USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County soldiers' and sailors' monument. Scenes and incidents from its inception to its completion.--Description of the memorial structure, and roll of honor > Part 21
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T HE cold, wintry days of December were upon us, therefore the Commission could not proceed very rapidly with work. The failure of the Director of Pub- lic Works to remove the water main caused consider- able trouble and expense. This difficulty could have been readily overcome, had the Commission been al- lowed to remove the pipes, but the City officials would not give them permission to do so. Captain Scofield temporarily solved the problem by building strong arches of cement over the pipes. This was a waste of time, material and money, but it was the only thing to do under the circumstances. The increased cost of material, the higher prices demanded by contractors, the loss of one-tenth of a mill revenue through Judge Sherwood's decision, the several lawsuits against the work of the Commission, the setting aside of contracts owing to delay and consequent uncertainty, and the in- creased expense generally, caused by the evasive and procrastinating conduct of the City officials and selfish schemes of interested parties, rendered it necessary to again go to the Legislature for relief. Comrade and Representative W. D. Pudney introduced the required bill, at the request of the Commission. With the gen- erous aid of his colleagues and of all of the members of the House and Senate, the bill was unanimously made law. When the session laws were subsequently pub- lished, it was found that the bill was not passed as pre- pared. The objectionable interpolations were, however, amended out of the statutes by the succeeding General Assembly. The law as enacted is as follows :
MAJOR - GENERAL JAMES B. MCPHERSON.
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SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
"AN ACT
"To amend section one of an act entitled 'An act supplementary and amendatory to an act to amend section one of an act entitled an act to authorize the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monument or Memorial Tablet commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of said county, and to pur- chase a site therefor, passed April 2, 1880, (vol. 77, p. 368), as amended February 4, 18SI (vol. 78, p. 316), as amended April 22, 1885 (vol. 82, p. 368), as amended April 16, 1888 (vol. 85, p. 564), as amended January 30, 1890 (vol. 87, p. 391),' and as amended April 2, 1891 (vol. SS, p. 786), and also to amend section seven of said amendatory act of April 16, 1888 (vol. 85, p. 564).
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That section one of an act entitled ' An act to authorize the Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monument or Me- morial Tablet commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of Cuyahoga County, and to purchase a site therefor,' passed April 2, 1880 (vol. 77, p. 368), as amended February 4, ISSI (vol. 78, p. 316), as amended April 22, 1885 (vol. 82, p. 368), as amended April 16, 1888 (vol. 85, p. 564), as amended January 30, 1890 (vol. 87, p. 391), as amended April 2, 1891 (vol. 88, p. 786), and section seven of said act of April 16, 1888 (vol. 85, p. 564), be amended so as to read as follows :
"Sec. I. That the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County be and are hereby authorized and directed to levy a tax upon all the taxable property of said county, of seven-tenths of a mill on the dollar of the valuation of said property, in addition to any tax here- tofore levied under said acts, which said seven-tenths shall be levied and collected as follows : For the year 1893, two-tenths of a mill ; for the year 1894, two-tenths of a mill; for the year 1895, three- tenths of a mill; which shall be levied and collected annually as aforesaid, for the purpose of erecting a suitable structure commem- orative of the services, patriotism and valor of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Union Army and Navy in the war of the Rebellion, who enlisted from Cuyahoga county, and putting in proper condi- tion, and improving the grounds in said southeast section of said Square around said Monument, and the funds arising from levies heretofore made shall be applied, together with that to be raised in pursuance of this amendatory act, to the purpose aforesaid, together with the necessary expenses connected therewith ; and said County Commissioners are hereby authorized and directed to issue bonds or notes, at such times as they may be requested so to do by said Mon- umental Commissioners, for the amount of the said three-tenths ad- ditional levy to be made in the year 1895, and such bonds or notes to
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HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
be made payable in such amounts and at such times as will make- them come due, as near as practicable, at the times when the money will be collected and received from such levy.
