Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-09-09
THE EVENING STAR.
~ For "AUCTIoE SAILS" advertisements
Gee fourth page Of to-day's STAB. 4f,.,a
LOCAL NEWS.
The Washington National Monument.


cIety was organized In pursuance of rssolu-
tons of Congress, in 1893, with John Mar
shall, the great Chief Justice, as its first Pres
ident. On his death, Ia 1895, he was succeeded
by ex-President Madison, then in the 55th year
OF his age. Tae list Vice President of the So.
Cety was Judge William Cranch, an eminent
lurist, distinguished as just and impartial
magistrate, and for the purity of his life. In
1Si7 the aggregate OF collections and accumu-
lated interest being $4,000, the Society felt
JUSTIFIED In beginning the erec ton of the mon.
ument. The site selected was the public res.
ervation mum bered on the plan Of the city OF
Washington, containing upwards OF thirty
acres, near the Potomac river, directly west
OF the CapIroI, and south of the Presidents
House It presents a beautiful view of the
Potomac; is so elevated that the monument cal
be seen from all parts of the city and the sur
rounding country, and being public reserya.
ton, Is safe from any future obstruction of the
view. ~sI lE.t4 II
plan for the monument was adopted, after
vide consultation with experienced and in :
dicious experts, and careful comparison OF
the various plans submitted, as we'll with each
other as with an ideal standard OF excellence
The one selected proposed an obellsk 5l7 feet
high, and pantheon or base. The obeiisk was
estimated TO cost 1852, 900, and the whole work,
Including obelisk and pantheon, sI,I22, 600.
The anniversary Of American independence
was chosen as a ut day for laying corner
stone of a monument to its hero On the
Fourth OF July, ISIS, under a bright sky, in the
presence OF the President and Vice President
tatives In Congress, the Heads of the Execu.
tive Departments, and other officers, Execu-
tive and Judicial, OF the Government, the Cor
pOrate authorities OF Washington and George
town, and Alexandra, military companies,
associations of many descriptions, delegations
from States and Territories Of the Union and
from several Indian tribes, and a countless
multitude, Robert @. Winthrop, Speaker OF the
House OF Representatives., pronounced an
eloquent Grafton on the occasion; other ad-
dresses were delivered and the cornerstone
U N lTory,
the memory OF Washington at the seat O
the Federal Government" The board of
managers at once commenced active opera
TONS which were vigorously prosecuted. In
about six years from the laying OF the Corner
stone they were enabled TO raise the oSeIisk to
tie height OF 20 feet, being a little m ore than
On the work as thus TAR done $4,000, the
whole amount CT collections, including
interest on investments, from the origin Of
the society. were expended. The foundation
OF the obeiIsk was laid eighty-one feet souare
eight feet below the surface of the ground, and
the obeisk IS contracted in its progress so as
TO be sixty one feet ten inches At the top. an
elevation OF twenty five feet of solid masonry.
II is commenced st the height OF seventeen
and half feet above the ground, fifty five feet
square, cdsed with marble, with walls fifteen
feet thick, leaving cavity of twenty five feet
A select committee of the House of Represen.
tatives, in report made upon the subject of
the washington monument in 1853, stated that
leach State and two of the Territories of thu
Mon, have contributed a block of marble or
stone, inscrib~ with its arms or some suita-
Die inscription or device, aud 4 great many
pthers nave been offered by various institu-
lions and societies throughout the land: and
several foreign Government have testified
their desire 10 unite in this great work of hu-
Tnanity, intended to commemorate the virtues
OF Its chief ornament and example. The
boundaries OF ChriSt1nGom do not limit his
tame, which reaches y the reuotest parts of
the earth, and the most distant and isolated
nations have testified their yeperation towards
SWltZerianh.
