National Republican., 1884-11-27
AT WORK IN THE CLOUDS.


Work on tho Washington monument is by no
means at standstill, although no additional
stones Will be placed in position for some
days yet The workmen are now busy in fit
ing the timbors for the exterior frame work
winch will tower above the pyramid and will
be used to set the capstonc after the mast aud
Doom, now standing, are unshpped md sent
down. This framework begins ut the platform
which Is now being completed, and which is
iorly feet above tho base of the pyrumidal
cqp, aud from that point huge beams will
LlsS nom the four corners and meet forty feet
nlghcr or tWouty-ilyc feet above the apex of
,ne cap When completed. These tlmbers will
pc heavily braced on three sides hut the side
lncihg cast Will he LEFT clcnr to enable the re-
n9lnlng stones TO bo hauled aud set A. the
punt WnerO the timbCrs Join above, q large
Gran pulley will be fitted for raising the
boom are removed, be hoistcd onto The Mat
m,ln which VIII be supported by four heavy
siQuA on onCh face running from the base Of
ilv 3Iumlu 10 the base of the platform aud
pinced with heavy knees mt the top.
Ihu number Of visitors, which las averaged
nDoye my day for several years, in ncreas
lhB ualy, ana now Averages from 100 to 300
aecorulng rs the day is fine. No person not
v Vvonnected with the work Is allowed to enter
Ine monument and with four exceptions no
one mas been allowed to ascend the shat since
July last, this precaution being taken to lessen
tnc uanger OF possible accidents Visitors thus
eNcludod wander about the works look ut tho
completed cap stone, and stand wondcrngly
gazing at the LOFTY top where from below the
pusy ,Workmen passing to and fro seem. In
slIc, IKE the toys that children people their
mimic cities with.
Much curiosity Is shown by the visiting
cr0wds regarding the memorial stones, aud
win most the desire to see the stones now
nNed III the wall of the shaft is stronger than
W go 70 the top, rs the majority of people
uread being at great heights of the memorial
stones lbl havo been received and of these -
hlS set IN that portion of the shalt that WAS
punt prior to 1886, tho rest being stored In the
iohg building used for offices and store room
on the grounds of the monument Many are
utterly unit to have place IN the shaft, and
u y expected that the commission, having
jurisdiction In the matter, will sec iii to hayo
them left out, One stone Of very large di-
lnenslons commentaries the laying Of tho
SOrnerst0no OF an engine house iOr u
,lre company of an eastern city, and
mas cut ON the facc In largo letters the
names OF all the officers and men of the com
phny, ns well as the city officials OF tho mu.
nlclpality Other memorial tablets are really
desired by the commission, and efforts are now
Delng made to have the list of state and terri
lorlal stones complete. That for Wyoming was
received this month, aud one for Montana is
now being cut by McMcnamn, on Capitol
| hlli The only states not yet represented are
| oregon and Colorado. and of the territories
| New Mexico, Idaho Washington, Indian, and
Alaska, and the commission has recently
written to the governor of each oftheSe calling
attention To the subject and urging thut rep.
resentation tablet be furnished.