Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-05

T1oNS 10 BE CLOSED AFTER THE LAST WORKMAN
CRAwLS BACK-w1NpowS WHICH NAY BIZ CLOSED
WITH MARBLE SHUTTERS
The capstone OF the Washington monument,
which is now suspended In the air over the place
where It is to rest $50 feet above the ground will
De set tomorrow at two O'Clock. This event Will
be the occasion OF q little ceremony. The stone
VIII be placed In position by Col Casey, the engi-
neer In charge, and his assistants stated IN yes
terdays STAR. A few persons, including repre-
SentatlveS or The press have been invited 10 wit
ness the ceremonies from the platform at the dizzy
height OF SIS feet from the ground.
There never before has been a necessity for con-
SIIucIng a mafb1e rooi Similar TO that OF the
washington monument An iron roof could have
Oeen built much easier TO crown the monument:
but ft was desired To have the entire face OF the
monument or exactly the same appearance In all
weathers and circumstances marble pyramidion
was erected In the novel manner which has been
heretofore described at length in TEE STAR.
In order that the public NAV enjoy the macnir-
cent view from near the summit OF the monument
eight windows or portfolios We're left, two
four fest above the fve-hundred foot level.
When these windows are open the appearance OF
the monument Is marred by two black holes on
eacn race. To obviate this blemish on the milk
white surface and also for the purpose or protect
ing the structure from the weather, marble shut
ters, ABOUT Two inches thick, and weighing Iio
pounds, VIII be constructed 20 lit exactly these
port holes. These can be opened during visitors
hours, and closed 1t all other times IL is not ex-
pected that the interior OF the monument Will be
free from American vandalism. and many name
Will be written on the walls. IL the outer faces OF
the marble shutters wnen swung back were pre-
sente0 to the visitor, they would eventually be-
come marred and biacaened TO such an eX-
tent that when placed in position I'm the
roof, the surface would be defaced. In Or
der that the outer faces OF the shutters
may always be kept perfectly clean a very ingeni-
Gus contrivance has been devised, by means OF
which they can never be touched by visitors An
Iron crane arm viii extend for each shutter from
the arch rio in the interior or the roof, which arm
VIII swing the shutter back against the rib but
tnat the outer lace or the shutter may not be pre-
sented, there Will be separate guiding rod which
VIII reyolye the shutter 1t swung back so that
It's outside viii face the wall The apparatus Will
work something after the manner OF the official
stamping machine In use IN the departments. The
lace or the stamp rests agafst the ink cushion.
Dut when the lever Is pressed, IL revolveS
SO as TO fall on the paper face downwards. On ac-
count OF the slantng position OF the roof stones,
the shutters when swung back with face towards
the wall VIII not ut the perpendicular arch rib.
They will come in contact with IL only at the bot
tom. An iron hood Will project from the arch rib
In such manner as to protect the outer faces or
the shutters when swung back, from being touched
by any one.
The windows OF the east face OF the roof are
three feet Wide and two feet high. The other four
are but eighteen inches high. Those OF the east
front were made higher than the others TO permit
OF easier handling OF the roof stones Below one OF
theSe windows an aperture was lett by emitting TO
place one OF the roof stones In position This aper
ture has been used In getting the roof stones TO the
outside. When everything is completed this outer
stone will be placed in position like shingle from
the outside. The platform which will then remain,
can be taken apart and passed through the window
and be followed by the last workman The iron
beams running through the wall and which sup
port the platform and upon which the last work
man stands until he is through, will be pulled In
from the INTERIOR and the holes through which they
passed VIII be plugged up with exact fitting
CapStOne VIII then not have q defect,