Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-05-30

MANY ARMY RELICS
Cost More Than 100000;
One Man Paid Half
Of 1t.

RICHMOND, Va, May 29.-The
confederate memorial institute, known
as the Battle Abbey, has been opened
for inspection in connection with the
United Confederate Veterans reunion,
which is to be held here June to 3.
The institute forms an interesting part
Of the collection Of permanent me-"
MORALS Of the civil wars, its promoters
having had in mind the memorialzInG
OF the part played by the south In the
great war events Of fifty years ago,
The building, completion Of which
awaits the return Of the artist, Charles
Roffhauer, from the European war;
stands in the western part of Rich
mond, In the center of fiVe-acre
tract, a gift from the state Of Nir-
gina. The ground for the structure
was broken January /, 1912, and the
cornerstone was laid the following
May. The building is located on a
raised terrace, broad flight of stone
steps flanked on either side by q
balustrade, leading from the entrance
to the lower levels Of the terrace.
The structure, which is faced
throughout with Indiana limestone,
consists of a central pavilion, with a
wing on each side, the total length
being $50 feet and tho height from
the terrace level to the top of the
parapet being "A feet At the main
entrance Is a portiCO Of four stOno
columns Of Roman-lonic design, %
feet in height. The two wings on the
outside are divided into panels by
means of pilasters Of u slight projec-
ton and below the COrnice are large
stones which, 1t is planned, will be
transformed into carved panels to
serve as memorials Of some Of the
great events which the building Is de-
signed to commemorate.
The hall In the south wing will bo
known as the memorial room, for the
decoration Of which Thomas +. Ryan
Of New York and Virginia, contributed
a large sum- Mr. HOffbauer has been
engaged to decorate the walls Of this
room with paintings Illustrative Of tho
civil war, but has not completed his
work. The north wing of the insti-
tute will be used as a library. on one
side will hang a large painting Of
Thomas jefferson and his cabinet as
well as the portraits Of all the war
governors. The association intends to
make the collection OF pictures and
books in the library Of great historic
value.
Beautifully Situated.
Treatment Of the park surrounding
the institute to make the grounds
as essentially part Of the memorial
as the building itself, is planned by
those in charge Of the work The
design Of the court Of honor includes
central pannel OF turf with recesses
for statues at the sides and ends. they
being outlined by a box border be-
tween which will be a ground cover
Of ivy, leading to double rows Of mag
nolias, the foliage of which will make
the great frame for the side OF the
court.
To Charles Broadway Rouss is at
tributed the credit OF having con-
celved the idea Of the confederate
memorial institute. At the veteran $
reunion in Houston, Texas, in 1895,
Mr.. ROuss offered to give 100000
for the erection Of memorial hail IL
an equal amount. The offer was ac-
cepted, committee appointed and
the committee made its report at the
reunion in Richmond in 1895. The
following veterans, many OF whom
since have died, were appointed char
ter members and trustees OF the
memorial association: Colonel John b.
Cary Virginia; Colonel Robert White,
West Virginia.; Colonel Thomas s.
Kenan, North Carolina; Colonel B. H.
league, South Carolina; General j. r..
Briggs, Kentucky; General Clement
A. Evans Georgia; j. S. Chaleron,
Louisiana; j. 3. Mcintosh Mississlp-
pi; John o. easier, oklahoma; Cen
eral W. H. Jackson, Tennessee; Cap
tain II. Mickey, Washington, ID CT
90
eral John Gill, Maryland; A. S. AS
bury, Missouri; William p. Campbell
Arkansas; l. S. Ross, Texos; d. NJ.
HALEY, Indian Territory; Colonel A
.C. Dickinson, New York.
The charter obtained from the state
OF Mississippi In August, 1896, pro-
vided that the institute should be
under the auspices Of the United Con-
federate Veterans. Richmond was
selected as the location for the mem
orial in 1897.