Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-28
The Work Upon the Wa a,hingtOn
Monument.
STRENGTHENING THE FoUNDAT1o

MOhUG1cnts
STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION,
The grounds Immediately about the Washing
ton monument that is to be, show unaccus-
toned signs Of life and activity. The work of
Strengthening the foundation is well under
way. Offices, storehouses, biacksmfth's, car
penter's and rigging shops great piles OF sand
and other materials, the noise of the engine
driving the concrete mixer, and the busy stir of
wOrkmen about the scene, representing actual
LABOR on the monument instead of talk about It,
give the impression that, perhaps, the reproach
or the uncOmpleted work will be removed after
all. The strengthening OF the foundation OF the
present structure is necessary, whether the
or whether Mr.. Story'S design or any other be
adopted Hence the work now going on aims at
AID tends to the completion OF the monument.
THE NEW FOUNDATION.
The scheme of the new foundation Is that re-
commended to the joint commission by Colonel
Casey. It's aim is to underpin the structure
and to distribute its weight over greater area,
ance OF the ground to be pressed. 1t becomes
necessary to undermine the monument and to
replace the earth to considerable extent with
manner in which it is performed is interesting
Only thin, vertical layer about four feet In
Wlotn IS tonneied at a time, and every precau-
tion is taken to prevent the bringing to bear OF
an unequal strain upon the structure.
THE TUNNELING
OF one OF these deep narrow trenches takes
about two days and a half. Ten hours is then
occupied in filling 1t with the Portland cement
concIete, which When it sets becomes as hard
as stone. 1t is placed in the trench in layers
about six inches deep, and pounded into solid
mass. When the trench Is nearly filled an i'm
provised battering ram is used to drive the con-
crete firmly and snugly into the ends and top
OF the opening. Finally the cement concrete
duced by pipes running to the end of the trench
AS fall is given this liquid from the outside
by by draulic pressure, 1t forces itself into and
hardens into stone with the rest. Eight of
these tunnel1ngs have been made and filled.
seventy-two VIII be necessary. When two tun-
corner, and one about the center of each face
have been made the work will go on more
rapidly, as the structure will be comparatively
we'll supported, and it will be safe to dig two
trenches simultaneously.
TUENEIING UNDER THIRTY-Two THOUSAND TONS
OF STONE.
The present digging looks like rather ticklish
business. The workmen burrow under mass
OF stone weighing nearly $4,000 tons, which has
already shown that it does not stay where 1t is
put. 1t may be said, incidentally, that it Is
expected that the work of underpinning will
remedy the slight depression discovered to exist
In the level OF one corner OF the monument.
MAINTAINING THE EQUrLIBRIUM
Tnough every precautiOn is taken to make
the work secure and prevent toppling OF the
monument, the means of discovering such a
topping, If one occurs, are not neglected
Levels are taken twice a day at the four cor
ners, and wire plumb line falls over $50 feet
from the top to the bottom of the monument,
the plumb DOB Weighing twenty pounds being
suspended In mOlaSSeS to prevent vibrations
after the movement which the bob indicates
has ceased. II the monument moves In any
direction distance equal to the thickness of q
sheet Of paper, it will be readily discovered
When all these trenches have been dug and
filled the base OF the monument Will be encased
IN foundation OF stone, resting On 1ncOmpres-
sible sand, and its weight will be distributed
5.SI ara
feet, as at present.
THE NEW BASE.
This new base will extend eighteen feet un-
der the outer edge OF the foundation, and five
lower joint. The center of the monument will
also be supported by a mass OF concrete the ex-
caVations for which will be made when the CEN
tral trenches are dug, as the latter will be car
I1ed from one side Of the monument to the
other. To lock the old foundation with the new. .
and distribute the pressure more uniformly, a
SUPPORTING mass OF concrete, like continuoui )
series OF buttresseS, Is to be carried from the
upper surface OF the new foundation up ami
under the outer portions Of the shaft.
4 FOUNDATION THAT WILL STAND THE PRESSURE
Great care is taken by frequent tests to max
it certain that the materials for the ne " founda
ton are OF the best quality. After this strength
eniDg it will be vain to expect the stub Of mar
bic now standing to tumble down, and thus set
tie the question Of Its completion. Being found
ed on rock, it will assert itself as astub and
reproachful stub, until the work is fnished
even If that be not done In the time OF the grea
grand children OF this generation. On this
red to height of SIS feet. Of which
500 feet shall be masonry, and 25 feet
CONSTITUTING pyramidal root OF iron, as
contemplated when the plans were made, or
the monument may be otherwise completed.
OF the 100000 appropriated by Congress TO-
wards the completion OF the monument, the
whole sum is available for the next fiscal year.
What is needed is authority from Congress to
use what Is necessary from this amount for
finishing the work of strengthening the foun-
datfon. or the $4,000 for the use OF which In
%a enoaeh
the work about three months 1t Is estimated
that $64 600 additional will be required. AS the
strengthening of the monuments foundation
would seem clearly to be necessary part OF the
work OF its completion, it is not unreasonable
TO expect that when Congress bas the opportu-
nifty it will permit the use in this way Of money
DEFECTS IN THE OLD FOUNDATION.
In excavating under the old foundation the
fact is disclosed that the work upon that foun-
dation was not of the most substantial charac-
ter. The mortar in the stone work seems to
have been defective or did not set owing to the
moisture, and the result is honey comb of In
terstices between the stones that is traced
readily by the air suction upon the flames OF
the lamps Of the men eXcavatfng. A part of
the work CT strengthening the foundation will
be the cementing Of the old foundation. Alto
geiher, it is evident that the money approprt-
ated for strengthening the base OF the monu-
hent VIII not be thrown away: and that the
work was needed If any additional weight Is to
be thrown upon the shaft.
TENNESSEE WILLING TO PAY ONE HALF HER
DEBT,-The lower house of the Tennessee IegfS-
lature amended the Senate bill to adjust The
state debt at 40 cents by striking out .forty''
and substituting ''t1fty centS,' at which rate 1t
is believed the legislature will agree to settle
1t, II the bondhoiders will concur.
KILLED AT GAME OF CARDs-In an ARRAY at
Wtlkesbarre, Pa, between party of card play
els, Joseph Schale fatally shot Jacob Schwab,
and then slightly wounded John Zet, cOnSta-
DE. Schale was arrested. He claims that he
was drunk and disclaims all knowledge Of the
muider
TIE NEW YORK WORLDS FAIR.-The eXecu-
i've committee upon the worlds fair proposed
10 be held In New York has decided TO hold the
fair In Central Park. The action liking the date
IN les5 was reconsidered, and 1t Is probable 1888