Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-12-07
And the Washington Monument is
Rooted.
MARBLEsHUTTERS FORWIaDoWs
Criminal Indictments and What May
Result From the Cincinnati
Election Case.
VERY CARELESS CoNFEREEs.
Public Papers That Cannot be
Found.

WASHINGTON, December 6.-This after
noon crowd gathered near the foot of the
Washington monument and watched the
moving figures on the platform at the top.
Nothing different from the every day scenes
could be noticed from below, but the crowd
was attracted by the placing of the cap
stone. This huge stone had been suspended
.in the air 500 feet above ground over the
place where it now rests, and was lowered
into position with some ceremony. Colonel
Casey, the engineer in charge and his assist
ants, conducted the operation. A few per
sons including representatives Of the press,
witnessed the ceremony at the dizzy height
of 533 feet from the ground. There never
before has been a necessity for constructing 2
marble room similar to that of the Wash
ington monument An iron roof could have
been built much easier to crown the monu-
meut, but as it was desired to have the en-
tire face Of the monument of exactly the
same appearance in all weathers and cir.
cumstances, q marble Pyramidion was
erected.
Marble shutters,
In order that the public may enjoy the
magnificent view from near the summit OF
the monument eight windows or portfolios
were left, two on each side of the monument
about four feet above the five hundred foot
level When these windows are open the
appearance of the monument is marred by
l1ool- LII oook fnn OLyta taf 20
this blelnish on the milk-white surface, and
also for the purpose of protecting the struc-
ture from the weather, marble shutters,
about two inches thick, and weighing l4O
pounds, will be constructed to tit exactly
these port holes. These can be opened
during visitors hours, and closed at all other
times. Ii is not expected that the interior
Of the monument will be free from AmeTi-
can vandalism, and many a name will be
written on the walls If the outer faces Of
the marble shutters when swung back were
presented to the visitor, they would event
ually become marred and blsckened to such
an extent that when placed in position in
the roof the surface would be defaced. In
order that the outer faces of the shutters
may always be be kept perfectly clean, a
very ingenious contrivance has been de-
vised, BY means of which they can never be
touched by visitors.
An Iron Crane
arm will extend for each shutter from the
arch rib in the interior Of the root, which
arm will swing the shutter back against the
rib, but that the outer face af the shutter
may not be presented, there will be separ-
ate guiding rod, which will rsyOlye the shut
ter as it is swung back, so taat the outside
will face the wall. The apparatus will
work something after the manner Of the
official stamping machine in use in the de-
partments. The face of the stamps rests
against the ink cushiOa, but when the lever
is pressed it revolves so as to fall on the pa
per face downwards On account OF the
slanting position Of the roof stones, the
shutters, when swung back with face to-
wards the wall, will not fit the perpendicu-
lar arch rib. They will come in contact
with it only ct the bottom. An iron hood
will project from the arch rib in such 3
manner as to protect the outer faces OF
the shutters, when swung back, from being
touched by any one:
The Windows.
The windows on the east face OF the root
al three feet wide and two feet high. The
other four are but eighteen inches high.
Those on the east front were made higher
Ian TIE others to permit Of easier handling
OF the roof stones. Below one Of these win
dows an apertrte was !c!: La ;; ;; 6G;;;;1g -
place one of the roof stones in position.
This aperture has been used in getting the
roof stones to the outside. When every,
thing is completed this outer stone will be
placed in position like shingle from the
o. tside. The platform which will remain
CT be taken apart and passed through the
window followed BY the last workman. The
iron beams running through the wall and
which support the platform upon which the
last workman stands until he is through,
will be pulled in from the interior, and the
holes through which they passed will be
plugged mp with exact fitting stones. The
face of the monument from base to cspstone
will then not have defect.