Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1895 — STATE TO CONTROL IT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STATE TO CONTROL IT.

TRANSFER OF THE LINCOLN MONUMENT. Tribute to the Martyred Preaident Given Over tc the State of Illinois by the Monument Association—Law Has Been Lately Passed. History of the Shaft. Among the bills passed by the Illinois Legislature which became laws on the first of July is one providing transfer of the Lincoln monumentjfjWß the Monument Association to the State. The law makes appropriations for the repair of the monument, the pay of a custodian, and the erection of a custodian’s lodge, or house. It also provides that the Governor, State Treasurer and Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be trustees of the State to have the care and custody of the monument. The monument was dedicated Oct 15, 1874, the occasion being signalized by a tremendous outpouring of the people, the

oration commemorative of the life and public services of the great emancipator being delivered by Richard J. Oglesby. President Grant also spoke briefly on that occasion and a poem was read by James Judson Lord. The monument was built after the accepted designs of Larkin G. Meade, of Florence, Italy, and stands upon an eminence in Oak Ridge Cemetery, occupying about six acres’ of ground. Ground was broken on the site Sept. 10, 1869, in the presence of 3,000 persons. The capstone was placed in position on May 22, 1871, and on Sept. 19, 1871, the remains of Lincoln were removed from the temporary tomb and placed in the crypt under the monument. In the other crypt reposes the remains of Eddie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, who died in infancy; and of Thomas (Tad), their youngest son, who died in Chicago July 15, 1871. The monument is built of brick and Quincy granite, the latter material only

appearing in view. It consists of a square base 72% feet on each side, and 15 feet 10 inches high. At the north side of the base is a semi-circular projection, the interior of which has a radius of 12 feet. It is the vestibule of the catacomb, and gives access to view the crypts in which are placed the bodies of Lincoln and his sons. On the south side of the base is another semi-circular projection of the same size, but this is the base so as to produce a room of elliptical shape, which is called Memorial Hall. Thus the base measures, including these two projections, 119% t<_et from north to south and 72% feet from east to west. In the angles formed by the addition of these two projections are handsome flights of stone steps, two on each end. These steps are protected by granite balustrades, which extend completely around the top of the base, which forms a terrace. From the plane of this terrace rises the obelisk, or die, which is 28 feet 4 inches high from

the,ground and tapered to 11 feet square at the top. f, £ The statute of Lincoln is, of course, the central attraction of the monument. He is represented as standing with fasces at his right hand, in which is his pen. In his ■left hand he holds the proclamation of emancipation, while on the pedestal beneath his feet is the bronze coat of arms.

THE LINCOLN MONUMENT.

THE LINCOLN HOME, SPRINGFIELD.

WHERE LINCOLN. KEPT STORE.