The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1910-07-09
JEFFERSON
MEMORIAL
MONUMENT PLANNED IN COM.
MEMoRATloN OF LOUIS
lana PURCHASE.
COST $4,000 AS DESIGNED

QST $4OO, OOO AS DESlGNED
Louisiana Purchase Day is oh.
served by ST. Louis. Annually, on the
sOth day Of April, the officers and
directors Of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition assemble with city officials
rs their guests. The custom is six
years old. The Worlds Fair Of 1904
opened on Louisiana Purchase Day"
Since the Fair the day has been OBJ
served regularly, and with Increasing
interest. This year the gathering was
Of much more than local Importance.
It was made memorable by the pres
entation Of the completed design and
plans for the erection at St Louis
of a monument to Thomas Jefferson
In commemoration Of the acquisition
of the Louisiana Territory"
The quoted words are from an act
Of Congress passed in March, 1909,
to encourage the movement. More
than twelve months a commission has
been engaged upon the plans to be
submitted first to the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition directors, and, upon
their approval, to the city Of ST. Louis
Beginning with the assurance that at
least 5000, 900 would be available, the
commission from time to time sub
mitted sketches Of no fewer than five
different designs.
Plans Are Approved.
The subject Of a fitting monument
20 Jefferson in connection with the
acquisition Of the Louisiana Territory
grew upon the minds Of the commits
sion and Of the board Of directors of
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
The commission was given increased
latitude. The result was that the
monument as presented at the ami
versary dinner this year will cost
twice as much as the original esti
mate. The directors by a unanimous
vote approved the plans and directed
the Executive Committee to carry
them out upon receipt Of the approva
Of the city government.
This monument as now designed
will cost $4OO. 1000, exclusive Of thu
site, which will be given by the city
II is more than stone and marble. !
is a living monument which will grow
in estimation with generations L
come. It is such a monument as Jei
ferson would have chosen.
The idea of a Jefferson monumsn
in commemoration Of the acquisitio
Of the Louisiana Territory is not new
A quarter Of a century ago the lat
James G. Blaine in an address at S
Louis told the business men Of tn
Merchants Exchange II Was a r.
proach to this great section Of tn
country that no monument to Je
ferson had been erected TO commen
crate the acquisition Of the terrritor.
The words Of Mr.. Blaine were: "You
growth, gentlemen, is the growth {
the Republic, but ! feel | have on
reproach against the Trans.Missi
sippi Department. My reproach
every foot, to every inhabitant Of II
Territory Of Louisiana is that on f
surface, which represents a third pa
Of the United States. there Is not
statue raised 70 Thomas jefferson"
In 1893 a Louisiana Purchase Co
vention was held in ST. Louis. Eyei
state and territory in the Purcna.
was represented by delegates, rcpr
sentative men. who had received CT
deLtials from their respective COVER
ors. The convention was called
consider and determine the most o
propriate form Of observance Of Il
approaching centennial Of the acquiI
ton. The delegates declared by una
imous vote in favor Of a Worlds FaI
but throughout the proceedings Il
sentiment was marked that in son
way there should result from Il