Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT.

Every citizen is interested in knowing of the progress of
this great work for it emphaicay the Peoples Work..
Since its commencement, after the 4th Of july when
the cornerstone laid it has progressed with steady in
dusy and mechanical care, important the stability Of
the structure. The portion of the design adopted by the
Board of Managers, under construction, the obeisk
shaft, which is first TO be erected. The foundations pre-
pairing to support this lofty shaft which be five hundred
feet above its base, bu with massive Of the rmest
texture the blue rock of the Potomac valley many of the
blocks Of which weigh from six eight TONS and which
out Of the quarry in square Masses if cut with the tool
and Of varied shapes that when laid in the foundations
they allow and made doveta into each other forming
thereby stronger Of masonry than the
squared up in regular masonry The used in bed
ding and binding these stones composed of hydraulic
men and strong stone lime, with their proper proportion Of
sharp sand which will become hard the it
binds in very few weeks. Every crevce of the is
filed up with this mortar and grouted The square foot
ing Of this foundation for the obesk eighty feet each way,
and rising by offsets steps twenty five feet high, the whole
built Of solid masonry upon which the obelsk shaft will be
placed 1t has been decided by the Board that the facing of
this shaft shall be Of white marble, and preparations will be
made this fall and winter procure and cut this material for
setting in the spring the stonecutters shops erected
the grounds and railroad constructed from the watene to
bring up the stone.
brought nearly 10 the surface
Of the ground the second step being nearly completed which
up the About thousand perches of
stone laid and is expected the foundations will be all
ready for the cut sonewok before the winter sets in Every
precauton taken the under strata where these
foundations laid well first dug little dis
lance, which indicated favorab the found very
compact requiring pick to break it up, and at the depth Of
twenty feet solid bed Of gravel reached and six feet
lower abundant supply Of the finest water obtained
Though the indications here satisfactory the Architect
Of the work directed shaft be sunk in the centre Of the
foundations twenty feet below the bottom of the same, and
the results took place in the Of the well This
shaft also walled up, and has served good purpose in
keeping the foundations dry, and will valuable
hereafter in furnishing full supply of excellent water the
work goes up; as by Of force pump could be sent
up the top Of the monument thus supplying refreshing
beverage the wokmen, well meeting the demands Of
the work for water.
The selection of this site for the Monument is most appro
pirate and commanding open the view from up and down
the Potomac valley fronting the Capitol and Presidents
House and having in view all the Public Buildings The
meridian Of this Monument south is that Of Fort Washing
ton Southeast Of it extends Virginia avenue and northeast
Louisiana The extent Of grounds allotted for Mo-
Place by the beraty Of Government embraces thirty
acres, giving ample spaceor improvement avenues walks,
and noble parade-ground
Now the great work has commenced under the banner Of
the People, will be sustained TO completion, and in day
may hope to see the cap-stone laid. NJ.