Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-06

Crowns IL. Patriotic LabOrs - The
Original Plan 90 t.ae Monument, and
The Changes Made since.
The history Of the Washington monument is
practically the history OF the Washington Monu-
meEJ society. for without the latter the former
would probably never have been built Ii this
society had not existed. instead of preparing
ROW for suitable dedication of the grand
structure. which is on the eve OF completion.
our legislators would. in all probability be still
WranTlinG over the question OF erecting me
mortal To George Washington. By tracing the
history of the Washington Monument society an
accurate History of the monument itself can be
obtained.
immediately after the death of the first Presi-
dent Congress recognized the propriety of erect
IE@ a monument to his memory. and passed res
olutiono to that effect. but the necessary funds
We're not forthcoming. Subsequent efforts were
made, but resulted in nothing beyond resolu-
tons Tine people began tn think that a mOnu-
mont never would he erected If it depended on
congressional assistance In September 1885
para Graph in the National TjtteHGeJlce1' of this
city calling 10" meeting Of In" citizens to take
The matter in hand, resulted in the
ORIGIN OF TIE MONUMENT SOCIETY.
III response TO that cali meeting of citizens
Was held al the City Hail September 26th, 1888,
~ which were present Dauie Brent. JOS. Gales
jas Atarney. jos. Gales. jr.. Peter Force. w.
y. @catun. John NcLeand P.shy Thompson.
IhaS- CaTherry. Geo. NaterSton and William
Cranch. The latter was afterwards Chief JUS
ticc of the Circuit Court of the District.
JOHN MARSHALL. THE FIRST PRESIDENT
ii this meeting the National Washington
Monument Society was .ormcd. Chief Justice
John Marshall. then 81 yPars of age being
elected its first president ald judge Cranch the
first vice president George Waterston. who
was the originator Of the enterprise. was the
..r~r secretary. and he served in that capacity
itum iSi ti.l his death in 1871 and was suc-
creicd ~ John Carroll Brent. who was sue
ccrfird by DR.. ]. g. Blake. and then by Hon.
Haratio King. the present incumbent
tlr au adopted 10y the society vas to secure
~. a-si-trlr" and unite the efforts If the pru-
i.+ .i IT," country in e.e"tft-a monument to
.-''-i'''-t "a H!"-tnn. n. hope OF Congress
,-.pr IN th" matter h1vi#y bara abandoned
II a--s c"'-T:Ij,,; ere limited to the annual
..- - : IRON any ORG person. tie cuutIIbu-
Tors becoming members.
. = sIe tuG society met with MANY obstacles
+ WS.cn seemed likely Ia prevent the success of
the Undertaking. they succeeded in partially
erecting the monument Themselves and then
hammered at the doors Of Congress until with
tle unfinished shaft q standing disgrace to the
country and 10 Congress, aid could no longer be
W .yhh"ld- Probably no organization IN the
country mas had on its rolls the names OF such
iiiuSfrouS men High officials scientists. mill
t1iy heroes. eminent juristS, professional men
ui prominence. philanthr0piSts add political
genuses Were all represented on the rolls of the
society since It's organization there have been
seVehty-hTe active members elected
THE ROLL. OF MEMBERS.
Their names are: Chief Justice John Marshall,
John L. Van Ness. James Madison r. C. Weight
man. Commodore John Rodgers Gen. Thomas
: Jessup. Coz. George BomfOrd. NJ St Clair
Clarke. William Ingle. Samuel II. Smith W L.
Brent, John HcLeland. William Craach Gen
NlcOmb. John Carter. Georgetown: William
Brent. George Watcrston Col Nathan Towson.
Col. Archibald Henderson. Thomas Munroe.
Gen. Waiter Jones. Waiter Lennox. James kear-
nev. Thomas Carherry. John J. Albert. Ella ha
NhlttIeSey. John p Ingle. T. Hartley era .;tord.
Major Gen. winfield Scott W W SeatOn l. s.
