Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-09-26
For the SPECTATOR.
The Augusta Block for the Washington
Monument.

We ask ourselves if there is one citi-
zen out of hundred to-day who ever
knew that in the excessive patriotism
of the hour block was gotten out of
Augusta limestone for this monument?
If so, when, where, by whom, under
what circumstances, would now be an
interesting bit of news to your readers.
But what became of it, hear you say,
Mr.. Editor? If 1 am not in error, the
large square block, lying with the in
scribed side to the wall, at the north
west corner of the Bumgardner ware
house, is the one in question. All
knowledge of it. and consequently in.
terest in 1t, has died. The writer has
often, in the past ten years, thought of
it, but the times did not seem propitious
to say anything. Now, it is time some-
thing be done to utilize it, and have it
put in its appropriate place.. To this
end, will Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, as one
of our Oldest citizens, not say to John
w. Garrett, Esq, of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, that we will be placed
under obligations to him if he will have
1t carried over his road to Washington /?
Before we give you some facts of inter-
est about the monument, let US ask that
some one familiar with the circumstan-
ces under which it was gotten out,
where, when, by whom dressed, the
inscription, by whom selected, or under
what circumstances, so that all this his
tory may go with it to Washington.
The Washington Chronicle of the 3rd
says;
"WOrk on the monument was begun
July 4th, 184S. but for want of funds,
&c, in August. 1880, it had only reached
$50 feet In little over a year from
haf inn aIl l1I
and on August 4th, 1882, 200 feet were
finished. More have been added since
then, and the height is steadily and
surely increasing. The proposed height
is 500, which will make it the highest
monument in the world. A few noted
towers will show how they compare
with this. The highest is Cheops, 4S0
feet; next, the Cathedral of Strasburg,
46S; st. Peters, Rome, 457; Salisbury
Spire, 404; st, Pauls London, 365;
dome of capitol at Washington, 306;
Bunker's Hill, 221; aud Washington
monument at Baltimore, 1893. The
blocks of monument and granite in this
monument weigh from to tons. The
marble is from Maryland. the granite
from Maine, land we ask, very natu-
rally, why not from Virginia, a better
quality. SO much nearer. to say nothing
of the appropriateness. The founda-
tiOn is so feet square, the base 55 feet.
The top of the square portion will be
So 55 feet square, but above that will
arise pyramid of several feet. One of
the famous Otis elevators is used to carry
the blocks, wOrkmen, and visitors up.
About 125 memorial stones in, and one
third have been placed. Nearly every
public or private organization in the
| TInJtAd StqtAa hnnna f0 M Cr1NrQf0
| itself in this way. Will those going TO
the top trouble themselves to read the
long and sometimes indistinet inscrip-
tions? There are great many plain
and beautiful ones. BraddOck's Field
of Vesuvius makes one. A Philadelphia
fife company has one on which the ell
gine and all the apparatus is distintly
cut. Some from Sunday and some
from day schools, some from temper
ance societies, some from secret societies.
Thefe is one from Nevada, and the
name inlaid with silver. One from
American residents in Japan. One
from Egypt, with head carved on it
between 1000 and 5000 years ago, and
intended for the temple erected in honor
of Augustus, on the banks of the Nile.
1t was brought from there by ]. H.
Lehman, and presented to the Monu-
mental Society in 1858. There are 9TH
ers from foreign countries. A stairway
is being erected on the inside Of the
monument, but no one but the work
men is permitted to go to the top"
Mr.. Editor, am sure / am giving
expression to the general wish when
say, "Let us hurry up our contribu-.
tion." J. M. McC.