Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-21
BUILDING STEWARD.
How the Huge Stones were Set In the
Shaft-The Ingenious Method of Con.
structing the Marble ROOf-SOme of the
Details of the Work.

The shaft of the monument is 500 feet 81,
inches high, slightly over nine times the base,
which is 55 feet 1 II inches square. The top is
81 feet 51s inches square, being % of the width
of the base. The shaft, if continued in this pro-
portion, would come to point at 90 times its
present height. The construction of this i'm
mense shaft was naturally slow, as the greatest
care and precision were necessary in the cutting
and setting of the stones. The shaft, after the
resumption of the work in 1850, grew at the
rate OF twenty feet at jump. That is, the iron
framework for the building was built twenty
feet above the completed portion of the shaft
and around this the stones were set until they
until the framework could be erected again
above the completed portion, and the same ope-
ration was repeated. This change was called a
feet HIGH could be set in a day if everything
was favorable. Procuring the material in suff-
eient quantities and cutting it properly after its
receipt formed the great part of the work. The
setting of the stones could be accomplished
rapidly when bs tesSeEything was in
at the bottom is fifteen feet, and at the top only
eighteen inches. The facing of the walls is pur1.
white marble, while the interior backing up to
a height OF 100 feet, the old portion, is rubble
masonry. Above that point, to a height of 452
feet, it is of dressed granite from New England
consist of white marble entirely, the interior
backing being dispensed with. The blocks are
two feet high, and the headers and stretchers
feet square at the bottom, but enlarges 81 feet
q inches square at the top. In the walls of the
lower part Of this well are many of the memo
ria! stones which were inserted in the earlier
days of the work. The memorial stones which
are on hand will be properly cut down in very
thin slabs and also inserted in or attached to
these walls. Around this well runs a strong
iron stairway, and in the center runs power
full steam elevator of ten tons capacity, sup
ported by construction OF eight vertical iron
columns. AT height of 40 feet the twelve
marble ribs which form the support of the roof
spring from the walls of the well. They are
carried upward until those nearest the angles of
the shaft meet In the hips of the pyramidion
while those in the center of each face are con-
nected still higher, forming two arches, inter
secting each other at right angles The key
stone OF the center ribs Is at height of
500 feet The pyramidion or roof which is thus
firmly supported is composed of marble slabs
only seven inches in thickness, resting upon
spurs or projections upon the marble ribs The
vertical height of the roof is So feet making the
height of the monument $50 feet 51a inches
and the weight of the roof is 300 tons. The cap-
stone In which 1t terminates weighs $500
pounds, and is crowned by tip or pyramid
of pure aluminium. The character of this roof
and the method of constructing it exhibit
much ingenuity. There is nothing similar in
any building ever constructed. A roof of some
other material than marble could have been
built with much less designing, labor and ex-
pense, but It was particularly desirable to have
the face of the monument of the same material
from bottom to top. In this way any change
of the weather will have the same effect on ali
parts OF 1t. The eight windows which look out
upon the surrounding country Just above the
6OO-foot level can be closed when not in use by
very thin marble shutters, which fit with won
deriul exactness, and when closed make the en-
tire face or the monument one unbrOken
harmony of white marble. To prevent the outer
face OF these white shutters from being soiled
when they are swung back, a very. clever de-
vice In the shape of guiding arm causes each
one to revolve as it swings back so that when
not In place on the monument the outer face
lies against rib, and can never be soiled by
the Vandal visitor who delights In writing his
name In public places!