Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-28

symbolizing the Union. which enclose
the memorial hall walls and support
the upper portion of the building
bearing the festoons representing the
existing 4S states. This colonnade is
1873 feet long and 11S feet wide, the
columns being A feet high and
feet. inches in diameter at their
bases.
Within the colonnade stands the
white memorial hall measuring 156
feet in length and "a feet in width.
Inside the building the central hall
where the statue of Lincoln stands
is 60 feet wide, 20 feet long and so
feet high, while the halls where the
memorials of the speeches are placed
are 81 feet long, 81 feet wide and so
feet high, four Ionic columns sepa-
rating each of these halls from the
central hall. The colonnaded en-
trance to the memorial hall is As
feet wide and A feet high.
To the eastward of the memorial,
at the foot of the series of steps
leading from the entrance, and ex-
tending toward the Washington
Monument is lagoon, or rejecting
basin, 1000 feet long and $50 feet
wide. In its waters is reflected from
one end the Lincoln Memorial and
from the other end the Washington
Monument is pictured. 1t is from
dark material making the water as
reflective as a mirror. Splendid elm
trees line both sides Of the reflect
ing basin.
The grounds surrounding the Me-
mortal slope up gently to the wind
ing walk, which encircles the en-
tire structure. Rare specimens of
lockwood trees, nesting in the cor
ners of the temple. are each nearly
100 years old. and cost about $1,000
apiece. Other trees planted about
the Memorial are selected specimens
of great age.
The movement for the construction
Of the memorial was begun in 1902
and in 1910 the late Senator Shelby
NJ. Cullom. of Illinois, a friend of
Lincoln, introduced in the Senate the
bill for the construction of the Me-
mortal. The bill was approved by
Congress February 8. 1911. The law
created a commission and named as
it's members William H. Taft, Shelby
NJ. Cullon, Joseph G.. Cannon, George
Peabody Whetmore, Samuel Walker
Mccall, fernando d. Money and
Champ Clark.
The commission, was authorized to
procure and determine upon a To-
cation, plan and design for a mon
ument or memorial in Washington.
The aid of the Government Commits
sion Of Fine Arts was involved in
the selection of the site and plans of
the memorial. On the J05th ami
versary of Lincoln's birth. February
IL. 1914. the late former Senator Jo-
seph c. S. Blackburn, then resident
commissioner of the memorial COM
mission and who was a Southern Of
ficer during the Civil War, broke
ground for the memorial, saying as
he did SO:
This memorial will show that
Lincoln is now regarded as the great
est of all Americans and that he is so
held by the South as we'll as the
North"
The corner stone was laid on Lin
coins birthday, in 1915. without cere-
monies. Among the articles placed
within the corner stone was a his
tory of Lincoln, signed by his living
son. Robert T. Lincoln The build
ing of the Memorial was somewhat
delayed during the World War and
its construction, which was expected
to be completed in three years time,
has taken almost six years.
A memorial bridge across the Po-
tomac River from point nearby the
Lincoln Memorial and extending to
the Arlington National Cemetery is
contemplated in the plans as we'll as
boat landing on the river directly
east of the Memorial.
. Temporary buildings erected in Po-
tomac Park for war purposes and
occupied by the Navy Department
have encroached upon the Memorial
grounds as planned by the Commits
sion of Fine Arts. which declares:
Until the buildings are removed
the Memorial will be dwarfed and
made of small Importance, and the
development of the Landscape fea-
lures upon which the Memorial de-
pepds for effectiveness will be made
possible. The continuation of the
buildings works sacrilege to the
memory Of Lincoln"