Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-31

otto societies or pefsons to lend financial aid;
but 1t first apathy and indifference, and sub
sequenfly the American rebellion. prevented
any action Of favorable nature. Finally
these continued appeals we're successful,
Congress appropriated sums of money for
strengthening the base, and Afterwards for
pushing the work to completion. and nov
appropriafes annually such sums as are need
ed. About October. 1881. another hundred
feet had been added. and in August 1882 it
had reached the height of two hundred and
ninety feet "A short delay only has occurred
since that time owing to hitch in furnishing
the necessary iron material, but SO rapidly
has the work been pushed since that time
that at present writing it has attained the ele-
walton Of $50 feet. or nearly SIXTY feet higher
than the dome If the capitol The proposed
height il 555 feet, which will make it the
highest structure built by human hands.
The following are few of the most noted
for their great height: First of all, because
it is now the highest. is the pyramid Of
Cheops $50 feet (supposed to have been,
originally, somewhat higher; Cathedral
spire at Strasburg, Germany, 4s8 feet; st.
Peters. 457 feet; st. Paurs, London. 365
feet; and Salisbury Cathedral, 404 feet
The Capitol, here. stands erect at 306 feet.
Bunker Hill Monument is 22l, and the
w
feet high. So your readers can estimate for
themselves what q remarkable height this
latest structure is likely TO attain.
The material is of marble intermixed with
blocks Of granite. The marble is from q
species obtained in Maryland, and the granite
comes from quarries in Maine and at Cape
Ann, Mass. The foundation is so feet square
and the base which rests upon the foundation,
and about 80 feet above the ground level is
IS feet square. The top Of the portion which
rises almost perpendicularly, will be &c So
feet square. The balance of the height will
taper off rapidly to a point. About l25
memorial stones will be Inserted in the in
side portion of the walls. Probably . third
Of these are now in position and can be seen
as you ascend the elevator. Some of these
are curiously wrought, and many have come
from foreign countries. Charitable, benevo-
lent, secret. religious, and reformatOry
aociefies have contributed these memorials.
and it is interes ing to study their designs
and read the notices and inscriptions There
are blocks from Braddocks' field of victory,
from Bunker Hill, and from Vesurius, from
Egypt, from Rome and other foreign climes.
That from Egypt has a head carved upon it
by Egyptians between two and three thous-
and years ago.
A stairway is being erected inside the monu-
ment that will go to the top, as, also, will the
elevator, so that the timid person can climb,
if he fears to be hoisted. The elevator Gan
Otis pattern) goes to within ten feet of the
top. As each ten feet of stone is laid, the
| elevator wires and other connections are ex
tended so that it is always near the top. The
blocks to be laid are carried up upon it, and
the breakage weight is l25 tons. The engine
and the whole construction is examined every
morning, so there is but little danger in as
| cendiDg, and there has never been an acct
dent. The width of the wall at the present
| top is about four feet. On the outside is a
heavy netting running around all sides and
which is never allowed to be more than six
| feet from the top. Derricks take the blocks
of stone from the elevator and place them in
position.
The inside of the monument, when com
pleted, will be lighted with electricity.
passenger elevator will take the place of the
present one, and the whole inside will be opeT
to sightseers or the public in general. 1t j:
| expected that the structure will be completed
| within three years, and the finish will bt
| celebrated BY grand combination of elO
quence, music, procession, fireworks, etc
Strange to say, notwithstanding the grea
| height far attained, but few are troubled
| with fear or dizziness when at the top. Per
haps there is a certain attainable elevation
when one loses the sense of distance. Such
then, are the principal features and matters o.
interest concerning George Washington's ant
Americas famous monument. +. j. b.