Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-09-19

world of Astronomical research.
The telescope of this institution is
81 feet i'll Loiaht and weighs about
SIX tons. The oiiect glass has a
clear aperture Of - inches. 1t cost
SO, 500.
The new State, War and Navy
Depaltm ent building, begun in
isIl, is just completed. It meas
mes 253 by Al feet, and including
raviiions and steps 3l2 by $40 feet.
The irny Medical Museum pos
scs,cs historic interest for all visi-
tors. 1t WAS ouce i'oG,i's Thea:er
and the sceLe OF that tragedy which
ended the career Of the good fresi-
dent Lincoln. 1t is a three-story
building 100 feet deep and II feet
font, originally Il church, and now
tie property Of the Government.
Tie i!rsili ,or is used by division
OF the Surgeon Generals Office,
the surgical iccor'is arc on the sec
oEl, AID the Museum on tie thiid
floors. Here is portion Ct the ver-
Zebra of the assassin Booth and the
skeleton of The murderer Guiteau. \
building opposite, 40. DIG, Is the
place Where Lincoln diel, and q
marble tablet inserted i'll the front
bears the date OF his death.
The Washing on Monument stands
immediately west of the Capitol and
Il mile and lIa!f distant. 1t is q
marble obelisk % feet square at the
base ond will be, when completed,
$50 feet in height. 1t has now at
tanned an altitude of about 500 feet.
Tho foundation is 120 feet inches
square, extending about seven feet
below the surface of the ground.
The walls are - feet thick at the
lase and gradually taper at the rate
of quarter inch to the foot Oh the
outside. The inside walls are per-
pendicular, and the enclosed space
is - feet square for $50 feet when it
is enlarged to BIZ feet, which d.
meusions will be maintained to the
top. The taper will reduce the
walls to thickness OF ! feet at the
apex. The interior walls are orna-
mented by the insertion of memorial
blocks from the States and Terri
tories, and others from Mt. Nesu-
vius, China, Greece, the Temple of
Carthage, Japan, tho tomb of Napo-
leon and Tell Chapel. The work on
this patriotic undertaking was begun
by society, which depended on
voluntary contributions for prosecut-
ing the work. After it had attained
an altitude of about 100 feet, the
work stopped from want of funds,
and the monument remained many
yoals in this unfinished condition.
During the Centennial year, how
ever, Congress appropriated $780,
600 to continue the work, AMI in
August, 1850, work was begun on
the top, the years which had inter-
vened having been employed in
Strengthening the foundation, $1,000
barrels Of Portland cement being
used for this purpose. The exterior
facing of tie monument is white
marble obtained from quarries near
Baltimore, aud the backing of gran
lie from Maine. Last Year Con-
gress appropriated $50 600 addi-
tional, and another like sum will be
required before the Shaft is com
pleted.
There ale 10 grand parks in
Washington, but several cultivated
plots supply their place, among
which are Judiciary Square of 20
acres. Lafayette Square, seven acres,
and Franklin Square of still smaller
dimensions. Tue necessity is in u
great measure supplied, however, by
the Government Gardens which
unite with the ordinary attractions
of those resorts an opportunity for
the study of many rare products of
Mother Natule.
Tho places of public amusement
i'll Washington are by no means Up
to the requirements of the Capital
City. Ford's Theatre, advertised as
the Parlor Theater Of America is
mere barn, and the performance
we witnessed has been exceled in
! Columbia Hall.