The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-09-10
wAsHINGrON'S MONUMENT.
Resu mpIIOn OF the Grs at wask Afer
Twenty Year, SuApeuAfO0.

Twenty Year, SuApeuAf00.
A Washington correspondent of a
Western paper writes as follows:
Probably the highest elevator in the
world is that just completed in the WASH
ington monument, the first trial of which
was made to-day 1t is 176 feet high, is
capable of bearing ten tons, and was
erected at cost of $50, 900. 1t is run by
an eighty horsepower engine, and viii
be used IN carrying the stones to the top
of the shaft A railroad constructed
from the workshop runs to the root of the
monument, where derrick hoists the
stone and places it on the elevator. At
the top four railroads ON either side con-
yey the stones to their places An iron
stairway has also been put in at cost of
$3.50 Both the stairway and elevator
will be permanent As the work pro
ceeds sections will be added to the ele-
vator. This will occasion delay of two
weeks, as each section of twenty feet 81
placed In position.
The present height of the elevator,
which is twenty feet higher than the
shaft, will be all that is expected to be
built this year. The cable which sup
ports the elevator has been tested, and
will sustain 15S, 900 pounds. Workmen
are now removing from the top of the
monument three layers of stone, which
is equal to six feet in height, which was
found to be necessary, as it had scaled
and is In other ways unfit for use On
top of the monument are a number of
men engaged In removing the immense
stones which form the top layings. The
largest stone blocks are raised by der
ricks and placed upon small truck
riding upon rails, which is then run upon
the elevator. 1t is then lowered, there
being track at the bottom upon which
the truck is rolled out ON terrace.
From this point stones are let down about
twenty feet by derrick to terra trina.
Mr.. Mclaughlin, Superintendent, has
force of one hundred and twenty-five
men employed at the work, and
began laying the first stone about
the LIST of August The elevator, en-
CINE, and everything of the sort, which
are now below the level of the terrace,
but covered by frame building, will be
covered over, so as to make the track
level when the work is completed, thus
keeping the motive power of the elevator
entirely out of sight When work on the
monument is commenced In earnest, it is
expected that course of two feet will
be laid every three days. To cut and
trim the stone necessary for a course
takes the work of twenty men for week.
The monument, it is expected, should
Congress give the necessary appropria-
tons, will be finally completed in 1885.
The foundation has been strengthened
so as to bear all the additional weight
that may be necessary to its completion.
It has now foundation of 81 feet, 49,
feet deeper than the old one. This
foundation is composed of composition
of English Portland cement and crushed
blue stone, and is considered much
stronger than masonry. Thirteen thou
sand barrels of cement were used in
the foundation alone, which has cost
1872, 900. The monument is to be five
hundred and fifty feet high, of which
height one hundred and fifty feet has
already been attained.
The present weight, including the
foundation, is estimated at forty thou
sand tons. At the base the walls are fif-
teen feet thick, losing a batter of one
eighth inch, to use technical phrase, at
every foot; or, in other words, the walls
are one-fourth inch narrower for every
foot attained at the summit. The walls
are now twelve feet in thickness As the
monument stands at present, upward of
$4,000 has been expended on its erec-
ton. Work on the monument has begun
in earnest, and the busy hum of the
chisel can be heard on all sides. When
the first stone is laid it will have been
fully twenty years since the last one was
put in place. One of the most interest
ing incidents connected with the last
WORK upon the monument was the de-
struction by band Of Know-nothings of
stone donated with an appropriate in
scrption by the Pope at Rome. l4