Evening star., 1884-07-26

with Col. Casey-Talk '.En Route''-
Looking Down Upon the City from a
Height OF 500 Feet.
square pile of small stone blocks built with
sides slopin- to an apex FIVE feet from the
ground would not impress one as very pretty
or noble object but increase the dimensions one
hundred fold and you have the awe-nspirine
pyramid Of Gizeh. There is a majesty Of mere
size. The human mind is impressed by the
colossal, even when harmony of design and
beauty OF outline are absent The Washington
Monument. soon to be the Ioftiest structure
built by human hands since the days of Babel
is severely simple in form. but the plain obcisk
a. it neaTs completion. is developing harmony
Cf proportion which will add grace to the
grandeur of the completed shaft, with its cap
stone piercing the air nearly an eighth of a
mile above terra frma-a noble work. fitly
symDy!zing the grand character Of the man in
whose hOnUS it is erected.
ABrr. But MODEST.
The memorial to the first President of the
United States was enthusiastically begun in a
lit Of patriotism which did not last until its OBJ
ject was half accomplished. Ii left upon the
banks OF the placid Potomac an incomplete and
unSightly pile. which stood there for years blot
UpOa the landscape and reprcach to the cOun-
try. At length Congress came to the rescue by
making an appropriation of money from the ma
tional treasury to continue the work of con-
stTuCtiOn. which was fortunately entrusted to
an able engineer who is also capable architect
anu cieaT-heade, and energetic business man OF
proved integrity-COl. Ih0S. l. Casey of the
United states engineer corps. The administra-
tive ability ach has marked his management
"t the work on the great pile known as the
state. War and Navy department building. and
other public works. Wa soon manifest in the
systematic prosecution OF the building opera
lions ON the monument now nearing completion.
Col. Casey il a gc-buit man of middle age.
with a pleasant face and courteous manners. and
has sensibly dropped. if he ever had it, the cOnse-
quental air which some military graduates
bring away from West Point. He is withal a
modest man. V no viii not have his name carved,
east or craven anywhere about the works under
his charge. and who shyly shrnks from newspa-
per nOtOriety. SAY all you please about the
monument, he remarks to reporters, the pub
lie is Interested in that. but don't say anything
about me. If you want to give credit to any
body give it to Mclaughlin there (the oyerseer
ut the monument) he deserves it."
INSIDE TIE MONUMENT.
As the work has now reached an interesting
stage STAR man called at Col Casey's Office on
11th street. opposite the new department build
ing. last Monday. bright and breezy morning.
and asked permission to go to the top of the
monument. I'VE are not granting any passes
nnw," said the colonel: there is not room on
The work for many visitors but i am going over
Just now. and You can accompany me up the
shaft If You wish 10 do so" This was satisfac-
tory. and after q few minutes walk down
through the White Lot the foot of the lofty col
Unn of dazzling white marble was reached
Looking into the engine room and ascertaininG
that there was pressure of eighty pounds of
steam To the square inch in the boiler. consider
ably more than enough to hoist much llrGer
party. the colonel aud his companion mounted
the Wooden steps which lead up to the floor OF
The monument. and entering the giant DOORWAY
:sund themselves in the cool interior. an apart
mont thirty feet square. with an erial ceiling at
present. - -..r overhead thar L is merely small
square patch of light on the surrounding dark
ncss. The colonel having telephOaed to the top
To- send down the elevator and tell NcIau III
In 10 come with *, bell timgied and the de-
scent begun.
GREAT IEoN COLUMNS.
While the elevator was coming down Col
casey explained some of the features OF the in
.erior construction Among these are eight
siout columns Of boiler iron strongly rivetted.
which rise from the floor 10 the top of the mon
ument. -Four of these columns q few feet dis
tant from the four wall angles are supported
on grca; stones beddtd in the solid blue rock
foundation OF the monument. They are far
enough from the walls 10 leave room tor the
substantial iron stairwsys and platforms they
support. ana the twenty feet lengths are Sc
CUrtly joined and ramiGp1 and hracpd that
they would stand securely though the walls of
the monument We're removed The four inner
columns Constructed in the same way. are the
elevator guides, specially framed and braced
with view TO safety. TOR nowhere else on earth
does an eievatOr-balI0ons eXcepted-lift one
hye hundred feet from the ground. The peya-
tor Is suspended by stout cables of steel wire
one and a-ha!f inches in diameter The colonel
lifted trap in the floor. exposing TO view "a
great drum about eight feet in diameter upon
NHicu thG cable Is c0ict.. aud rs the drum slowly
re;OfFttl, parting with its coils the elevator was
coming sttatiiiy down.
AN ENGINEERING FEAT WHICH POSSIBLY PRE-
VENTED THE MONUMENT FROM ToPPIING OVER
The colonel next called attention TO a plumb
Ere in one angle suspended from the top Of the
r-onurnent hanging free through a graduated
n4eial circle near the floor. by APPLYING a
straight edge across this circle two WAYS in di-
rer,Iuns parallel with the walls and touching
ts:S plumb line said he ''the most minute de-
i'rtion Of tie column from the perpendicular
i.' cT.u he measured at Glance"
how much detection has been noted?" asked
II STAR I.aH-
ut tErsc-e. ghtliS of an inch: trifie in a
We "t this ma a-DituGe. was the reply
-'ti"w might II have been II you had not eX-
ter e.! the fouIdition?" was the next question
lie colonel shook his head Omnously and in
timatsd that in that event it is not likely the
monument would ever have reached its present
attitude.
How much did you Increase the surface
bcafI.I 0t the founfat. on was asked
-, aaut three and n half times" replied the
colonel The original foundation covered an
area o ~ feet square. making .4tD feet OF bear
lh@ ~IrL2ce. 1t Is now 1865 feet square at the
bottom. giving q. 1921 feet OF bearing"
~ - there any detection of the shaft from
perpendicular while the delicate work of under
pinHing was in progress:" asked The STAR
E-tn-
There was" answered the colonel. "Al-
u Ugh hut u small surface was left without
support At any one time never exceeding an
ara oi ; by icet. yet the excavation Of even
thSt snail space under the foundation would
cause pefccFt.ble inclination OF the shaft to-
ward the SIDE under which il was When
thsS was walled up tight and a similar pxcaya-
ton made on The other side. the shaft would
Icsn III that direction. Anal 50. by careful work
lH- and watching we have OILY AN inapprecia-
BE itciiisal.Oa " the ROW almost finished col
Ann"
'-One more question or this branch Of the sub
iect. said thr scribe. How much more weight
a" you going to r.le on
Only about three hundred tons" replied the
COLONEL
The writer thought this a pretty heavy addi-
ti"l al load. tut thP colonel said il was not much
r.C~r than tie weight of one course Of stone
Rear the %. ,-aW Of the shaft where with every
two feet in height about 2GO tons were added To
tie weight Of the cOlu.Ea.
INSIDE FINISH.
Although the outside of the monument is of