Grant. " F Maury, Dr. William Jones' Peter
Force. Philip Il. Fendall. B. Ogle TaylOe w L.
Hodge. Thomas BlaLden. Henry ID. Cooke. Hon
Peter q. Washington. Judge James Dunlop.
William b. Todd. j. g. Kennedy. Hon. William
y Richardson. =. Il. Shepherd John Carroll
Brent. George W. Riggs @. f. Babcock. James
" Carlisle. FuZhuGh Covle. DR.. James c. Hail.
William j. Mcdonald. Prof Joseph Henry F. d.
stuart. Dr. John NJ. Brodhead Dr. John b.
Blake. Dr. Charles +. Stanshury, ". W. Corco-
ran. Hon. Robert G.. Winthrop Hon Horatto
King. j. L. Ii. Smith. Gen. W. 7. Sher-
inan Hon George Bancroft. Col James
e. Berret. DR.. Daniel h. Clarke John c.
Hardness. DR.. Charles II. Nichols Dr. John NJ
Toner. judge George W. MaCrary Gen William
Mckee Dunn. Edward Clark esq: Dr. James
{. yelling. ID. a. Waterston. esq: Admiral L.
NJ Powell and Judge Walter s Cox
PRESIDENTS AND MAYORS
Upon the death of President NadisO in 1886.
the constitution was amended so as to provide
that the President OF the United States should
be eX-oilicio President OF the society Andrew
Jackson was the first ex-officio President. and
he was followed by Martin Van Buren, VIM. II
Harrison. John Tyler James X. Polk. Zachary
layior. Willard Fillmore. Franklin Pierce James
Buchanan. Abraham Lincoln. Andrew John
son. |. :. Grant. X. B. Hayes Jas A. Garfield
and Chester \. Arthur.
The mayors OF Washington and the governors
of the District were made eX-Ofiic.o vice presi-
dents OF the society. They We're: j. p. Van Ness
NIn. \. Bradley. Peter Force w W Seatop
Walter LcnnoX. John W Maury John T. Tow
eFs. Nm. B. Magruder. Richard Wallach. 5 ]
Bowen. VI. q. Emory. mayors. and III. d. Cooke
and A. r. Shepherd governors.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN
The collections of the society on the Il plan
had amounted to S2S00J in 1896. which was
carefully placed at interest. In this year adver-
tiSements were published inviting designs for
the monument from American artists. but plac-
me no limitations upon the designs 1t was
recommended. however that they should ..tar-
moniouSlv blend durability. simplicity. and
grandeur The cost estimated at net less
than Sl.NU0.uO- 4 treat many designs We're
submitted. but the one selected was that of Rob-
crt Mills. the architect OF the Interior depart
meRt. 1t was a circular cOlonnaded building
210 feet i'll diameter, and 100 feet high from the
center OF which spranT an obelisk shaft 500
al mi Disllin tr r.,
the top The rOtunda was to be surrounded by
mounted 10y an entabature 20 feet high. and
crowned by n 5alustrade ID feet high The
financial embarrassment of the country in 1888
pat stop 10 any further operations for several
years. and matters remained at "a standStill until
iS46. when the one-dolIar rule having been abOl-
lsIied. contr buttons on more generous plan
We're solicited. with such success that in 1871
the lund amounted to SS1. 900.
/ TIE WOMEN BECOME INTERESTED
{ There were regularly authorized collecting
agents in all parts OF the country. and appeals
were made to the generosity of the public. Mrs.
James Madison. Mrs. Jno. Quincy Adams and
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton. at the request of the
Monument society. effected an organization TO
assist III collecting funds through the women of
the country. In November. lSi7. the Monument
society passed "a resolution that the cornerstone
o. the monument should be laid on the 22,i of
. February. 1913. provided that suitable site
could be obtained III time. Both John Quincy
Adams and Daniel Webster were in turn invited
To deliver the address on the occasion but de-