The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-10-25
Work ON the Washington Monumeat.

Work on the Washington Monument.
A cluster of bees seemed to have lit
this morning on the summit of the tall,
plain, white shaft of the Washington
Monument. These, to clearer view,
were seen to be busy human laborers,
who, after summer of rest, were
again at work placing tier on tier of
marble on what is already one of the
tallest and what is to be the tallest arti-
fetal elevation in the world. To-day
the workmen were laying the blocks
which make the height 1872 feet The
stones are each two feet in perpendicu-
lar diameter and three tiers can be laid
each week. The monument will, there
fore, be raised about foot higher ev-
cry day for the next two months. The
plan is to build at least fifty additional
feet before cold weather.
The work proceeds very quietly and
scientifically. The masonS are evident
ly skilled at their craft. The blocks
are cut at the base of the column, and
carried to the summit in a strong ele-
vator. which slides up and down the
great dark funnel which extends in one
smooth abyss from the summit to the
ground The elevator is worked by a
steam-engine in an adjacent build
ing, and seems to be provided with
every appliance to insure safety. 1t is
probably, even now, the highest ele
vator in existence outside of mining
shafts, and as it consists of a simple
platform the trip is not an agreeable one
to nervous person. The winding
staircase is, however, not an improve
ment in this respect on the hoist. Not
to speak of the fatigue of mounting and
descending 500 steps, the stairs look
fragile if they are not, and the glimpses
of light one catches in the prevailing
obscurity are not reassuring, as they
disclose the fatal depths into which
he would be precipitated by false
step.
The view from the summit is superb,
and the effect is heightened by coming
upon it suddenly. The absence of any
object to break the height of the look
out also adds to the impression. One
seems suspended in the clouds, while
the capital, in all its beauty, lies far be-
low him. The elevation is already
greater than the highest point on the
dome of the Capitol to which visitor
can ascend, and the situation of the
monument is more favorable than
that of the Capitol for a view of the
city.
The masons are too busy to feasttheir
eyes with the scenery. They are rolling
the great blocks of marble into position,
and fastening them securely and
properly with plumb line, mallet and
cement. 1t is exciting to watch a
laborer stand on the newly placed
block, and swinging the huge wooden
mallet over the edge of the precipice,
pound the stone into its exact position.
We're it not for the netting, this step in
the work would be hazardous in the ex-
treme. and as it is good nerves are
necessary.
This horizontal netting is one of the
important features of the work. 1t is
made of strong rope, and is stretched
out from and surrounding the sides OF
the shaft to distance of nearly ten
feet. To afford greater security, it is
bent slightly upward from the horizon
tai, so as to throw backward toward the
stonework any weight falling upon its
surface. The net has already saved one
life, and its value as the monument
| reaches still more giddy heights than
that now attained will constantly in
crease. Apart from its chief usefulness
in affording protection to the masons, il
helps them in their work by taking
away from them the sense of constant
danger and the necessity of working
| with cautious slowness. At times the
wind sweeps over the summit with ter
rifle force.
"Do you see that young mar
yonderP said the master mason, point
ing to laborer who stood pulling at 8
rope a few steps distant. ''He was
working on the edge one windy day,
| much as you see him now, when the
wind caught him right off his feet and
flung him over the brink of the monu
ment. He landed in the net, held on,
and so was saved"
THAT was pretty close CALL" said
one of the party of visitors to the young
| man. He was sitting on the outer edge
of the landing, with his legs hanging
| down over the smooth surface of the
precipice. He smiled pleasantly and
nodded assent.
"What did you think Of" asked an.
other of the party, ''as you lost YOU
foothold and fell?''
sWell," said the quiet young man,
81 remembered that the netting was
under me. / fell about six feet before
| 1 struck You see, we don't move uI
| the net till we build about eight or ter
feet of wall. When / hit the net
grabbed the meshes, and they pulled
| me up"
The netting is comparatively recent
| device, and is very ingeniously con.
structed under designs patented by the
master mechanic. None was in use
while the old part of the shaft was
building, and its absence cost the life
not of man but of an adventurous cal
which assembled the winding staircase
one night soon after the work on the
monument had been resumed. Fol
some reason the ca tumbled over the
edge and fell los feet to the ground. In
her fight she spread her tail and legs and
landed without vital injury. She broke
one leg, however. and in this disabled
condition, while limping away. was at
tackled by watch dog, which is KEEP
at the base of the shaft, and was killed
She now lies in state at the Smithsonian
! Institution, where she divides attention
with the skeleton of the mastodon anC
the cage of snakes as the cat which fel
165 feet in safety, only to be worried tt
death by a dog. Washington Cor. N. 7
| Sun.
"Jellies Clear and Amber Sweets.o
i = L.