The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-24
Laying Stones for Tower to
Be Started Within
Few Weeks.
CALL FOR BIDS FRIDAY
State Shrine Will Be Second
to Lincoln Memorial
at Capital.

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structure fully enclosed by this fall.
according to members Of the me-
mortal commission today
Stonework on the building is rap
idly nearing completion. The task
Of laying stones forming the tower
will be started in two or three
weeks.
Bids for bronze work on doors and
windows will be advertised for at
meeting of the commission Friday
Plans for interior finishing of the
building have not been adopted.
This work will probably not be con-
cluded until 1882.
OF World Note
The shrine will be one of the most
beautiful structures in the world,
It's only equal as a memorial, archi-
tects agree, will be the Lincoln
Memorial at Washington, d. G.
The building will tower 210 feet
above the street level. At the very
top will be an observation platform,
which is within eighteen feet Of
the height of the Soldiers and
Sailors Monument observation plat
form. The monument shaft reaches
285 feet above street level.
Construction of the shrine has
been an object of interest to many
/ thousands of persons.
Work Battles Public
A familiar query has been: "How
are they going to get the stones on
the top after they take down the
four big cranes and interior steel
construction framework
Contractors explained that the
huge stones for the tower will be
lifted to the top before the frame
work and cranes are removed. Then
a boom will be constructed through
the top of the open space left for the
platform and stone lifted into place
by the boom.
The framework, which must be
demolished before the building can
be completed cost approximately
$4,000.
Cost S12,0OO,OO0
/
The entire plaza. buildings and
real estate, will represent a value
of S12,000000 to $15,000000, com
mission members said.
The shrine, when completed viii
contain an auditorium seating 500
persons and various other rooms
which may be used by recognized
patriotic organizations in the first
basement and first floor Of thebase.
The Indiana Historical Commits
sion will have its offices, historical
library, exhibition room and nearly
one-half mile of wall space in the
first floor and basement corridors for
display of battle flags, now kept at
the Statehouse.
An imposing shrine room dedi-
Gated to the flag will be located
above the first floor, with a ceiling
100 feet high.
An elevator will reach nearly TO
the top Of the building.
Not an imperfect stone is used III
the building, only the best Indiana
limestone quarried being accepted.
An idea of the immensely of the
building may be gained fom the fact
each Of the twenty-four pillars
weigh sixty-five tons.
Companion Buildings
Eventually the plaza, extending
from New York to ST. Clair StS., will
contain only five structures, the
shrine, in University Park, an obeliSk
100 feet high, surrounded by ponds,
north Of the shrine; the American
Legion building on Meridian st. at
ST. Clair ST., already constructed,
and companion building to the
Legion building, to be constructed
at later date, on Pennsylvania st.
near st. Clair st.
The remainder of the space will
be a beautiful Handicapped park.
Corners of the block enclosing the
obeliSk, which is to be started soon
will be beautified with shrubbery.
and will have German guns used in
the World War as trophies on each
corner.
The Memorial Plaza was created
at the 1920 Legislature special ses-
sion by an act providing for a six
tenths Of a cent State levy for
twelve years, from 1920 through
1881.
Levy for 100000
The levy will produce approx
imately 100000 by 1882.
Nearly all the five blocks plaza is
now owned by the State.
The two blocks from st. Clair ST.
south to North st. were already
State property. The City of Indian
apolis purchased the one block from
North st. to Michigan st. and pre-
sented it to the State. Marion
County purchased and presented to
the State all of the bloch from
Michigan st. to Vermont ST., with
the exception of sites of the First
Baptist and Second Presbyterian
Churches, which will be purchased
probably within the next year.
University Park, from Vermont st.
to New York St., already was
owned.
Block from North st. to Michigan
ST., now being demolished, included
the old Propylaeum, the Chalfont
building, first apartment building in
the city, and the old Harry s. New
home.
The old State school for the blind
will not be vacated in less than
eighteen months because Of delays
il construction of the new building
north of the city.