The Evening critic., 1884-12-06
A Story of Patriotism and Rev
erenCe.
HISTORY OF THE WORK.
The Efforts of the Monument Society
The Aid Given by Congress-The
Interest Shown by tho Women Of
America Ilverett's Contribution.

when tho eubiect OF monument to tho Father
Of his Country was flrst broached In Congress
II was not contemplated that such memorial
as now stands should DO erected.
on the 9TH OF August, 1888, tho Continental
Congress passed n resolution "That an equos-
trian statue OF Washington BIO erected ut the
place where the residence OF Congress- shall
DO established" II was also directed that tho
statue should be supported by a marble
pedestal, on which should be represented
four principal events OF tho war, "In which
he commanded in person." Az that time WASH
ington, as civic ruler, was unknown, but no
had endoarod himself to the American people
struggle for liberty.
AT the time OF washington's doath he had
proved that tho management OF the entire
arGirs OF the country was as equally safe In
his hands rs had been the command OF our
poorly fed and mengrc Continental Army. A
Joint Congressional Committee was appointed
TO report In what way honor could bost DO
paid TO his memory. AS result on the 9th
OF December, 1899, Congress resolved that
his memory, and that tho family OF the dead
patriot be requested TO permit his body to be
deposited under IT.
His widow, upon receipt OF these resolu-
tons, replied, In ncceding to the request mem
toned: '"raught by tho great example which
have 80 long had before me mover to oppose
my private Wishes to the public Will, need
not, cannot say what n sacrifice OF Individual
feeling make TO a sense OF public duty" But
tho resolution, tho terms OF which
toms part In acceding to, remains to-day un-
executed. The project OF q monument TO
Washington languished and almost died.
IL was In May, 1900, before Congress again
took up the subject. select committee, OF
which MIR. Lee was chairman, submitted Sc
ries OF resolutions directing that tho rosolu-
ton passed IN i7S3 ABOUT me equestrian
and that q marble monument to commemorate
Washington's deeds be.also erected. AS an In
itiatory appropriation 100000 was proposed,
but for some reason the Senate did not concur
in these suggestions which passed the House.
In 1888 some citizens OF Washington formed
an association for the erection OF a great Ma
ton at the seat OF the Federal Government.
This association invoked the aid OF the whole
people OF the United States to redeem the
plighted faith OF their Representatives In Con-
gross. The first president OF this association
was Chief Justice Marshall. AT his death, In
1885, he was succeeded by ex-President Madi-
son. Tho society made but little progress. 1t
began upon the theory that, to allow all an OPP
portunity' to contribute, not moro than 81
would be received from any person.
In 1886 the sum or S2S,00O had boon
raised. In 1916 the restriction as to the
amount OF contributions was removed. In
1S47 tho amount OF collections was $4,000.
This was SUFFICIENT TO commence work upon
the Monument. on the 31st OF January, 1918,
Congress passed q resolution authorizing the
Washington Monument Society to erect a
monument In memory OF George Washington
tho District OF Columbia, not otherwise occu-
pied, as the President OF the United States
and the society might select as a suitable site.
The site selected was public reservation No.
Q, where the Monument now stands. The site
contains upward Of thirty acres. In February,
1859, the Washington National Monument So
ciety was Incorporated by Congress-. The con-
sideratione which led TO the selection of the
site were the beautiful view Of the Potion &c
which II presents, Its elevated position, the
fact that the Monument would be in full vie "
OF Mount Vernon, ana the fact that Washing
ton had selected II himself for the spot to
proposed monument to the American Revolu-
ton. This monument was to have been exc
cuted by Oerochl, Roman sculptor, and paid
for by individual contributions.
Tho same site Is marked on Major L'Enfant's
map OF Washington city as the site for tho
equestrian statue OF General Washington or
dered by Congress In 1888. This map was
examined, approved and transmitted to Con-
grees by Washington when President OF the
United states.
