Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1893 — THE BIGGEST OF ITS KIND. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE BIGGEST OF ITS KIND.

A Monolith from Wisconsin for the World', Fair. A great brownstone monolith will stand in Jackson Park, Chicago, during the World’s Fair as a specimen of what is produced from the vast quarries of Wisconsin that lie along the shores of Lake Superior. The pillar, for which the* claim is made that the world never saw its

equal in size, can trace its con ception to a jocular remark made by Frederick Pren t i c e, owner of the large quar r ies near Ashland, toexGov. Sam S. Fifleld. While converging on matters relative to ’monster pillars o f stone in the shape of

obelisks, Mr. Prentice remarked that he could * surpass the largest ■Egyptian production from among his quarries on the Bayfield short of Chequamegon Bay, or on one of the numerous Apostle islands. To Mr. Fifleld it hardly seemed feasible, but the earnestness of Mr. Prentice and his declaration that if the State of Wisconsin would accept ‘and ’erect the monument he would deliver it to the State without cost, for a State exhibit at the World’s Fair, so impressed Mr. Fifleld that he opened communication with the Board of World’s Fair Managers. This correspondence, although appearing to the commission to suggest an impossibility, led them to make a visit to Ashland, and, in company with Mr. Prentice, to view the quarries. After looking over the ground, they practically accepted Mr. Prentice’s generous tender, and agreed to take the stone as soon as it was broken from its bed, and move and erect the same on the grounds to be designated by the Fair officials at Chicago. Accordingly work was commenced at once with five steam channelers and about forty men, and the work has been pushed until the large pillar was worked out. The monolith is of Lake Superior brown stone Mr. Prentice’s {..first proposition to furnish the monolith was for a stone just a trifle larger than the Egyptian obelisk, which is ]OS feet 7 inches, exclusive of the foundation, and 9 feet square at the base. He first intended the monolith to be 106 feet in length and 9 feet 2 inches at the base, but upon a later consideration decided to have it 115 feet long, 10 feet at the base, and 4 feet square at the top. The apex will be about 5 feet long, and will be tapered to about a 6-inch tip. The entire monolith will rest upon a foundation of granite 10 £eet high and 12 feet square.

THE MONOLITH.