The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-01
THING OF BEAUTY IS THE MAUSOLEUM Memorial of Mckinley is Built
 of Granite E0llR STATES Rlllln T0MR
FOUR STATES BUILD TOMB
The Mausoeum Is In a Plot of Ground Containing Twenty-six Acres, All of Which Will Be Made
 Artistic.

Canton, O., September 30.-The McKin- ley mausoleum stands on an eminence to which has been give the name of Monu- ment hill, about two miles due west of the Mckinley home in the city of Canton. It is not an ornate affair, but it's simplicity is relieved by sufficient artistic embellsh- lnent to make it an object of beauty, as well as one of massive proportions and breadth of design.
 Four states have contributed a share of the material which has been used in the building of the monument. The granites used in the approaches and the mauso1eum proper are from the quarries of Milford, Mass. Tennessee has furn- ished the gray marble for the interior of the tomb, while the sarchophagi which now hold the bronze caskets in which lie the bodies of President and Mrs. Mckin- ley are of dark green granite from Wind sor, Vt. The base upon which the sarcho- phagi rest is black granite from Ber- lin, Wis.
 From the first step of the approach to the monument, to the actual top of the structure is 163 feet inches, the mauso-,
 
 above the summit of the mound. The top of the dome has an oculus 15 feet in diameter, through which flows softened lights, which adds greatly to the beauty of the interior
 The mausoleum is 7S feet inches in diameter. In the center of the floor be- heath the dome stand the sarcophagi COIL taining the bodies of the President and Mrs. Mckinley, and in niches on the north side of the dome are the caskets containing those of the two daughters, Ida and Mary, who died in infancy.
 Huge doric columns arep laced around the interior in sucE manner as to ap- pear half buried in the sides of the buid- ing. The floor is of mosaic marble. nav ing been brought t.oln many states for the purpose.
 Half way down from the top of the 125 granite steps that lead lp to the main entrance on the south side of the mausoleum stands an heroic bronze figure of President Mckinley, repre- senting him in the attitude usually assumed when speaking-his left hand holding a roll of manuscript, and the right hand in the trousers pocket. Be hind the figure is bronze chair en- circled with a wreath. and draped with the flag of the United States. The
 
 stands on a pedestal eighteen feet from the base to the feet of the figure.
 Twenty-six acres of ground were purchased by the monument commis- sion and the utmost art of the land scape gordener has been lavished upon the grounds. Natural streams flow past the base of the mound and trees and flower beds have been arranged with an eye to the greatest artistic beauty From the entrance to the grounds on the south to the foot of the mound is 590 feet, and along this distance a double driveway 175 feet in width has been constructed. Between the two sides of the driveway, a lagoon which is constantly filled with fresh water. Long rows of trees flank the lagoon and the driveways.
 The mausoleum and grounds have been built and arranged at a cost of so00,O00, anu it is the intention of the commission to raise an endowment fund of $150,O00 which preclude with the charging of fee for admission.
 At the next meeting of the mausolem trustees custodians vii be chosen, and 1t is the intention to ask for the indefinite detail of soldiers of the regular army to guard the tomb.
 The architect was H. Van Buren Mag onigle of New York and designer of the bronze figure standing before the mauso- leum was Charles Niehaus.