Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-05-31
LINCOLN MEMORIAL is ONE OF
THE WORLDS MOST beautiful.
STRUCTURES; COST 5000, 600
Stands in Potomac Park, Washington, Facing
the Washington Monument; Construction
Begun in 1914; Is the Greatest Shrine of the
Men Who Saved the Union.
tBY THE ASSOCIATED PREssA

ness ar1 turmoil Of the city
isolate distinguished and
serene. OF al the sites this
one, near the Potomac, is
most suited to the purpose"
Grounds Are Raised.
BY means of terraces the
grounds around the site are raised
until the floor of the memorial
itself is As feet hig' er than the
grade of Potomac park. A circu-
lar terrace, 1000 feet in diam
eter, first rises above the park.
on it's outer edge stand four con-
centric rows of trees, leaving
plateau in the center 755 feet In
diameter. In the center of this
plateau, surrounded by wide road
ways and walks, rises an emil
nenCe supporting a rectangular
stone terrace wall IA feet high,
256 feet long and 1856 feet wide.
On this rectangular terrace rises
the white marble memorial. All
the foundations of the steps. ter
races and memorial are built on
concrete piling which extends
down to solid rock.
Rising from this rectangular
terrace three steps, each s feet
high, form a platform measuring
204 feet in length and 1874 feet
in width. On this platform stand
the sc columns, symbolizing the
Union, which enclose the memorial
hall walls and support the upper
portion of the building bearing
the festoons representing the eX-
listing As states. This colonnade is
1888 feet long and 11S feet wide,
the columns being A feet high
and Z feet, inches in diameter
at their bases.
White Memorial Hall.
Within the colonnade stands the
white memorial hall, measuring
1876 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 60I
feet high; four Ionic columns sep
arating each of these halls from
the central hall. The CoIonaded
entrance to the memorial hall is
45 feet wide and A feet high.
Reflecting Basin.
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 reflecting
basin, 2,000 feet long and 4S0 feet
wide. In its waters is reflected
from one end the Lincoln memorial
and from the other end the Wash
ington monument is pictured. 1t is
from two to three feet deep, its
floors of dark material, making the
water as reflective as a mirror.
Splendid elm trees line both sides
Of the reflecting basin.
The grounds surrounding the
memorial slope up gently to the
walk which encircles the
entire structure. Rare specimens
of lockwood trees, nesting in the
corners of the temple, are each
nearly 100 years old and cost about
1000 apiece. Each tree planted
about the memorial is a selected !
specimen of great age.
Move started in 1902.
The movement for the construc-
lion 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 its erection. |
The bill was approved by congress
February Q, 1911. The law created |
4 commission and named as its |
William II. Taft, Shelby |