The cornerstone OF tho present Monument
wns laid July A, 1S4S. There were present
the President, Vice President, Senators, Rep.
resentatives, heads OF departments, the Judi
ciary, the corporate authorities OF Washing
ton, GeorgetoTn and Alexandria, and deiega'
Robert o. Winthrop, then Speaker OF the House,
delivered the Grafton. He Will deliver the
Grafton on the 22d Of February next. The
work was commenced. In elk years the ope.
lisk resched the height OF 40 feet.
The funds OF the society, amounting to
$230,000, were then exhausted. All efforts TO
society, in 1854, In a memorial to Congress,
explained tho situation and asked that that
body take such action as was deemed advisa-
BILE. The matter was referred In the House OF
Representatives. to select committee, OF which
Hon. Henry May, OF Maryland, was chairman.
In February, 1855, Mr.. May made report rec
aid The society. Fhis report was 'S Brought h
before the House under very favorable cir
cumstances. But, unfortunately, there was
dissension In the society.
in tho Know Nothing nnva and the
society split on that issue. New men got con-
troll OF affairs temporarily. This fight pre-
adopted. From 1854 up TO the Time, six years
ago, that Congress earnestly took hold OF the
| matter, only four feet were added to the Mon.
nmen,; Its height light was then only "a feet
| which, by their futility, rendered the subject
OF when the Washington Monument would be
finished almost as popular for photographers
| as the mule and the mother-inlaw, was made
in Congress.
1t was then proposed TO have the Monument
finished by tho Centennial, July the fourth.
| But II did not amount to much except to bring
| the people TO u full appreciation OF the Ma
| tional Disgrace OF the unfinished Monument.
| The fruits OF that appreciation took definite
| shape tn the passage OF the act OF August %,
| 1876, creating the joint commission for the
| completion OF the Washington Monument, OF
| which Mr.. W. W. Corcoran is chairman. An
| appropriation for the renewal of the work was
| made. Colonel Thomas Lincoln Casey, OF the
| U. s. Engineer Corps, was placed In charge OF
the work. Shortly afterward Captain Davis
became associated with him as his assistant
The commission naturally threw into the
shade the old Washington Monument Society,
which renewed In measure the old fight for
precedence; hut as II did not have anything IL
do WITH the money that Congress annually ap
proprieted u finally dropped out altogether
When 1t was known that work was really TO be
resumed plans for the completion OF the Monu
ment became as thick as dewdrops on sum
mers morn. Almost everybody had plan
But the good taste OF the commission rejected
grand pile upon which the capstone was 70
day placed.
Congress continued its annual approprla
lions and Colonel Casey continued his work
| Tho only cessati0ns OF work have been durinl
the winters, when work was impossible, Of
when the supply OF marble blocks was nc
sumeient. Tho fret work of Colonel Casey
on the Monument was at the foundation. Se'
eral reports or army engineers had been mad
as TO whether 1t was safe TO continue IN
structure. SIS the foundation secure?" wa
almost as muchFasked "a question as was
"WNl the Monument ever be- completed?
Colonel Casey won't to work to make the foun
dalton secure beyond question. This he al
by undermining, underpinning and filling 4
with concrete packed as soldly as II could b
compressed. The pile has settled but an inc
and a.half since work was resumed. Its heigl
Is SOB feet.
When the Washington Monument soclet
was Incorporated the following were name
as incorporators; Winfield Scott, Walter Jone
J. j. Abort, james Kearney, Thomas Oarberr
Peter Force, W: 4. Bradley, p. II. Fendal
Walter Lenox, NJ. i. Maury, Thomas Dlagdei
j. b. II. Smith, W. W. seaton, Elisha whittl
sey, d. o. Tayloe, It. II. Crawford, w. w. %
coran and John Carroll Brent. The society
design for the Monument originally embraces
the idea OF grand circular cOlonade buildiu
300 feet In diameter and $50 feet high frol
which was 10 spring an obelisk seventy fet
square at Its base and 300 feet high, The va