The Dawson journal., 1884-01-10
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
A TRIP TO THE TOP OF THE LOFTIEST
STRUCTURE IN AMERICA.
The Height of 410 Feet Already Attained
and 14O Feet ts be Added-The EleVatiez
Of Other L0fty Towers AID BRildinRs.


Of Other Lefty Tevyers AID Buildings.
The Washington monument is finished
to height of 40 feet, at which 1t viii
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 CONT
nent, and, with twelve or thirteen ex-
ceptions, 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 are issued. Among
the visitors recently was group consist.
ing of learned mathematician, two
ladies, and reporter of The San.
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 he 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-five 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 we're 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.
died about them while the conductor
collected the passes. Then he gave q
sign.
ooh, we are movingp cried one Of
the ladies', grasping one of the blocks
very firmly.
All of the party seemed little nerv-
| Gus, for we were in for it now. II any.
thing broke in the next ten minutes
there would be no help for us. One or
two of the young men affected levity,
but it was so BADLY artificial that it in
creased the thoughtfulness 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 watch
in one hand and in the other a 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 to
this quiet man of science the accidental
surroundings save as they bore on the
subject under investigation were of no
consequence.
We had been passing smoothly and
noiselessly upward for two minutes.
The frivolous young man had relapsed
into silence; the young ladies clung to
the blocks and the reporter clung to the
young ladies. Nothing was heard but
the dripping of the moisture as it oozed
down the clammy walls. 1t became
dark, and the air was sepulchral. Alto
gether, it was an uncanny ride.
Suddenly the savant broke the
silance. In dry, clear, composed
voice he remarked:
eve have scarcely begun our trip,
but we are now ninety feet high, OF
above all the houses IN town. In
another moment we shall be among the
steeples."
"Indeed !" remarked one of the young
ladies', trying to look interested, but re.
laxing her hold on the marble.
"How high is Trinity Church
steeple ?" asked one of the frivolous
young men, subdued into docility and
respectful nodesty by his surroundings.
eve will come to that in time" said
the orderly man OF science. ''The first
station on our perpendicular railroad is
Pisa. Here we are; Leaning tower ol
Pisa, 179 feet.
II guess I'll get out here. said one
of the empty-headed young men.
Cant stop, this is through train,
said the conductor of the elevator
gravely.
The ladies laughed uneasily at this
by-play while the platform car moved
on its skyward way and the professor
scanned his card for the next elevation
"Here are group of stations. Yo1
will be obliged to look quick as we pas
to see them at all Montreal-Notr,
Dame cathedral, 22O; Bunker Hi
monument, 221 Notre Dame de Paris
224."
Indeed p exclaimed the younI
ladies', after which silence settled on tn
group for another very long minute
The company began to be afraid tha
the savant had forgotten his notes o
had tumbled off. But at the right in
slant his calm voice was heard again,