The New York herald., 1874-10-05
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Energetic Action OF the Washington
National Monument Society-Prospects

Energetic Action OF the Washington
National Monument society-Prospects
of Speedy Completion.
The majority OF our readers are aware that
there has been recent revival OF interest in the
affairs OF the great unfinished monument to
George Washington which has been standing on
the Mall just south OF the Executive Mansion In
the city that he planned and that bears his name.
This interest has been awakened by a final appeal
TO the patriotism OF the people, made some two
months since by the society," for funds to enable
them to resume work upon and TO finish that at
present unsightly structure. The motive OF the
Monument Society, set forth IN the circular let.
ters addressed pv them 10 the various organized
bodies and societies throughout the country, ls
one that appeals to the gratitude OF every
citizen of our free land-namey, to wipe out
an ugly blot upon the national honor which
has been subject OF scorn and OF sar-
castle comment by all the nations during
many years. The plan determined upon to accom-
plish this noble cad Is generally understood IT IS
presumed but that all may understand IL we
again present II to our readers. 1t is intended 10
appeal TO every organization, whether secret or
otherwise. in the country to make contingent
pledges lor whatever amount 1t may desire to
give no pledge to be redeemed until official notice
is received stating that the s5ooooo necessary
! to complete the monument at an altitude OF 4s5
feet has been promised. Then the society Will call
upon each society order that has made con-
tngent pledge for one-hali the amount subscribed.
and win at once resume the work. and in six and
twelve months from the date or the first payment
they will call for the balance of the subscription.
The society gave 1t out in positive terms that they
y Will not again attempt to resume the work until
they have enough subscribed to enable them, with
out possibility of failure, to go on to completion,
Of Tha ntrvp
afford to undergo the disgrace of any more failures
in this regard.
4 Doubtless the interests OF the Monument Society
\ have suffered good deal years past by bad
management. The plan OF sending out rrespons-
n bic collecting agents some years ago was bad
4 one and it is likely enough to be true that enough
money was given those agents to build the monu-
ment. The present society is chartered by Con-
gress, and It's officers are men of unbemished
fame They dropped the strollng collectors when
they came into office. and have never sent out an
agent since. Gentlemen ike the President OF the
United states the General OF The Army. Rear Ad
4 mira Powell OF the navy Hon John NJ. Brodhead,
second Comptroller Of the Treasury; W.. W. Cor
coran, the well known phiiapthropist; George w.
Dr.. John b. Blake, John Carroll Brent and other
high officials need no Endorsement rs 10 their In
! by the terms OF their charter liable to be taken
into Court and punished, upon conviction OF NAL
ieasance in the trust confded to them. The
contributed under pre- ent auspices will not be
misapplied. No contrlo button VIII be touched by
treasurer, and Will be used alone for the purpose
Tor which IL Is contrlbuted. IhIs may set at rest
any suspicion that IRRESPONSIBLE hands Will have
any control OF the funds given toward the building
OF this monument. The Monument Society, tnen
being composed OF gentlemen OF known repute,
and having set in motion plan so simple, prac-
tical and safe, whereby the monument may be
by r sow 1 Se e9 Of 'e pas on
1 hundredth year OF American INDEPENDENCE 1t
would seem only just tnat the great American
public should respond, and respond promptly. TO
4 the appeal. few dollars from each OF the bodies
and societies III the country would do the work.
On the 3lst OF January ls4o, congress passed a
resolution authorizing the Washington National
Monument Society 10 erect "a monument to the
memory OF George Washington upon such portion
oil the public grounds or reservations within the
city OF WASHINGTON, not otherwise occupied, as
\ States and the Board OF Managers OF said society,
a suitable site on which to erect the SAID monu-
Il ment, and Tor the necessary protection the 60 :"
The site selected, under the authority OF this
luton, was the public reservation numbered on
the plan OF the city OF Washington, containing
upwards OF thirty acres near the Potomac River,
directly west OF the Capitol and south OF the
Presidents house. The grant was executed on
the 18th OF Aprll, 1S41 by the President OF the
United States and the Board OF Managers Of the
society, ana is duly recorded among the land
records o. the District OF Columbia The site
selected presents beautiful view OF the Potomac;
is SO elevated tnat the monument Will be seen
from all pai IS OF the city ana surrounding coun-
try, ana, being public reservation, II is sale from
any uture o ,struction OF the view. 1t is SO near
ment can be conveyed to it from the river at but
u little expense; stone. sand and lime, all or the
bes; kind, can be brought TO 1t by water from con-
venen. dlsla and marble OF a most beautiful
quality, obtaiued at a distance OF only eleven
miles from baltimore. on the susquehanna Rail
road, can be brought either on the railroad IN
vessels. In addition to THESE and kindred reasons
the adoption oil the site was iurther and impress
slvely recommended by the consideration that the
monument 10 be erected on 1t would be full In
view OF Mount Vernon, where rest the ashes OF the
4 Chef; and by evidence tina. Washington himself
i whose unerrlng judgment had selected this city 10
be the capital o. the nation, had also selected this
particular spot Tor "a monument to the American
Revolutonn which in the year 1895 1t was pro-
posed should 'be erected or placed at tue pc ma.
The Board OF Managers at once commenced active
operations, which were vigorously prosecuted. In
about SIX years from the laying OF the corner stone
they were enabled 10 raise the obellsK to the
height ol 10 leet, being a little more tnan one
third OF its proposed ultimate elevation. on the
work as thus lar done $3.50, 900, the whole amount
oil collections, ncludlng interest on investments,
from the origin OF the society, were expended.
feet square, eight Ieet below the surface OF the
ground, and the ooesk is contracted in its pro-
top, an elevation of twenty-five. feet OF
solid masonry. 1t Is commenced at the
above ABOVE the the ground ground, hny 1--we feet to- square, are.
cased with marble, with walls fifteen feet thick,
leaving cavity OF twent,-hye feet. IL VIII be
ascended by stairs In the inside, and by machinery.
+ The purchase Of materials and the general con-
structon OF the WORK were committed by the
Board of Managers to three OF their number, de-
nominated Building Committee, subject to the
revisory authority OF the Board which met weekly.
4 The services OF the Boa were gratultous Faith
ful to the principles on which the society mad
acted from the beginning, they solicited contrlbu-
tons from the whole people, without distinction OF
party, or sect or creed; and In the same national
I spirit administered IN all respects the trust con-
hded to them.
A variety OF circumstances have conspired since
that time TO delay the progress OF the work, but
the society now beheve that they have initiated a
scneme which Will bring about the long desired
result, viz, the complete achievement OF this
\ great national work.