VOL. LVIL
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MAY 10, 1902.
NO. 18
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
Its Beginning, Construction and  Cost.
The Dedication May 15, 1902.
: The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, standing completely in the center
of Indianapolis, is the greatest structure
cf the kind in the world. It was projected in 1875 at the re-union of the veteran soldiers of the State, at which time
sioners. On January, 1888, the Monument Commissioners adopted the designs
for the present monument and proceeded
soon thereafter to contract for the work.
The corner stone was laid August 22,
1889, by the Indiana Grand Arm* of the
Republic, when the President of the
United States and his Cabinet, and
Governors of other States were present. The
work proceeded under the Board of Commissioners till the legislature in 1895
amended  the law,  and  created  a  Board
6 inches high,- and its hight from the level
of the street is 284 feet 6 inches to the
top of the statue crowning it. The statue
is 38 feet high. The monument shaft at
the top is 13 feet 3 inches square, and
the balcony around the top IC feet. The
balcony, at 288 feet 6 inches from the
base, :s reached by an electric elevator and
also by a stairway with 324 steps. The
view from the balcony is a beautiful one,
and with a good glass the vision reaches
into   many   of   the   surrounding   counties
and Navy representatives, same as on the
south. On the east and west sides of the
terrace are magnificent cascades, over
each of which flow 7,000 gallons of water
per minute. With 8 immense candelabra
carrying 48 arc and 150 incandescent
lamps together with the 500 incandescent
lamps at the top, Monument Place is the
mostbrilliantlyandbeautifully lighted spot
in this country. On subordinate pedestals
occupying positions in the four segments
are bronze statues of Gov. Morton, Gov.
/,
an organization was perfected aud the
first thousand dollars subscribed and paid.
Subsequently the Grand Army of the Republic took up the matter and organized
the work under the law, creating a Monument Committee to which the funds previously paid were trausferred. This committee organized the work through the
various State Grand Army Posts, with
■which churches, sunday-schools, counties
and individuals co-operated in raising
funds, by which method $21,116.94 was
raised for the work. In 1887 the legislature passed a bill appropriating $200,-
000 toward building the monument, and
which provided  for a Board of Commis-
of lie-gents to complete it, which they did
in the autumn of 1901. The entire cost
of the monument is shown in the following
figures, including the State appropriations
and other donations:
Special .State   appropriations    $453,434.68
Paid out of State General fund   123,767.14
County,   church,   Individual     and   other
subscriptions         21,116,94
Total      598,318.76
This great work is more particularly
described as follows: The plaza surrounding the monument is a little over 342 feet
in diameter. The foundation is 53x69
feet, and depth. 30 feet. Including the
foundation* of the monument is 314  feet
and seetoins of the State. Below the
balcony is a bronze astragal bearing the
dates 1861, 1865, on the four sides of the
shaft illuminated by electricity. Midway
the monument is a second bronze astragal,
emblematic of the Navy, and further
down, a third bronze astragal representing
the Army. On the east and west sides
of the monument are the two largest
groups that have ever been carved out of
stone—the one on the east representing
War, the other* Peace. On the south
front are two heroic statues, each cut out
of a huge block of stone; one represents
Infantry, the other an ideal Cavalry
Scout. On the north front are the Artillery
Whiteomb, Gen. William Henry Harrison
and Gen. George Rogers Clark. In the
crypt is a complete light and power plant
for exclusive use of the monument. Above
the entrance facing south is the inscription of dedication: "To Indiana's Silent
Victors."
The dedication of the monument will
take place May 15th inst. The Governors
and many prominent people will be present from other States,'and Indiana soldiers
are to participate with their old battle
flags, and color details from each regimental organization. The ceremonies will
begin at 10 a. m., from a great platform
constructed on the north side of the monu-