" Sec. 7. The Board of Monument Commissioners shall have power, and are hereby authorized, as the work on the Monument or structure by them determined upon progresses, to make drafts upon the Auditor of said county to pay for such work done and materials. furnished under their direction, such drafts to be signed by a ma- jority of the Executive Committee of said Board, countersigned by its Secretary, and upon receiving such drafts said Auditor shall draw his warrant upon the Treasurer of Cuyahoga County for the amount of such drafts ; and the said County Commissioners are hereby authorized and required to withdraw any portion of the money invested by them as herein provided, as the work on such structure progresses, and place the same in the county treasury to the credit of the Monument fund, and the Secretary of said Board of Monument Commissioners is hereby required to give said County Commissioners reasonable notice, in writing, of the intention of said Monument Commissioners to make drafts on the County Audi- tor for money for such work or material. Upon the completion and dedication of the Monument or structure, the said Board of Monument Commissioners shall turn the Monument over to a Board of three Commissioners selected by them, none of whom shall be one of their number, which said Commissioners shall be ex-Soldiers or Sailors, and said Board shall be perpetual, with power of succession, and such Commissioners so selected shall have power and be re- quired, within ten days after occurrence of a vacancy, to fill the same by selecting an ex-Soldier or Sailor, or a member or descend- ant of members of either of the Army organizations known as the Grand Army of the Republic, Union Veterans' Union, or a member of the first class in good standing of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, which said Board shall serve without compensation. Said Commissioners and their successors shall take an oath to faithfully perform their duties in caring for the Monu- ment and grounds surrounding the same, and shall be empowered to employ an ex-Soldier of the War of the Rebellion or the Regular Army, as attendant and guardian of such Monument and grounds, at a reasonable compensation, to be paid out of the general fund of the county, upon a voucher of the President and Secretary of the Monument Commission, and such attendant shall be vested with the ordinary powers of a policeman. Said Board shall also be authorized to employ such assistance as may be required by the attendant, to take care of the Monument and grounds, and to make such necessary expenditure as in their judgment will be required to make repairs to the Monument or improvements to the
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grounds, to be paid out of the general fund of said county in the manner hereinbefore provided. Said Board is author- ized to prepare books, photographs, engravings, pamphlets and other souvenirs and through the attendant sell them, the proceeds of which shall be turned over to the county general fund. Said Board shall not be allowed at any time to in any manner charge for admission to said Monument, but shall be required under their own proper regulations to keep the tablet room open to the free use of the public. Upon the completion and dedication of such Monument or structure, and after the same shall have been turned over as herein provided, the duties and powers of the present Board of Monument Commissioners shall cease, and all balances of the Monument fund unexpended after the Monument is completed and dedicated shall be turned over to the general fund of Cuyahoga County. The Commissioners of Cuyahoga County shall provide the necessary steam heating and lighting supply in the county buildings and permit the Monument Commissioners to connect with same for the purpose of properly and sufficiently heating and lighting said tablet room and Monument, and said present Board of Monn- ment Commissioners are hereby authorized to perform said work and lay the necessary pipes and conduits through the public grounds and streets for such purpose, the expense therefor to be paid from the Monument fund.
"SECTION 2. That said section I as amended April 2, 1891 (vol. 88, p. 786), and said section 7 of said act of April 16, 1888 (vol. 85, p. 564), be and the same are hereby repealed.
"SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
" LEWIS C. LAYLIN,
"Speaker of the House of Representatives. " ANDREW L. HARRIS, " President of the Senate. " Passed March 27, 1893."
Pending the enactment of said law, the Commission went into Winter quarters for 1892-93. After its passage, we knew our resources and carefully mapped out our future plan of campaign. As soon as the weather per- mitted in the early Spring of 1893, the contractors ein- ployed a large force of men and work on the structure was vigorously pushed. While all this was going on, the Law Director's gleaming Circuit Court blade still hung dangling over our heads, but subsequent events proved that the weapon was harmless.
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HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
The curtain is now about to descend on our "live characters." We will let them pass gently away, with slow music and muffled drums. The triumvirate offi- cially dead, and the City of Cleveland still lives, grows and prospers. Miracles will happen-even in the close of this, the enlightened Nineteenth Century.
