Connecticut western news., 1883-12-05
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
A TRIP I'D THE TOP OF THE LOFTLEST
 STRUCTURE IN AMERICA.

TRIP I'D THE TOP OF THE LOFTIEsT
 STRUCTURE IN AMERICA. The Height of 41O Feet Already Attained
 and 14O Feet to be Added-The Elevation
 of Other Lofty Towers and Buildings.
 The Washington monuments finished to height of 40 feet, at which it will remain till the work is resumed in the spring. There is yet to be added 14O feet before the shaft is completed, but even now the smooth white pillar is the loftiest artificial elevation on this conti- nent, and, with twelve or thirteen ex- captions, on this planet. When com pleted it will be the highest structure of human hands in the world. Washing ton will then be not only first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, but also first in the height of his monument.
 Since the column has grown to such an altitude it his attracted visitors in crowds, who besiege Col. Casey for passes to enable them to ascend the elevator that hoists the blocks of marble. To the great delight of the sightseers and the hindrance and vexation of the masons, such passes arc issued. Among the visitors recently was group consist. ing of learned mathematician, two ladies, and reporter of Zhe Su'a. When the party arrived at the foot of the monument its noble proportions were seen in their full impressiveness. One does not comprehend the towering height of the marble till lie stands at the base and glances upward. Then it looks its full altitude, and the visitor begins to understand the journey about to be made in the platform car.
 The mathematician, as we stood at the base, explained the nature of the trip. ''We shall be-" he said, ''nine minutes going up, or forty-tive feet to the minute. We can thus easily deter mine as we go up the height of rival ele- vations."
 The car presently came in sight, slowly descending with load of sight sees who looked much relieved as they stepped off the platform and separated. Two empty freight cars were then shunted off on tiny side track, and in their place two other trucks loaded with massive blocks of marble were rolled upon the platform. The visitors hud- dled about them while the conductor collected the passes. Then he gave Q sign.
 s'Oh, we are movingp cried one oi the ladies, grasping one of the blocks very firmly.
 All of the party seemed little nerv. ous, for we were in for it now. If any. thing broke in the next ten minutes there would be no help for us.. One o1 two of the young men affected levity but it was so baldly artificial that it in. creased the thoughtfuIness of the others. The mathematician alone maintained his composure. He had braced himself against one of the uprights of the skele ton elevator, and was holding his watcE in one hand and in the other card he had prepared giving the heights of vari ous structures. A jar, nervous start or carelesss movement would have pre- cipitated him into the abyss. But te 1 this quiet man of science the accidenta surroundings save as they bore on tht subject under investigation were of nt consequence.
 We had been passing smoothly ani noiselessly upward for two minutes The frivolous young man had relapset into silence; the young ladies clung tt the blocks and the reporter clung to thu young ladies. Nothing was heard bu tthe dripping of the moisture as it oozet down the clammy walls. It becam dark, and the air was sepulchral. Alto gether, it was an uncanny ride. Suddenly the savant broke tn Esilance. In dry, clear, compose' voice he remarked:
 "We have scarcely begun our trip but we are now ninety feet high, o above all the houses in town. Il another moment we shall be among tn steeples.
 "Indeed p remarked one of the youn ladies, trying to look interested, but re laxing her hold on the marble. | "How high is Trinity Churc lsteeple? asked one of the frivolou
 young men, subdued into docility an respectful modesty by his surrounding
 "We will come to that in time," sai
 the orderly man of science. "The frt
 station on our perpendicular railroad Pisa. Here we are; Leaning tower (
 Pisa, 179 feet.
 1T guess I'll get out here." said or
 of the empty-headed young men.
 "Can't stop, this is 8 through train, said the conductor of the elevate gravely.
 The ladies laughed uneasily at tn ) by-play while the platform car move on its skyward way and the profess
 scanned his card for the next elevation
 "Here are group of stations. Ye will be obliged to look quick as we pa ! to see them at all Montreal-Not Dame cathedral, 22O; Bunker Hi , monument, 221 Notre Dame de Pari 224."
 ) "Indeed p exclaimed the your ! ladies, after which silence settled on Il group for another very long minut The company began to be afraid tn the savant had forgotten his notes { had tumbled of. But at the right il