the civil war were
then placed again i'll the State Museum,
never again to be carried i'll parade.
HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT.
The Legislature of 1887 recognized the
growing agitation for monument, and III
1887 a bill was passed, which WAS ap-
proved by Gov. Gray March 3 of that
year, appropriating S200.000 for the work.
This act provided for the appointment of
a Board of Commissioners, which, when
appointed. consisted of Samuel Il. Noyles,
of Salem: u. G. McColum. of Laporte;
George NJ. Johnson and Daniel NJ. Rams
dell, of indianapolis, and George j. Langs-
dale. of Greencastle, father-in-law of Sen
atOr Beveridge. The board was organized
June 2S. 1887. by electing Mr.. Langsdale
President, and James f. Gookins, of In
dianapolis. Secretary.
Bruno Schmitz, of Berlin, was chosen
supervising architect, and Frederick Ban
mann, of Chicago, was named as Mr..
SchmitZ's representative in this country.
Bids were opened for the monument in
January. 1889, and of the 13 bids submit
ted the Tcrre Haute Stone Company was
the lowest, with bid of $139,fOO, the bids
running from that figure to S219,GOO.
The cornerstone was laid August -,
1889, the work up to that time costing
IN IN wa InlIvnrnl nv a
President of the United States, Gen. Ben
iamin Harrison. Charles NJ. Travis, In
diana Commander of the Grand Army of
the Republic. laid the cornerstone. Gov.
Hovey presided. and two Vice-Presidents
from each district were named. They in
Guided Maj. G. V. Menzies, of Mt. Yer
non; Col. II. NJ. Mcpherson, of Evansville;
Maj. !. Il. HOman, of Danville: Judge j.
G. Robinson, of Spencer; j. +. White, of
Fort Wayne, and Col !. Z. Mcdonald, of
Columbia City, who introduced the bill for
the monument in the Legislature and faith
cred it throughout the session. The cost
of the monument has been $6I5,0O0.
LARGEST MONUMENT TO vALoR.
The Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors
Monument is the largest structure in the
world erected TO commemorate the valOr
of a Nations heroes. The diameter of
plaza surrounding the monument is 1927
feet; monument foundation. 60 by 80 feet;
hight of monument, including Foundation,
314 IL feet; hight of monument from
street level to top. 2S4 IL feet; hight of
Victory Statue, SO feet.
The balcony, Dds IL feet above the
ground, is reached by an electric elevator
or by a stairway consisting Of 324 steps.
From the top an unsurpassed view of In
dianapolis is obtained. Below the balcony
is a bronze astragal bearing the dates 1861
1860 on the four sides of the shaft and
illuminated by electricity.
Midway up the monument is second
bronze astragal, emblematic of the Navy,
and farther down a third bronze astragal
representing the Army. On the east and
west sides of the monument are the two
largest groups that were ever carved out
of StOne-the one on the east representing
war, the other peace. On the south front
are two heroic statues, each cut out of
huge block Of stone; one represents infan-
try, the other a cavalry scout On the
north front are the artillery and navy rep
resentatives, the same as on the south. On
the east and west sides of the terrace are
magnificent cascades, over each of which
flow 1000 gallons of water per minute.
On subordinate pedestals occupying po-
sitiOns in the four segments are bronze
statues of Gov Morton. Gov. Whitcomb,
Gen. William Henry Harrison and Gen.
George Rogers Clark. In the crypt Is a
complete light and power plant for exclu-
sive use at the monument