As their lovely official bodies were laid out on the cold marble slabs of the morgue, for public inspection, a French mourner, from Dublin, was heard to exclaim : "Aich of 'em made as dacent and purty a corpse as one would like to gaze upon. Omnibus invideas, Rose, Herrick, Meyer, nemo tibi! Sic transit gloria mundi ! Nabocklish ! ! "
We are gratified to bid a fond farewell to our "heroes." Among them were men of pronounced ability, which was in large part overshadowed by their misdirected judgment. The splendid opportunity had by them to make a glorious record was shattered and broken by their lack of healthy discrimination. We finally part with them, more in sorrow than in anger ; with a pro- found feeling of regret o'ertopped by gladness, indulg- ing the hope that they will find that peace, content- ment and happiness in private life that they tried so earnestly to prevent the Monument Commission from enjoying. Good bye !
Rira bien, qui rira le dernier !
VIVE, VALE!
" Ring out the old, ring in the new."
A T last we may exclaim, "Gloria in Excelsis; peace on earth and good-will to men." The long and hindering litigation is substantially over and congratul- lations are now in order. We are swiftly approaching the time for the grand review. The white dove of peace has descended upon us, and official interference or legal proceedings in the Courts no longer disturb the even tenor of our way. Our long night of darkness and doubt has been succeeded by certainty and genial sunshine.
Happily for the Commission, the friends of the Monument and its chosen site, there was a change in the Municipal Administration in April, 1893, Hon. Robert Blee becoming Mayor. He appointed John H. Farley Director of Public Works, and Hon. James Lawrence Director of Law. It was especially with these three officials the Commission had principally to deal, as had been their unhappy fate under the late admin- istration. The new Mayor was a gentleman of sobriety and an unasstunning citizen, a man of few words, but prompt action. The two Directors were imbued with the same liberal spirit that characterized the Mayor. Their advent was a welcome change from their vacilla- ting and procrastinating predecessors. Friendly to the Monument, to its site, and to the work of the Com- inission, they practically demonstrated their good-will by deeds as well as words.
Soon after Director Farley assumed the duties of his position, he had the old water main removed from the
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HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
southeast section of the Public Square, as provided by law and requested by the Commission, and a new main laid in such place and manner as was necessary to render the site occupied by the Monument perfectly safe. For the information of the public we insert the following official correspondence :
" HEADQUARTERS CUYAHOGA COUNTY - "SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT COMMISSION, "CLEVELAND, O., January 4th, 1894.
" MR. JOHN H. FARLEY, Director of Public Works.
" DEAR SIR :- Kindly favor the Monument Commission by reply- ing to the following questions :
" Ist. How much was the cost of removing the water mnain on the southeast section of the Public Square ?
"211d. How long did it take to perforin the work ?
"3rd. For what length of time was the water shut off, pending the removal of said water main ?
"A prompt answer will oblige,
"Very respectfully yours, "W.M. J. GLEASON, President."
"CLEVELAND, January 6, 1894.
"MR. WM. J. GLEASON, Pres. Monument Commission, City.
"DEAR SIR :- In reply to yours of the 4th inst. wherein you ask :
" Ist. How much was the cost of removing the water main on the southeast section of the Public Square ?
" 2nd. How long did it take to perform the work ?
"3rd. For what length of time was the water shut off, pending the removal of said water main ?
"Will say that cost of relaying is $1,248.68.
"Commenced the work May 24th, 1893, finished May 29th; 6 days.
" Water was shut off on Sunday, May 2Stli, from about 8 A. M. to 5 P. M .- 9 hours.
"Yours truly, "J. H. FARLEY, Director of Public Works."
Under date of July 19th, 1892, it may be observed that the late Director of Public Works officially reported to the City Council that "the removal of the water inain is attended with danger; unless care is taken there may be serious results. The lowest amount for which we can remove the main will be $2,000. If we have to take
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SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
it around Bond Street the cost will be $7,000. It will require at least five weeks to do the work."
