The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-12-18
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Completion Of the Loftiest Obelisk Ever
Erected by Human Hands.
Washington special

Washington special
The booming Of cannon and shrieking Of
steam whistles this afternoon announced to
the people Of Washington that the cap
stone Of the Washington monument had
teen successfully laid. Shortly afterward
the aluminium Dlock whicl fpry,s thc apex
Of the pymmidal roof Of the highest strnct
IRE raised by human hands WIS set in its
place. and an American flag was seen float
ing from the head Of the staff above it,
The mortar in which the cap,tone rests was
laid by Col. Casey and his assistants In the
presence Of a few spectators who had bmyed
the storm OF rain and wind to see the fin
isfiing touches given 10. the great obelisk
which rears it's head 555 feet above the earth.
Col. Casey has been In charge Of the work
during the last six years. and no acct
dent causing loss Of life has happened
during that period, owing to the great care
exercised. TWAS suggested that the Lying
Of the capstone be deferred until the l4th
inst til" ninety fifth anniversary Of Wash
iEgton's death, but rs that day might be too
Indictment for work n. such a light, and as
II will fall I'll Sunday. and as vel ns for
other reasons, il was Thought best that there
should be no delay The off iai ceremo-
nies to mark the completon Of the obel SIX
will take place Feb. -, the l53d anniyer-
sary Of Washingons birth. They will be
under the direction Of joint eommi ssion
of the Senate and House Of Representatives.
consisting of Senators Sherman, Morrill,.
Allison. Bayard. and Lamar. and Represen-
tatiyes Dorsheiner. Tucker, Reagan. Col
Inns. Eldredge, Bingham, Cannon. and
Laird. The commission will hold meet
ing next week to arrangea programme for
the occasion.
When the corner stone of the monument
was laid, July 1. 1913. in the presence Of
President Polk, the Vice President, men,
bers Of the Cabinet. Senators, Representa-
tises, and u host Of other distinguish d
persons Robert G. Winthrop, then Sp,ak
OF the House of Representatives. delivered
the ointion 1t in expected that he will de-
liver the inaugural address on the compile
ton Of the shaft next February. In 1854
the funds OF the monument society were
exhausted. the shaft having Mt that time
reached the height Of lis feet after an ex-
penditure Of $3.50, 900. Subsequent diff
culties with a rival society defeated efforts
to obtain al appropriation from Congress,
and the disappearance of n stone contrib
uted by the Pope during the Know Nothing
excitement shut off, to n great extent con-
tributions OF money from private sources.
IL Is expected That ABOUT TWO years more
will be required for the final completion Of
Of the interior and base of the obelisk.
The monument itself, with its total height
Of $50 feet far oyertops every structure by
human hands. The aluminium apex monu.
ment is engraved with inscriptions rs fol-
lows:
On one face:
"Chief Engineer aud Architect, Thomas
Lincoln Casey Colonel COrps of Engineers:
assistants, George w. Davis, Fourteenth
United States Infantry; Bernard r. Green,
Civil Engineer; Master Mechanic, p. II.
Mclaughlin.
On another:
Corner stone laid on bed OF foundation
July 4. 1913. The first stone ut height of
l52 feet laid Aug. Z, 1880. Cap-stone set
Dec. 6, 1884"
On third:
Joint Commission ut setting Of cap
stone, Chester A. Arthur. w. w. Corcoran,
Chairman NJ. +. Bell, Edgar Clark, John
Newton, act of Aug. 2, 1876"
On the fourth are the words: "Laus Dec. "