Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-03-12
VERMONT CO. GETS CON-
TRACT.

The Vermont Marble Co. has been
awarded the contract to furnish the
Marble for the proposed Arlington
Memorial in Arlington cemetery, near
Washington, to be erected by the
federal government to honor the
memory of Americas soldiers and
sailors. 1t has been announced that
the commission having in hand the
choice of building material has decided
upon Darby marble and awarded the
contract for the $3.50, 600 monument to
the Vermont Marble company. 1t is
considered in the light of distinct
compliment that Vermont stone and
Vermont quarry owners should play
the principal part in the creation of
what has been perhaps somewhat con-
fidently and permaturely termed "the
most beautiful building in the world"
1t is fact that the federal govern
ment proposes to spare no expense or
effort to make the reminder of the
soldiers and sailors who wore the coat
of the Republic worthy one, express
sive of the devotion of the people.
This triumph of one of Vermont
products has very practical side for
many in this section of the State, for
it has been roughly estimated that 1000
carloads of material will be sent from
Rutland county to Washington for
81 l., ion,
of the company's part Of the contract
will require about two years. To the
hundreds of employees of the company
this means much, and more, perhaps,
to the former employees who lack work.
In 1913 Congress appropriated $780,
600 tor the purpose of erecting fit
ting memorial to the soldiers and sail
ors of America. all soldiers and sailors,
without reference to the particular
conflict in which they served. A COM
mittee was at that time named to
push to a desirable conclusion the
work begun by the legislators. This
committee consisted of Secretary Gar
rison of the department of war. Secre-
rotary Daniels of the department of the
navy, Elliott Woods, superintendent
of the United States capitol buildings,
Ivory G. Kimball of the Grand Army
of the Republic, and Charles w. New
ton of the Spanish War Veterans. The
choice of Dandy marble followed close
upon the heels of the decision to ac-
cept the plans drawn by Carrere and
Hastings which was a responsibility
placed upon the Fine Arts Commits
sion.
Arlington cemetery, formerly Airing
ton Heights, the home of Gen. Robert
f. Lee, is the nearest approach in
America to a national burial ground in
which the great and the patriotic may
be laid. The new building will, it is
anticipated, add materially to its fame
and its beauty. The structure will ex-
tend over $4,000 feet of space, it's
eliptical colonnade will be supported
by more than 100 giant columns, and
inside these wall facing the speakers
forum, OUUO per SOllS may NC StdlCu.
Grouped around the forum are tiers
of private boxes for the use of the
president and other distinguished
guests. Beneath the colonnade series
of crypts are to be constructed, where
/ in may be laid the illustrious soldiers
and sailors who have gained renown ir
their country's service. The Arlington
ampi heatre is no ordinary memorial
The majestic mortuary chapel and re-
? cepton hall join the colonnade opposite
the speakers forum. The interior of the
structure will be reminiscent of the
nation wars. In it will be displayed
embems and relics collected from
many battlefieds, and section will be
given over to statues of noted military
and naval men. in this setting, the
nation may conduct the burial service
of her honored sons.
: Practically all the marble is to come
from Dandy, while probably the finish
ing will be done at Proctor or Center
Rutland.