The actual facts show that there was 110 danger in removing the water main; that care was taken in the performance of this work-as there is in all work done by sensible officials. The cost was $1,248.68, not $2,000 or $7,000 as above officially estimated and asserted. The work was completed in six days, not five weeks, as the "old public functionary " alleged, and the water was shut off nine hours, on Sunday, so that no one was injured or discommoded.
This statement of the late Director of Public Works is a sample of the ostentatious and arbitrary assump- tions, adverse and annoying to the Monument Commis- sion and deceptive to the public, indulged in by some officials of the late defunct Municipal Administration and endured of necessity by the individual personality of the Commissioners. This remarkable "estimate" of the late Director is impressively suggestive of the absolute certainty either of indiscreet dissimulation of total deficiency of practical knowledge.
The new Director of Law, James Lawrence, immedi- ately upon the Session of the Circuit Court, dismissed the suits therein long pending against the Commission, at the City's cost.
In the course of a brief time the new City Adminis- tration took charge of the Commodore Perry statue and moved it to Wade Park. They erected it there in a lovely spot; not in as appropriate a place, by any means, as Lake View Park would have been, but never- theless it is in quite a pleasing location. To satisfy curiosity, we add that it cost the City for removal and resetting the sum of one hundred and seventy-five dollars. Ex-Director Herrick, however, could not, or did not, raise that amount-simply for the reason that he did not desire to.
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HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
Thus was completely wiped out the last vestige of the petty spite and rank nonsense of the defunct City Government.
Work was resumed on the structure early in the Spring of 1893, and vigorously carried forward during the entire year. In order that the Monument and its surroundings might be finished as originally designed, an additional sum of money was required. Hence the following bill was prepared and given to the Cuyahoga County Delegation to the General Assembly. It was taken charge of by our ardent friend, Comrade and Representative J. Dwight Palmer, upon whose motion the rules were unanimously suspended in the House and the measure promptly passed that branch of the Assembly. Comrade and Senator William T. Clark had similar action taken in the Senate, after an earnest and patriotic speech. The Bill, which was made law on March 6th, 1894, is as follows :
"AN ACT
"Supplementary to and amendatory of an act entitled, 'An act to amend section one of an act entitled 'An act supplementary and amendatory to an act to amend section one of an act entitled 'An act to authorize the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monument or Memorial Tablet commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of said County, and to purchase a site therefor, passed April 2, 18So (vol. 77, p. 368); as amended February 4, ISSI (vol. 78, p. 316); as amended April 22, 1885 (vol. 82, p. 368) ; as amended April 16, 1890 (vol. 87, p. 391) ; and as amended April 2, 1891 (vol. S8, p. 786), and also to amend section seven of said amendatory act of April 16, 1888 (vol. 85, p. 564), passed March 27, 1893.'
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That in addition to the taxes anthorized to be levied by the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County, for the purpose of erecting a suitable structure commemorative of the services, patri- otism and valor of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Union Army and Navy in the War of the Rebellion who enlisted from Cuyahoga County, which authority is vested in said Commissioners by the act to which this is supplementary and amendatory, the County Com-
pays ling
SURGEON CHARLES A. HARTMAN.
A
34I
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
missioners of said couuty are authorized and directed to levy a further additional tax upon all the taxable property of said county of three-tenths of a mill, for the year 1896; and said County Com- missioners are hereby authorized and directed to issue bonds or notes, at such times as they may be requested so to do by the Monumental Commissioners of said County, for the amount of said three-tenths additional levy to be made in the year 1896; such bonds or notes to be made payable in such amounts, and at such times, as will make them come due, as near as practicable, at the time when the money will be collected and received from such levy.
"SECTION 2. All moneys raised by such additional levy so far as the same may be necessary shall be expended by said Monu- inental Commissioners, as provided in the act to which this is supplementary and amendatory; should there be a surplus of money after such Monument is fully completed and the grounds surround- ing the same in the southeast section of the Square placed in proper condition, such surplus shall be turned over to the County Commissioners of said county, to be by them placed in the general fund of said county.
"SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
"Passed March 6th, 1894."
