Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-25
The Washington Monument.

inglon Monument is foot by foot daily rising
skyward, and its completion. in due course
of time is now assured. 1t is already u
landmark visible from any part of Wash
ington and the inhabitants, after genera
ton of ridicule. are beginning to be proud of
it. Apart from its unique character as an
architectural wonder, m odern science pro
poses TO utilize it for the public benefit
The Signal Office expects to have a pcrma-
nent station at Its summit, and its officers
say that observations of the AR and atmos-
pheric movements taken at an altitude of
800 feet will he of great value. Observa-
| tons are taken, OF course, at far greater
attitudes than this, but the gradual slope of
even the most prcciptous mountain and the
presence of large masses of rock near the
| observatory create surface currents, even on
mountain heights and interfere with the
| study OF the phenomena of the higher levels
of the atmosphere. 1t has often been pro.
posed to institute a series of experiments by
means of captive balloons, but the expense
of such work prevented the plans being
carried ont. AT the time of the Centennial
it was proposed to erect n skeleton tower tC
the height of 1000 feet in Farimount Park
Had this been done, the signal officers would
utilize the observatory for the benefit Of
meteorological science, but the tower stopped
at 800 feet. The signal officers say it would
not he impracticablc to build tower of 1906
feet high, or even higher, and that the
erection OF such tower would be Of great
service.
Tie monument is now 300 feet high. Tn,
original design contemplated height Of jO(
feet, but at Il meeting OF the commissioners
; two years ago, when ii was decided to re
sumo work, it was voted to make the mon
; ument the loftiest artificial structure in til,
world. The commissioners examined til,
heights of all the noted monuments, towers
pagodas, spires buildings, and lag-polcs
and found that to safely distance all rivalry
n height al $50 feet would be necessary. i
was therefore determined to complete til,
shaft on this plan, and the drawings wer,
modified to that end What was the sur
prise and qualification of the commissioner
to find subsequently that the new proper
tons of the shaft as now adopted were eN
ac,ly those of an Egyptian obclisk.
4 German Fire Brigade.
Bayreuth Correspondence of the New ior
llerald.l
The night arrived had the unexpecte,
| pleasure Of seeing comedy. 1t was genu
j inc German comedy too. Its subject matte
was the efforts of the Bayreuth Fire Brigad
to put out II fire. was awakened from
sound sleep by the loud beating of drlir
under my windows. could hear drum
: beating in various parts of the city, tn
church bells We're ringing, there was tn
heavy tramp of soldiers through the street
5 people rushing about and shouting fire.
fact, every indication OF fire, except til
noise of fire engines. A house a little wa
u down the street was burning A crowd ha
+ gathered there. ! found the infantry guarl
Ing patch Of beans the cavalry statione
: about the potato patch with flashing sabre'
J and the artillery drawn up around pea
. tree.
!, The flames were cracking merrily anon
IS the beams. At last, around the corner AZ
: poared six biz Germans carrying sma
u ladder, and after them six small German
IS carrying a big ladder. These twelve Gee
l. mans wore green suits and brass helmet
l. When they had managed to place the hi
II ladder against the front of the house the
Il ran away again. After while we heard
Is rafting AS though a dog with tin can tie
IL to his tail were running through the nc'
street. The twelve Germans again turne
the corner drawing after them what locke
/ like a tin box on wheels. 1t was the fire el
l. gne-an open tin box with n hand puml
n \ hose was attached. fireman mounto
IS the ladder Another tiremcn carried Il
lr hose up to him. Meanwhile women wit
r. large wooden paniers strapped to their bacl
d brought water from the neighboring fountai
d and emptied it into the engine.
> Finally everything was ready and Il
y pumping began. Several large streams
lie water came from the joints of the hose an
5. wet the bystanders. \ small stream can
|. from the nozzle The fire was such a tri
n that they really managed TO get it pretty we
, under control. Then they consulted as
lc whether they should adjourn then and thel
N and get some beer or go on until the fire WI
" completely out They decided to adjourn
G. In about an hour they came back and fl
ishcd their work heard one Bayreuth,
say to another that after all the BayrouI
Il fire brigade was the best in the world. I'll
N next day the city council voted n rcsolutiC
l. of thanks and compensation of l2l cents
l. the women who carried the water from Il
e fountain 10 the engine.