Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-19
New Lean


A cluster Of bees seem to have Lit on
the summit Of the tall, plain, whits
shaft Of the Washington Monument.
These, to . clearer view were seen to be
busy human iab0rers, who, after a sum-
meH OF rest, were again at work placing
tier ON tier Of marble ON what is al
ready ono Of the tallest and what is to
be the tallest artificial elevation in the
world. Today the Workmeu are laying
the blocks which make the hight 2S2
feet. The stones are each two feet in
perpendicular diameter. and three tiers
can be laid each week. The monument
will therefore be raised about foot
higher every day for the next two
months. The plan IL to build at least
fifty additional feet before winter.
The work proceeds very quietly and
scientifically. The masons are evidently
akilled at their craft. The blocks are
ont ct the base Of the column and car
ried to the summit in q strong elevator,
which slides up and down the great
dark funnel, which extends in one
smooth abyss from tho summit TO the
ground, The elevator is worked BY q
steam engine. in an adjacent building,
and seems to be provided with every ap-
pliAnce to insure safety. II is probably,
even now, the highest elevator in exist
enoe outside Of mining shafts, and as
it consists Of simple platform the trip
il not an agreeable enc to q nervous
person. The winding staircase is, how
ever, not an Improvement in this respect
ON the hoist. Not to speak Of tho IA
tigue of mounting and descending five
hundred steps, the steps look fragile if
they are not, and the Rlimpses Of light
one catches in tho prevailing obsourity
are not reassurinR. a. they disclose the
fatal depths into which he would Be pre-
cipitated by false step.
The view from the summit is superb,
and tho effect is heightened BY coming
upon it suddenly. The absence of any
object 70 break tho hight of the lookout
also adds to the impression. One seems
suspended in the clouds, while tho capi-
I'll In al its beauty lies far below 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
moro favorable than that Of the Capitol
for Wow Of the city.
The mas0ns are too busy to feast
their eyes upon the scenery. They are
rolling the great blocks Of marble into
position. and fastening them securely
and properly with plumb limo, nallet
and cement. II II exciting TO watch .
laborer stand on newly placed block,
and, swinging the huge wooden mallet
over tho edge OF tho preoipioe, pound
the Stone into its exact position. Were
II not for tho netting this step In the
work would b hazardous in tho ex-
trems, and - It is good nerves are
necessary.
This horizontal netting il one Of the
important features Of the work. II is
made Of strong rope, and is stretched
out from and surrounding the sides of
tho shaft 70 . distance Of nearly ten
fest. To a3ord greater security it is
bent slightly upward from the horizon
tai, % ~ 70 throw backward toward the
stonswork any weight falling upon its
surface. Tho net has already saved ono
life, and its value ~ the monument
reaches still more giddy hight than that
new attained viii constantly Increase.
Apart from IL chief usefulness in af-
fordinQ protection to the masous, il
from them the sense of constant danger
tious slovness. Al times the wind
sweeps over the summit with terrific
foros.
"Do you 80 that young man2' said
the master mason, pointing to . laborer
distant. He was working ON the edge
now, noS When s, shs Wind md caught ID TT him n riehs @
Oh his fese, and flung him over the brink
Of the monument. He landed in the
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