The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-11-09
The Curtis Statue.

TO the Editor of The Gate City:
Some persons have seen fit to ask
The city council to tear down the sol.
! dler's monument at the intersection
of Third and Main streets and erect it
at another site. 1t seems to us that
tais is child's play, and quibbling and
trif1ing, and an outrage of sentiment
Judgment and patriotism.
1t is scarce ten years ago since the
monument was decided upon after con.
sultation with the leading men of the
city. Months of consideration was
given and many sites considered but
most finally agreed upon the present
location for the following reasons.
1t was at the gate way of the city
Most strangers coming up Johnson
street naturally turned along Third to
Main street ard those coming I'D Main
OF course passed the monument.
General Curtis residence and his
down town office were both on Third
street near the present monument.
The keokuk public library is a.
Taird and Main street and 1t was
though the Curtis statue would be eff
fective to high endeavor of the youth
of Keokuk. The location was in a com
pleted and populous part of the city
| with many hotels and public buildings
where watchmen are stationed. thus
securing the statue from vandalism
These and many other reasons OBJ
tanned and the present sit was caos.
en-.
There has been nothing to change
this conclusion of facts for fortunately
Main is very wide street and of ca
pacity to carry safely & hundred
thousand population past the Curtis
statue.
But few days ago the citizens O.
keokuk assembled at the intersection
Of laird and Main streets and with
civic pomp, and the panoplv of re-
ligion and patriotism unveiled to the
world monument of bronze and gran
lite which they hoped might endure for
ages as loyal token of their graft
tude and appreciation of the sacrifices
made in their behalf by the citizen
soldiery of Keckul and Iowa The
monument consists of a great pedestal
of granite, upon which is craven the
names Of companies or regiments that
served in the war of the Rebellion and
the pedestal is surmounted by a
bronze equestrian statue of General
Samuel r. Curtis, worthy leader Of
Iowa's soldiery. The whole forming
soldiers monument dedicated to the
memory of those who paid their all
of life and hone and Joy upon the al
tar of their country.
The granite pedestal of this NOM
ment is huge sarcophagus OF mem.
orv: within It's walls are the tears and
sobs Of the women who sent their sons
and sweethaarts and brothers and hus.
bands and fathers off to the war
Within 1t is the smoke Of battle. the
screaming shell;the whistling bulJe..
the shower of blood. The MIGHTY exnlo
sions; the sinking shin: tho dead upon
the land; the dead upon the water:
the groans of the wounded. and rows
upon rows of the known and unknown
dead, who died that we might enjoy
life liberty and the pursuit of han
piness.
And hast thou forgotten all these
things IN half dozen snort wears
Oh Mani Man. Thou are more un.
stable than water.
This soldiers monument is a sacred
thing, 1t cannot be moved about from
place to place by profane hands T,
las rendered the ground upon which
it stands. revered and historic; do not
disturb its dignity or repose.
EX-ALDERMAN.