Turkey, Greece, China, and Japan, have
E,ousiy united 10 pay their homage TO our
Washington. Such tributes are our highest
trophies. The history Of mankind affords no
parallel to this
The meeting for the organization of the
Washington National Monument Society,
under the act Of incorporation granted By Con
eress, was held on the ed of March, 1859, and
the following officers were elected: James
Buchanan, President of the United States,
president en- oCFciO; the Mayor of washington,
list Vice President: General Winfield Scott
I'd Vice President: Thomas Carberry, Sd Vice
President; b. H. Smith, Treasurer; John q.
Brent, Secretary.
The work on the Monument, W ich has been
suspended from the want OF funds, will, it is
confidently hoped, be res umed at no distant
day. The present income OF the Society is
about 81 ,0t0 per year, which is expended in
keeping the buildings in repair and other
necessary OUTLAWS The late William A..
Bradley was an efficient and enthusiastic
member of the Society, and on his death Hon
John u Broadhead was elected to fill the
vacancy. Contributions in AID of Monument
fund are received on the Monument grounds,
at the Smithsonian Institution, aud at the
Patent ONCE.
The following are the officers of the society
for the year 1867 President the President O:
the United States. ez obFcio; First Vice Pres
ldent, Gen. U. 5. Grant; Second Vice Pres
ident, the Mayor Of Washington, er otficio
Third Vice President, General Peter Force:
Carroll Brent.
On entering the grounds the attention is at.
tracted by the words " isitors Room, "oyer The
door Of small building, which leads 10 8 long
room, wherein are deposited the blocks pre-
Sented by the various States, Territories and
orders, an inspection Of which is not only in
ieresnDg, from the artistic specimens OF sculp-
lure displayed, but also as evidencing the gp !.
illogical wealth OF the country We append to
this sketch a description Of some of the most
attractive OF these, and may add the earnest
nope that work SO ausplciousIy begun NAV
A large while mari BILE slab, from the snbor.
dinate lodges OF Odd Fellows Of the city and
county OF Philadelphia, bearing sculpturaI
enblems of the order Also, another Of the
same description from the Continental Guard
OF New Orleans, having thereon the names Of
the members and coat.of arms OF Louisiana.
A white marble block from the Grand Lodge
L. U. q. F. OF Maryland, with a beautiful
dtsign; and the names OF the officers of the
Ledge in 1850.
yisisn Sons OF Temperance OF Illinois, bear
Ing emblens Of the order and the motto, glove,
Purity, and Fidelity .
handsome block OF highly dressed stone
from American citizens residing at Foo Chow
Eco, China, Feb. y, 1e57." rFr
white marble block from the pupils Of the
public schools OF Baltimore, 1851, bearing the
motto, ssPdlman qu me ruit fer at" aad a
handsome sculptured design.
White marble block from the Independent
Engine and Hose Company OF Cincinn atl, with
mottoes and embleMs.
From st. Johns Lodge, No. 80, Richmond,
Va, dark granite block, with q Bible lin
white marble) open at Psalm cxxxit, and va
rious Masonic eInblems. = = =
From the Grand Lodge OF the State OF Missis.
sippi, grey marble block, inscribed, "To our
worthy brother, George Washington
brown stone block from the WASHINGTON
EriEa Guard. OF Newark, N. J., with scuip.
ture6 emblem Of Ireland.
white marble block from the aDramatic
Profession OF America, 1885," with a bust of
Shakespeare, and the motto, "All that live must
die" '
Frem Vermont, a white marble block, with
the coat OF arms of the State beautifully sculp-
tured.
From the city Of Stockton, CAL, 1859, a dark
granite block inscribed, "To the Father of his
country, George w Washington"
handsome granite block from Richmond,
Va.
marble block from the temple of Escula.
Plus, IsiaDa of Paros. Presented by the OF.
GERS OF the u. s. steam frIgate Saranac, Aug.
u, 1855.
block OF crystal quartz, presented by the
General Assembly ofthe Presbyterian Church.
IN session at Washington May, 1889; desien.
an open Bible, with appropriate inscriptions,
ISL, a white marble block, with splendid
Maao pfc m Ga -