For the purpose of striking from the statutes the unjust discrimination against the members of the Mon- mment Commission, surreptitiously injected into the law of March 27th, 1893, and to carefully provide for the future proper care of the Monument and grounds sur- rounding it, the following supplemental bill was pre- pared. It was passed through the House by Represent- ative and Comrade J. Dwight Palmer, and was made law in the Senate by Senator and Comrade William T. Clark on the 14th day of May, 1894, the act being as follows :
"AN ACT
" Supplementary to an act entitled 'An act supplementary to and amendatory of an act entitled 'An act to amend section 1, of an act entitled 'An act supplementary and amendatory to an act to amend section I, of an act entitled 'An act to authorize the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monument or Memorial Tablet commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of said county, and to purchase a site therefor, passed
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HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
April 2, 18So (vol. 77, p. 368), as amended Feb. 4, ISSI (vol. 78, p. 316), as amended April 22, 1885 (vol. 82, p. 368), as amended April 16, 1890 (vol. 87, p. 391), and as amended April 2, 1891 (vol. 88, p. 786), and also to amend Section 7, of said amendatory act of April 16, 1888 (vol. 85, p. 564), passed March 27, 1893, as amended March 6, 1894.'
" SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that upon the completion and dedication of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, the Board of Monumental Commissioners shall select and appoint a Board of five Commission- ers, to be known and designated as 'The Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Commissioners.'
" Said Board shall be Union ex-Soldiers or Sailors of the War of the Rebellion, or a member or a descendant of members of either of the Army organizations known as the Grand Army of the Re- public, Union Veterans' Union, or a member of the first-class in good standing of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and residents of Cuyahoga County, and shall meet and organize within ten days after their appointment; by the elec- tion from their members of a President and Secretary, and shall serve without pay. Such Board shall be perpetual, and the members thereof shall have power, and be required within ten days after oc- currence, to fill vacancies, by selecting and appointing a Union ex- Soldier or Sailor of the War of the Rebellion, or a descendant of same, residing in Cuyahoga County.
" The members of such Board, and their successors shall take an oath to faithfully perform their duties in caring for the Monument, and the grounds surrounding it. Said Board shall be empowered to make such rules and regulations for their government, and for the care of the Monument and grounds surrounding the same, as in their judgment is required, and shall have the power to employ a suitable Union ex-Soldier or Sailor of the War of the Rebellion, or of the regular army of the United States or descendant of either, as attendant and custodian of such Monument and grounds, at a rea- sonable compensation, to be paid from the general fund of the county, upon a voucher of the President and Secretary of the Monument Commissioners. Such attendant and custodian shall be invested with the ordinary powers and authority of a policeman1.
" SECTION 2. Said Monumental Commissioners, and the Board herein provided for, shall have such control of the grounds of the southeast section of the Public Square, including the streets, lawns, and sidewalks surrounding the same, as will enable them to properly perform their duties as Commissioners, and for no other purpose, and shall have the authority to direct the manner of curbing the streets
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SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
on the south and east sides of the said southeast section of the Square, also the laying of the cross-walks therein. Such Commis- sioners, or the attendant and custodian of the Monument, shall have full authority to remove and restrict express wagons, moving vans, drays, public hacks, street railroad transfer stations, hucksters' wagons, advertising devices, or decorations and all other obstruc- tions from making their stands within the curbing, or in the streets adjoining and contiguous to the curbing around said southeast sec- tion of the Public Square. Any violation of this restriction is hereby declared unlawful, and offenders upon conviction of such violation may be punished as for disorderly conduct.
"SECTION 3. Said Board of Monument Commissioners are author- ized to employ such assistants as may be required to take care of the Monument and grounds, and from time to time to make necessary repairs and improvements to the Monument and grounds, also to provide for electric heating and lighting; payments to be made therefor as is provided for the payment to the attendant and custo- dian. The City of Cleveland shall furnish a sufficient supply of water for use in and about the Monument, and the grounds sur- rounding the same free of charge.
"SECTION 4. Said Board of Monument Commissioners shall have the authority to place the tools, hose, ladders, and implements required for use in the tool house used by the Park Commissioners of the City of Cleveland, located on the Public Square, or in the basement of the Court House as said Board may direct, without any cost for storage.
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