The bronze pedestal of the fountain was cast from cannon purchased from the Danish Government. The metal was purported to have been of the highest quality and was entirely homogeneous in texture and color. The weight of the bronze is about 24 tons.

The pedestal of the fountain is square, and its dies are ornamented with four bas-relief representations of the material uses and benefits of water: steam, water power, navigation, and fisheries.

 

In the representation of steam, strong workmen are holding bars of iron under a powerful trip-hammer,
propelled by an engine seen in the background.

 

Water power is shown by peasants taking corn to the mill with its conventional water wheel.

 

Navigation is represented by a family standing on the banks of a river and waving farewell to friends
departing on a genuine Ohio River steamboat

 

In the illustration of fishing, there is a group of fishermen in a boat drawing their well-filled nets to the shore,
while the younger members of the party are playing with the struggling fish.