Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-12-10
A WORTHY TRIBUTE.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE GREAT
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
The Highest Structure In the World Loolxl
Down Upon the National Capital
"A Noble Memorial to
Great Man.

WASHINGTON CITY, Dec s.-The cap-stona
of the Washington monument Friday night
hung in mid-air ready to be lowered into
place at p. M. Saturday when the exterior
of the monument was completed with the
single exception Of taking down tho staging
at the top and plugging up with marble
blocks the holes left to take the staging tim
bers in through.
The monument stands on the spot that
Washington selected for the statue which
congress had voted him and which il never
caused to be erected. The construction Of
the monument was at first voluntary
affair, and undertaken by the Washington
Monumental society, organized in 1885
which raised $3.50, 900. The design Of Rob
ert Mills was for shaft 600 feet high. The
cornerstone was laid July 4, 1S4S, by Robert
c. Winthrop, speaker of the house Of repre-
sentatives, and work went on for about five
years, when the society had exhausted its
funds and could not realize any more. The
monument was then ia feet high. Under
the influence of the centennial, congress in
August, 1876, appropriated 5000, 900 to con
tinue the erection of the monument. ~
The foundations were deemed insufficient,
and new foundations were put under the
monument, the work being completed in
May 1880. A mass of concrete thirteen feet
six inches thick was put under the old founda-
ton The oil foundation was eighty-one feet
square and sixteen feet eight inches thick,
and the new foundation is 126 feet Elk inches
square. The monument in fifty-fve feet
square at the base, and the apex will be SIS
feet above the foundation The entire ex.
terror is Maryland marble, and the interior
is granite. The walls are fifteen feet thick at
the base, and about two feet at the top. AT
different times since the resumption of the
work congress has appropriated $500, 900 for
the completion of the shaft. The
original plan contemplated an elaborate
rotunda and colonade about the base
of the shaft, but it is quite uncertain whether
anything of the kind will be built Since
congress undertook the completion Of the
monument Lieut. Col T. L. Casey has been
in charge OF it. Mr.. Winthrop, who laid
the cornerstone, is still alive, and If nothing
happens to him he will deliver the Grafton
in the house of representatives Feb. % next,
to commemorate its completion.
In order that the public may enjoy the
magnificent view from near the summit of
the monument eight windows or port holes
were left, two on each side Of the monument,
about four feet above the 500-feet level
When these windows are open the appear
ance of the monument is married by
two black holes on each side. To obviate
this blemish on the millz-white surface,
and also for the purpose of protecting the
monument from the weather, marble shut
tiers about two inches thick and weighing 140
pounds will be constructed to fit exactly
these portfolios. These can be opened dur
ing visitors hours and closed at all other
times. 1t is not expected that the interior
of the monument will be free from American
vandalism, and many a name will be
written on the walls If the outer faces Of
the marble shutters when swung back
were present to the visitor they would even
tually become marred and blackeneH to such
an extent that when placed in position the
surface would be defaced In order that the
outer faces of the shutters may always be
kept perfectly clean very ingenious con-
trivancs has been devised by means Of which
the shutters are turned around back to as
they are opened.