National Republican., 1874-05-07
THE NATIONAL DISGRACE.
PROPOSITION TO FINISH WASHIS6-
TON MONUMENT.

9
IREPORT OF THE SPECIAL CONMIITEE ON
THE sUBJECT-wHAT THE COST Will. pr
VIEWS OF AUNITED STATES ENGINEER
THE ORIGINAL PLAN TO BE MODIFIED.
During the last session of Congress Q reso-
lntion was introduced by Hon. N. P. Chipman,
Delegate in Congress from the District, for the
appointment Of special committee of thirteen
to inquire into the practicability of completing
the Washington National Monument. In &C
cordance with the provisions Of the resolution,
General Chapman, who was appointed chair
man, on May 1, submitted the report, which
contains general resums Of the entire subject,
the material points of which are given here
with. The report is accompanied by the re-
tport of Lieutenant Marshall, United States
engineer corps, (who was detailed by General
Humphreys to make 9 critical examination OF
the structure) and other interesting facts.
After giving an historical review Of the subject,
1.-THE report says: - '.,.... Z.
The doubt which has been expressed as to
the stability of the proposed monument led
the committee to address the Secretary of War
a letter, asking that officer to cause an exam
lination to be made into the foundation of the
monument by competent officer Of engineers,
and to report whether the shaft could safely be
lcompleted according to the original PLAN and
at what cost; and also to report the cost OF
constructing the shaft at less height If
deemed expedient. s.----,-- ..'..7-''
Lieutenant Marshall, an accomplished and
competent officer of engineers, was detailed for
that purpose, and his report, hereto appended,
shows the ability and the thoroughness with
which he has gone into the subject.
The margin of safety in constructing the
shaft to the height originally designed is found
to be so small that your committee reluctantly
feel compelled to recommend that 1t would be
unwise to construct the monument to that
height.
1t is believed, however, that the shaft COM
pleted to the height recommended by Lieu.
tenant Marshall would possess as good, If not
better proportions, and would be equally salts
factory to the American people and would
stand for ages. The design for q terrace for
the base your committee believe to be more
appropriate and more harmonious with the
style Of architecture adopted In the monument
than the original pantheon, which excited so
much criticism Of Late years, and ut the same
time is comparatively inexpensive.
| Your committee know ofno structures, except
six, on the face of the globe which will exceed
1t in height, namely: The dome of st. Peters
cathedral at Rome, 457 feet; spire at Landshut,
Germany, 465 feet; the tower Of the cathedral
at StrasbIrgh, 4Ss feet; St. Stevens, at Vienna,
Al feet; pyramid at Chepheren, 454 feet: and
the great pyramid of Egypt, 4SO feet; while no
symple shaft or obelisk known to your COM
mittee Is within 200 feet of its proposed height.
Whatever might be said from an artistic stand
point In favor of some other style of >m0nu-
ment, your committee think 1t now too late to
discuss that question.
Tens of thousands of our fellow-citizens have
contributed toward this monument, and have
in that expressed their approval of erecting a
simple, plain, but massive and stately shaft,
and now that this shaft is partially completed
it would seem almost sscrilegious to tear 1t
down and substitute some other form of monu-
ment, or to convert the present unfinished shaft
into q pedestal upon which to erect an effigy of
Washington, as has been suggested by some:
The difference In the height between the modi-
fed and original plan would hardly be percep-
tible to the ordinary beholder, while the differ
ence in the cost is such as it is believed would
make its completion by Congress entirely prac-
ticabe at this time; the total cost being, as esti
mated by Lieutenant Msrsball-for obelisk,
$245, 1917; for terrace, S65, ,540.75; total,
tSSlO, ,6S5.92.
Your committee have considered carefully as
to what should be done in order to secure the
completion of the monument by the approach
ing centennial.
They find that the Monument Society has
made every posefble reasonable effort to secure
subscriptions, but its efforts have failed, and
its board of officers and members rsport that
they have no hope of being able to succeed.
The members of the society show commend
able patriotism, even to the point of yielding
up their organization, with which some Of
them have been connected for many years. |
But your committee are unwilling to recon-
mend the total disbandmeut of an association |
which has already done SO much, and indeed |
has done all that has thus far been accom- |
plished by the American people toward erect
ing suitable monument to the memory Of
Washington.
II is found, however, that by q resolution-of,l
Congress, heretofore mentioned in this report, |
reservation number three, containing about |
thirty acres. was decided to this association,
and deed made of the land, afterward con- |
frTned by the charter act of 1850.
Ii the United States are to undertake the |
completion of the shaft by appropriations
through Congress, your committee deem II but |
just to the people that this conveyance of SO
important q reservation should be Cancelled,
and the title again vested in the United States.
This your committee believe 1t is entirely
competent for Congress to do
First. Because the charter act confirming the
deed is repealable by its terms.
Second. Because the deed was made in trust,
which trust, by the confession of the society, |
cannot be longer carried out; besides, the mem
bers of the society have by formal vote ex-
pressed willingness to surrender their organi- |
zation. But in taking this action your commit |
tee recommend that the society continue its ex- |
istence until the completion and final dedica-
ton of the monument upon the 4th of July, |
1875, the appropriate ceremonies for which |
might very properly be conducted BY said So
ola k,1sa H..
but just recognition of an association which |
has faithfully collected and disbursed large |
m,of money in the construction Of this monu- |
ment as the trustees of citizens in all parts of |
the Union.
1t is estimated by Lieutenant Marshall that |
it Will require five hundred and thirty-seven
working-days to complete the monument to the |
height proposed by him.
Assuming that the work may begin by the
4th of July, 1874, it will be seen that there is no
timeto spare between that and the approach
ing Centennial.
Your committee believe that Congress could
do no one act which would meet with more
favorable response from large majority of
people, or make any expenditure which they
would more cheerfully pay, than to provide an
appropriation sufficient to complete this monu-
meut. - .-
The first century of our history, which is
now drawing to q close, has been to US one OF
prosperity, unparalleled in the history Of ma
tons. c. - !
In the midst of our blessings we may not
forget the struggles OF those men Of reyolution-
ary times, who made this prosperity possible.
The common consent Of mankind has made
George Washington the central figure of this
wonderful republic. We have been taught to
ook upon him as embodying those mental and
moral characteristics which are typical of
rec people, and 1t will be sad day to this re-
public when this idol Of the American heart is
)roken. -...---r, ,4--. .---- 4
No one can doubt that the spectacle pre-
ented at the National Capitol to-day by the {
monument to the memory of that I
nan whose history is the history of nations
birth, has tended to deaden patriotic feeling J
md diminish that greatful affection in which
Washington was once cherished, and in which
lie should ever be held by the American people. {
The principles offree government can neither ]
0e appreciated nor preserved without cherish /
ng with something like religious fervor the {
memory of the men who are Conspicuous from t
ime 70 time in defending those principles.
Feeling assured that any reasonable effort
made bT Congress at this time TO redeem thel
,lighted fafth Of the nation IL regard to this :
monument will meet the hearty approval OF
hose we claim to represent; and tbatthay will 9
lail with joy the removal Of that reproach to s
ur national gratitude which this unfinished | v
n At -. 1