Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-26

public will, | must consent to the request made
BY Congress, which you have had the goodness
to transmit to me- and in doing this need not,
I cannot say, what sacrifice Of individual feel
ing make to sense Of public duty" But
the widow might have spared her individual
feelings since nothing was done, except pass
ing an empty congressional resolution appropr-
ating s2OO, 900 for the erection ola ''mausoleum
for George Washington in the city Of Wash.
ipgton." In 1924 Mr.. Buchanan attempted to
revive the subject, and failed. In 1899 the
present association was formed at Washington,
and lest the influx of funds should be iuconyeni-
emily great, it limited the subscriptions to one
dollar, so that all classes nigh give alike.
Twelve years later this restriction was remov.
ed and, in lS47, having collected in principal
and interest 1851 900. the society began It's work.
The site WAS selected and plan chosen which
proposes an obelisk five hundred and seventeen
feet high and 4 pantheon or base. The est
mated cost of the obclisk is $532,0 900, and Of
the whole work 81 ,222, 900
On the 4th of July, lS4S, the corner stone
was laid, and Robert G. Winthrop, then speak,
er Of the House of Representatives delivered
the Grafton. In about six years from the lay
ing of the corner stone the obelisk was raised
to the height of one hundred and seventy feet,
| exhausring the funds OF the society. 500, 900
having been collected and expended upon it.
The foundation of the obelisk is eighty-onc
feet square, eight feet below the surface Of the
ground, and it is contracted in its progress 50
as to be sxty-one feet ten inches at the top.
| The obelisk commences ut the height OF seven
teen feet six inches above the ground, htty-tlyc
feet square, clscd with marble, with walls iii
| teen feet thick, leaving 4 cavity OF twenty-five
feet, which will be assembled By stairs and by
machinery.
Such, in brief, is the history Of the monu
ment thus far, for the members Of the original
society soon quarrelled with each other and
the present society was only incorporated By
| Congress in 1850. At that time, 1t appeared
that the board Of managers elected in 1919 had
put in two courses of marble, OF two feet each,
| thus making the monument ia feet high
| Before new work had been well begun. the War
came and put an end to all efforts. Now that
this is happily ended, the society once more
appeals to the people, and asks OF Congress the
sum Of 5000 900, promised nearly Il century ago.
What strikes lis first in this chronicle Of
events is the length OF time that the project
has been in one form or another before the
people-ovcr ninety years; and next comes
feeling of wonder that so small! sum has been
raised after all the icrvcnt appeals III behalf Of
so great Il work Many things OF course, have
worked against the schcme-thc negligence Of
parties: the u,lutrcing OF the society: the o.
currencc of the civil war; and, lastly, the doubt
whether the capital light not be removed
from Washington But, as one million OF dot.
lars would probably complete the whole mon'I-
meut, the undertaking is not so enormous ~ 10
allow much doubt of its ultimate success. -
| PhMHIDhiu Record.