The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-30

This colonnade is 1SS feet long and
his feet wide, the columns being A
feet high and feet, 5 inches in
diameter at their base
Within the colonnade stands the
white memorial hail. measuring ! SO
feet in length and "a feet in width.
Inside the building the central hall
where the statute of Lincoln stands is
60 feet wide, 20 feet long and go 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 separat-
ing each of these halls from the CEN
trail hall. The colonnaded entrance to
the memorial hall is 45 feet wide and
"A feet high.
Grounds slope Gently.
To the eastward the memorial. at
the foot of the series of steps leading
from the entrance and extending
toward the Washington monument is
a lagoon. or rejecting basin, 1900
feet long and 4SO feet wide. In its
waters is reflected from one end the
Lincoln mem orial and from the other
end the Washington monument is pict
deep, its floors of dark material,
making the water as reflective as
mirror. Splendid elm trees line both
sides of the rejecting basin.
The grounds surrounding the
memorial slope up gently to the wind
ing walk which encircles the entire
structure. Rare specimens of box
wood trees, nesting in the corners of
the temple, are each nearly 100 years
old, and cost about $1,000 apiece.
Each tree planted about the memorial
is a selected specimen 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 Lin
coin, introduced in the senate the bill
for its erection. The bill was ap-
proved by congress February 9 1911.
The law created a commission and
Taft Shelby NJ Cullon, Joseph G.
Cannon, George Peabody Wetmore,
Samuel Walker Mccall. fernando D.
Money aid Champ Clark
The commission was authorized to
procure and determine upon a loca-
ton, plan and design for monument
or memorial in Washington. The aid
of the government commission of fine
arts was invoked in the selection of
the site and plans. On the 1O5th an
niversary of Lincoln's birthday, Feb
ruary u, 1914, the late former Sena-
tor Joseph c. S. Blackburn, then resi-
dent commissioner of the memorial
commission and who was southern
officer during the Civil war. broke
ground for the memorial, saying as he
did so.
This memorial will show that Lin
coin is now regarded as the greatEt
of all Americans and that he is SO held
by the south as well as the north
Cornerstone Laid, 1915.
The cornerstone was laid on Lin
coins birthday. in 1915, without cere-
monies. Among the articles placed
within the stone was a history of Lin
coin. signed by his living son, Robert
T. Lincoln. The building of the me-
mortal was somewhat delayed during
the world war and its construction.
which was expected to be completed
in three years time, has taken about
six years.
A memorial bridge across the Pc
tomac riVer from a point nearby the
Lincoln Memorial and extending to
the Arlington National cemetery is
contemplated in the plans as well 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