Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-13
The Washington Monument COm-
mission.

Co&MUNICATIoN FROM TIE CHAIRMAN TO THE
SENATE.
The Vice President laid before the Senate this
morning communication from w. ". Corcoran
Chairman OF the Joint Commission for the COM
petion OF the Washington Monument trans
hitting report of the commission. showing the
extent and progress made in the work and the
amount Of money expended. The report was
referred to the committee on public buildings
and grounds. The letter Is as follows:
In compliance with the act OF Congress of
August 2, 1876 creating the joint commits 81 III
for the completion of the Washington monu-
ment: have the honor to transmit here With
Casey. I. S engineers, in charge OF the
construction OF the monument, sh1 wing
ahe the extent ext and pTogres' made in the work
seth uIt: Also, copies of plan for strength
ening tie foundation OF the monum snt
prepared by, the engineer in charge,
lating thereto Also Also copy of letter
from Lieut.. Col. @. A. Gilmore, L. s. enri-
neeTS,Who was disbursing officer OF the engineer
beard Which was detailed at the request OF the
Joint commission, in compliance with the sec
ord section OF the act above referred to, to eX-
anime and report upon the stability of the
foundation IN OF the monument. showing the
examining the foundation. 1t may be proper TO
state, while it will be found in the engineers
estimate that the cost OF securing the founda-
ton according to the plan prepared by him ex-
ceedS the sum fixed by law. the commission
have limited the cost OF that portion of the
work to the amount named IT, the Joint resolu-
tion OF Congress approved June IA. 1878.
Very respectfully, w. ". CORCoRAN
Chairman OF the Joint Commission for the Com
pletion CT the Washington Monument.
Enclosed in the report is il letter from Col T.
l.. Casey, l. 5. Engineers, TO W. W. CorcOran.
dated December 2, ISIS, showing the extent and
progress made in the work and the amount OF
money expended to November 31th 1873. Col.
Casey says: ''On June 2>th. 1878, the engineer
received directions OF commission to prepare a
IS early date as practicable project with
drawings for strengthening the foundation of
the monument. to the end that it may be car
rfed to heighth of at least 525 feet above the
present top OF the foundation. This project
was completed on the 21th OF July and for
warded to the chairman of the joint commits
sion on the 5th OF August, 1878.
On the 1St OF october the engineer received
the order OF the commission requiring him TO
strengthening the foundation in accordance
with tie plan submitted, and the expenditure
Tor this purpose was limited to $4,000, while
tie expenditure OF the balance of the funds
available was authorized for the purchase OF
material and for performing such WORK in con-
nection with the Super5tructure, as in the
Judgment OF the engineer might be advisable.
Under this authority steps were taken for
erecting the necessary shops and procuring the
tools and materials for underpinning the fOand-
alton and for securing the top courses of the
present shaft from deterioration by the wealth
er. Upto the 3Oth OF November the following
progress had been made: \ carpenters and
rigging shop, 2SX6o feet N12: Il cement store
house, 2lXloO feet Xl0: blacksmith shop. 24X3T
feet Nl2, have been buift, and the blacksmith
shop equipped with the proper tools and three
forces.
The roof of the old building for the storage of
donation blocks has been renewed, and the
small rooms at either end replastered and fitted
for administrative purposes. A weighing
scale OF ten tons capacity has been put up. and
roadway from the monument TO 14th street
graded and covered with broken stone. The
frame or StOne-cutting shed 36X.3X16 has
been prepared TO be set up when needed. Six
large wooden platforms for receiving and Stor-
ing concrete materials have been erected. and
quantity OF concrete materials received
The oak and pine timber necessary for the
framing OF the first four cuts and tunnels under
tie monument have been received. Five boom
It's top, are nearly completed, and all The tackl
and blocks required have been delivered. Nv
concrete mixers and two steam engines 10 driv
the mixers and carry the falls OF the derrick
are upon the ground and are being set iii posi-
ton.
The old ara damaged roof and combination
derricES that Were upon the top OF the m1nu
ment have been removed, aid new staging to
carry The derrick has been put In position, jus
below the upper surface Of tie monument. Tw)
bench Levels Tor points OF reference have been
set up TO the south and southwest OF the molu
ment, and spots in the foundation prepare
from which TO take daily series of levels
the structure as the work advances.
The necessary excavations for the mixer
have been made, and some $50 feet Of finch
drain-pipe laid to drain the water from these,
and the further excavations contemplated
The following contracts have been mlde:-
Wlllett & Libbey. lumber; ii. j. Mclaughlin.
broken stone; Il. t. Fowler q Co, blue-Stone
gneiss J. b. White q Bro, Portland cement;
Il. n. Miller & son. pebbles and sand.
The following are the expenditures upon the
completion of the monument and strengt heniny
OF the foundation up to November 30, ls.S:-
completion OF monuile ~, $7,,S1.S3; strengthen
ing Of foundation, 81, IL. "a.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS LINCOLN CASEY,
Lieut.. Col. Corps OF Engineers.
The other reports referred to in Mr.. COrco-
rams letter were made in July last, and have
already been made public. Maps showing the
plan for strengthening the foundation and COM
peting the monument are also among the
papers submitted.