first of September as the day for the examination. Thirty-seven designs, by thirty-one artists-six of them sending two each-were received and placed on exhibition in the Senate Chamber. They came from the following States: IllinoisChicago, John Wesley Hooper, Henry L. Gay, H. Schroff, Cochrane & Piquenard, one each, and from L. W. Volk, two; Mattoon, J. E. Hummell, one; Bloomington, J. R. & J. S. Haldeman, one; Quiney, C. G. Volk, two; Springfield, Joseph Baum and E. E. Myers, one each, making a total of twelve. WisconsinMilwaukee, N. Merrill, two. Iowa-Jefferson, Henry Goodman, one. Indiana-Logansport, William Emmett, and Indianapolis, J. H. Vrydagh, one each. Ohio-Toledo, W. H. Macher, one, and Cincinnati, Thomas D. Jones, two. Massachusetts-Boston, C. B. Odiorne and Miss Harriet E. Hosmer, one each. District of Columbia-Washington, Miss Vinnie Ream, one. Kentucky Louisville, M. S. Belknap, one. Missouri-St. Louis, J. Beattie, Charles Bullitt, R. H. Follenius, McLaren & Baldwin, one each. New YorkBrooklyn, Horwan & Maurer, two. PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, J. H. Bailey & H. H. Lovie, A. E. Harwicke, J. H. Hazeltine, É. N. Scherr, one each. Connecticut-Hartford, J. G. Batterson, one. VermontBrattleboro, Larkin G. Mead, Jr., two; making a total of thirty-seven. Some of these designs would have cost a million dollars each to put them into execution. Five days were occupied in studying them, when the board adjourned to meet again on the tenth of the month. They reassembled on the tenth, and continued to the eleventh, when it was Resolved, That this Association adopt the design-one of them— submitted by Larkin G. Mead, Jr., to be constructed of granite and bronze, and that the whole matter be referred to the Executive Committee, with power to act. " Those voting in the affirmative were, Bateman, Beveridge, Bunn, Conkling, Dennis, Dubois, Hatch, Melvin, Miner, Stuart, Treat, Williams and Phillips. In the negative, Mr. Tyndale. Absent or not voting, Gov. Oglesby. The Association then entered into a contract with Mr. Mead, to erect the monument, together with the statuary, and all the accessories necessary to the fulfilment of the design. It was soon after ascertained that it was Mr. Mead's intention to let the contract for the architectural part of the work and return to Italy, where he had been residing for several years. Then it was mutually agreed to annul the existing contract, and a new one was entered into on the thirtieth of December, in which it was stipulated that the Association was to manage the building of the architectural part of the monument, and that it should be done strictly after the drawings and specifications of Mr. Mead. On his part, Mr. Mead was to mould, cast and deliver all the statuary required by and necessary to his design, namely. 1. A statue of Lincoln, not less than ten feet high, for $13,700. 2. A group representing infantry, containing three figures and appropriate accessories, the figures to be not less than seven and a half feet high, for $13,700. 3. A group of cavalry, to contain a horse and two human figures, with appropriate accessories, the human figures to be not less than seven and a half feet high, and the horse in proportion, for the sum of $13,700. 4. A group of artillery, to contain three figures and appropriate accessories, the figures to be not less than seven and a half feet high, for $13,700. 5. A marine group, to contain three figures and appropriate accessories, the figures to be not less than seven and a half feet high, for $13,700. 6. The coat of arms of the United States, as shown in the specifications, for $1,500, making a total of $70,000. It was a part of the contract, that the Association was to have the right to order one or more of these pieces or groups at a time, to suit its own convenience, and that it was not under obligations to pay for any piece until a written order was given for the work to proceed. When a written order was given, one-third of the stipulated price was to accompany it, one-third to be paid when the plaster model was delivered at the foundry where it was to be cast, and the remaining third when the work was completed and delivered in good order, at Springfield, Illinois. It was also stipulated in the contract, that if cannon were donated to be used in the statuary, the value thereof should be deducted from the price. It was further agreed, that if any donations of freight were made, it should be to the Association, and not to Mr. Mead. On the back of this contract, Mr. Mead gave the signatures of five business men of New York city, binding themselves in the penal sum of $5,000 each, for the faithful performance of the contract on his part. A note, also an the back of this contract, over the signature of John J. Cisco, of New York, expresses the opinion that the bond is good and sufficient. On the seventh day of May, 1869, the Board of Directors, under the above contract, instructed the Executive Committee to order the statue of Lincoln and the coat of arms of the United States, and to accompany the order with one third of the money, as per contract. After advertising for proposals to erect the monument-excepting the statuary-and receiving five or six bids, that of W. D. Richardson, of Springfield, was accepted. A contract was then entered into, between the Association and Mr. Richardson, in which he agreed to erect the National Lincoln Monument, in Oak Ridge Cemetery, according to the plans and specifications adopted by the Association, for the sum of $136.550. He was to build the foundation during the year 1869, and the superstructure by January 1, 1871. The Association agreed to pay Mr. Richardson the sum above named, and for the purpose designated, by monthly estimates as the work progressed, fifteen per cent of which was to be withheld until the work was completed according to contract, when the total amount remaining should be paid. Mr. Richardson gave ample security, under a penalty of $50,000, for the faithful performance of the contract on his part. CHAPTER XXIV. Arrangements having been previously made, the Board of Directors held a special meeting in Oak Ridge Cemetery, September 9, 1869. After calling the roll, a brief but fervent prayer was offered by Rev. Albert Hale, invoking God's blessing on the work they were about to commence. The president of the Association being absent, the vice president, Hon. Jesse K. Dubois, at the request of the board, made the following statement of the financial condition of the Association: U. S. 5-20 bonds, on special deposit with J. Bunn.... $66,300 00 Premium on said bonds, at present value... 13,260 00 Cash in bank.. 2,023 46 Notes on individuals.... 80 00 Illinois State bonds, on special deposit with J. Bunn.. 17,000 00 Illinois State appropriation... 50,000 00 Estimated value of cannon donated by Congress. 5,000 00 5,000 00 Total assets. .$158,663 46 Mr. Dubois also made a statement of all the contracts entered into by the Association, in consequence of which the following liabilities were incurred: To W. D. Richardson, for building monument.......$136,550 00 To Larkin G. Mead, for statute of Lincoln and coat of |