M ^, ■V liu. ct^uA Wr^ Od^^no.^^ O^ sLoCli^^ UaSLo^^-oJ- / ; Glass F/z^ Bnnk SiA? /^^^ THE GREAT BRONZE COLUMN OF STATEN ISLAND VERITABLY THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD 580 FEET HIGH ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN. AND DEDICATED TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, COPYRIGHT OFFICE. No registration of title of this book as a preliminary to copyright protec- tion has been found. Forwarded to Order Division iJi-A-V-V-^-Aif P.P. (Apr. ft, 1901—5.000.) ixeceii/etl frorri xpyright Offic«. 27S'09 .s^(^-l bo" 4^ F'TER the manner of all tremendous engineering prob- lems of historical value that have marked the past eras bj' their conspicuous qualities of greatness, this monu- ment will possess a name both fitting and appropos of our Country's greatness at this moment of Commercialism and it will stand as a memorial to our energy, brain and capital besides perpetuating with stoic truth and dignity the first American. It will be known in the years to come as "The Great Bronze Column of Staten Island." This great work is interesting in the extreme. It is practically one of the first individual forms of architecture : it is symbolical of dignity, rigidity and firmness, possessing in ever}' way the qualities so marked in our bronzed ab- original founder. When his eagle eyes swept the sea in periods long ago, he sought the highest point of land. In- tuition would have taught him to admire this single form of architecture, unbroken in its line of beauty, for this meant height to him embodying in its simplicity the same essential quality of greatness that he observed in his own character. Here we have him on high in all his solemn and ma- jestic grandeur, with arms slightly lifted in recognition and welcome to the inevitable certainty, — the something he perceives and sanctions far to the East. The ponderous eagles at his feet, with their huge bronze wings raised, seem in the act of striking at invasion: but, in the overpowering personality above one notes in the masterful features the same firm touch of beaut}' observed in a river as it sacrifices itself to the sea. The face of the two Volutes of the Ionic Capital sur- mounting the Shaft, will be set with glass, and these im- mense bulls-ej-es will serve as a light for New York Harbor and a Signal Station for three great cities, as the}' can easily be seen 40 miles at sea. Between the volutes at the base of the capitol, running horizontally around the column, is the balustrade or view- ing point of the Monument, 435 feet above the ground. This point can be reached by a circular stairway or bj- the more modern elevator system. The sight -seer will also be able to ascend inside the bronze figure to the head, resting places having been provided in mid-sections of the figure, one at the waist and the other at the shoulders. The construction of this figure has been carefully thought out by experts who understand the problems of weights and displacement, men who have had experience in the building and anchoring of heroic statues and who have successfully solved the conditions where artistic poise ceases to lend itself to the possibility of engineering. It is interesting to note that this gigantic figure will be brought into human semblance through an entirely new method by the use of cement. In forming the huge sections the metal instead of being pounded into shape, according to the old, slow and exasperating process, will be pressed, bolted and anchored b}' an entirely new system of advanced ideas. The pointing machines to be used in enlarging this figure are new inventions which have stood the test of mathematicians and the artisans emploj-ed cannot be dupli- cated in any other country. The figure according to present calculations is four feet higher than the Statue of Liberty ; the Column will be the highest column ever erected in the History of the World ; and the entire monument, which is a marvelous example of engineering, architecture and sculpture combined, will surpass in height any existing figure -monument ever erected. The Museum at the base of the shaft serves a dual pur- pose as a Library and Museum or Hall of Records for authentic Indian Documents and Historical Data. An Assembly Room has also been planned on the floor above. The revenue from sight- seers and tourists will in time reach an amount sufficient to amplj- provide for the main- tenance of the Library and Museum and the cost of Operat- ing Expenses. It is a great undertaking but with the assistance of the men of prominence now interested in this project, the completion of the monument is assured and the world will be inspired by awe at this symbol of greatness erected to so great a country. The Museum. The Museum building which forms the base of the mo- nument is 50 feet high and will be of granite, properly em- bellLshed, with Entrance and Exit, properly lighted. There will be sufficient Stack -room facilities for Records and Exhibits of the North American Indian and the collection will be under the supervision of men familiar with the sub- ject and capable of overseeing this Department. The second story will be fitted as a place of Assembly where conferences may be held relative to Historical and Indian Matters. Bronze Column. This column is 401 feet high from the top of the Museum to the base of the Figure and will be constructed of steel girders, anchored in cement ICTO fee? below the sur- face of the earth, and encircled by 45 sections of copper plate, one for each State of the Union. Two Elevators will run to the base of the Capital which is to be made in the form of a promenade. Capita!. The Column will be surmounted by a beautiful Ionic Capital with leaded glass front, the two volutes acting as beacons for signalling ships or for transmitting signals to the surrounding country. The top or roof as it were, to the great capital will be gilded in order to separate the flowing color where the capital meets the figure. Figure. This figure will be 129 feet high from the feet to the top of head (24 feet higher than the Colossus of Rhodes) and will be constructed of steel armatures covered with copper plates properly reinforced. There will be an entrance at each foot, and sight- seers may ascend inside the fignre as high as the forehead, 580 feet from the level of the ground. The figure will be constructed in the most modern way, under the supervision of professional men invited to lend their patriotic spirit to secure engineering completeness. Elevation. The elevation of this great monument, plus the height of the position where it may perhaps rest, will be in the neighborhood of 960 feet above sea -level. Which is the highest point on the Atlantic coast between Maine and Mexico. It is the patriotic intention of all concerned in the pro- ject to construct this monument at cost, each official charg- ing onl3' a modest compensation for his maintenance while on duty'. The site on which the monument will rest is to be chosen by the Commission. NOTE: This memorial is a consolidation of ideas of different periods. The problems of construction and Engineering relative to its development have been under survey for the past five years but it is with appreciation and respect that the members of this Commission express their deepest gra- titude to Rodman Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, for his noble thought in wishing to perpetuate the founder of this great Continent, putting, as it were, the finishing touches to a noble design to a noble people. The cost of this work will reach approximately $650,000. No extra fees will be paid beyond the actual cost of labor. The Commissioners in charge of its erection are gentle- men commanding the respect of the Nation and who are connected with problems of a like nature in their every- day professions, and will at all times answer questions re- lative to their different Departments. Comparative Heights ok Famous Monuments. *Eifel Tower, Paris, France, 984 ft. Bronze Column of Staten Island, Staten Island, N. Y. Harbor, 580 ft. * Washington Monument, Washington, D. C, 555 ft. *The Great Pyramid, 12 miles from Cairo, 543 ft. Statue of Liberty, N. Y. Harbor, 305 ft. *Bunker Hill Monument, Boston, Mass., 221 ft. Colossus of Rhodes, Harbor of Rhodes 105 ft. *Not figure monuments. ( )