The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-29
The Washington Monument.

%-@~'ss
Nearly a half century ago an a
sociation was formed for the ere,
ton of u lofty monument at th
capital to the memory of Georg
Washington. Funds were collected
the site was chosen and the pre-
liminary work so far completed a
to allow of the laying of the corne
stone July 4, 1S4S: on which occa
sion an address was delivered b.
Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, the
Speaker of the House of Represen
tatives. The work progressed salts
factorily till the column reached
height of 156 feet, when the fund
became exhausted and further pro
gress was indefinitely suspended
The civil war which ensued was, o
course, fatal to any scheme for OBJ
tanning further aid, and it was no
till after its close that various meth
DDS were organized for procurin!
the necessary means for the prose
cution of the work, all of which
had no practical result, and it wal
left for congress finally TO make al
appropriation which secured thu
completion of the enterprise at NJ
distant day.
The first labor to lie done was tt
strengthen the base, which wa
Judged inadequate to sustain the
enormous weight of the column
to rest upon it, and a large sum and
much time were expened thereupon
This accomplished, the laying OF the
course was resumed in August o.
last year. A few of the surface
marble blocks, found injured from
many years exposure, were remov-
ed, reducing the height from 156 to
$50 feet. Since then, to the middle
of August of the present year, thir.
ty-five courses, or seventy-fve feet
have been added, making the eleva.
ton reach that of Bunker Hill
Monument. 1t is estimated that
by the close of the year a height Of
$50 feet will be attained, not includ-
ing the granite base, which extends
eighteen feet below the surface.
One hundred men are employed
in cutting end preparing the blocks
in the sheds around, and twelve In
setting them. The marble blocks
have uniform thickness OF two
feet, but are irregular in length, and
each is accompanied by a granite or
inner block. The blocks are hoisted
by an elevator worked by an engine
of fifty horsepower. The elevator
will endure a strain far beyond any
possible demand that can be made
on it, the two cables which support
its weight having been subjected, as
stated, to a test of 17O tons each,
and not being at present taxed be-
yond eleven tons.
When completed, this monument
will be the loftiest structure reared
by man, towering seventy feet above
the Great Pyramid of Cheops, ninety
three feet above St. Peters at Rome,
and tw and half times higher than
Bunker Hill Monument. The
at the base is fifty-fye
feet square, losing one-quarter OF
an inch to the;foot as the column as
cends. A small portion of the me-
mortal stones contributed by states,
cities, towns, associations and for
eign governments have already
been placed in the inches assigned
them, the remainder being housed
near by.
1t is estimated that the monu-
ment may be completed in the
course of 1885. Were it not for in
terruptions, two courses or four feet
per week could be added but
changes in the gearing, inclement
delay i'll the arrival of ma
terial, and various causes frequent
ly retard progress. Already, how
ever, the monument begins to peep
up to view, in quarters of the city,
where. hitherto, it has not been visi-
Bile, and its gradual rise is watched
with great interest. At its present
height it attracts the attention of
visitors, and as it progresses and
nears completion it viii become an
object of increasing interest, Till, at
length finished, it must prove CHIEF
to Americans and stran-
gers. The highest columns that
man has ever reared, apart from its
object, must bring to Washington a
tide of visitors. pilgrims to the new
Mecca from all parts of the Union,
and strangers from abroad all anx-
ious to view the shaft towering
above all existing structures.
We may add that at present on
entering the shaft and looking up
ward the sky seems visible through
a very small aperture, and very
sensible change of temperature Is
noticeable. As we ascend by the
elevator it becomes more chilly, and
the light diminishes, till on arriving
midway to the summit, it is so dark
that objects become scarcely dis
cernible; then, as the ascent con-
tinues, sort of twilight succeeds,
which brightens into open dav on
reaching the upper platform.
When completed the ascent will
be made by elevator, or the stair
case which hugs the wall and is to
be so constructed as torelieve the toll
of ascending $50 feet. At short dis
tances will be resting balconies for
pilgrims vending their weary way
to the summit. The interior will
be lighted as matter ofcourse, and
an electric light will flash from the
sumcit. The further statement
may be of some interest, that up to
the suspension of work upon the
$4,000 had been ex-
pended, and that the appropriation
for its completion will swell the
cost to some 100000. The marble
blocks are from Maryland. and oi
very fine material. The monument
grounds contain about thirty acres
There were recently forty memorial
stones built in :he structure, and
eighty-five are still uninserted.-
Boston Transcript.
$4,000 to Pay.