The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-22
AN UNsIGHrLY SCENE.
Visitors Surprised at the Incompleteness of
the Monument, Outside and Inside.

connected with the monument, except the plain
shaft, than there was twenty-five years ago.
When finally completed-which will require at
least two more years-there will be stone wall
three or four feet high around the base. 1t will
be capped with marble and approached by
ble steps. Here will be electric or gaslight fix
lures and brass fnishings. Between this wall and
the monument there will be laid a tile floor In
stead Of the old, ragged, wooden door, covered
with show-bills and fastened with paddock
there will be handsome iron door, although it
is not contemplated that the entrance to the
monument shall be closed during the day time
The lower portion of the great structure will be
even more extravagant in its appearance than
the massive column projecting above,
These eXclamations of surprise by strangers
were not without cause, for more unsightly
scene was never presented in Washington. The
surroundings were more like those of q mining
camp than anything else From the time the
work began, in the spring of 1846, to within two
or three years, there have been little buildings
constructed by the workmen all around the mon
ument and on the large field about They have
not Ebeen inhabited except as work shops, but
they have accumulated until there is village of
them, and more than half the buildings are green
with age, dirty and low in appearance Strewn
everywhere are timbers, lumber, refuse MARBLE
offal from ali kinds Of material. There are no
sidewalks. no roadways, no comforts-nothing
but a marble shaft fifty-five feet square at the
base, thirty y-six feet square at the top and
capped at d height of 592 feet from the founda-
ton. There it stands, like puny stick of chalk
Sf fbo c1-x -bo,o VII d;cfo
towering like a monstrous halucination-hi
broad, ponderous, massive beyond realization.
whensyou attempt to view its point from near it's
base
INSIDE THE MONUMENT.
Inside, the monument day resembed large
stone stable AT one side rickety stairway be-
gins. The center is occupied by the improvised
elevator, which has been used to carry the mar
BILE up for several years. Everything is in as
confused condition as on the outside. There are
heaps of tools and rubbish everywhere. A year
hence, the superintendent says, there will be
large, handsome passenger elevator in operation.
There will be tile floor, seats for those in wait
ing, register for visitors, relics for the curious,
cards containing history Of the work and
picture of the monument ali free gratis, thrown
buildings will all be removed by that time, too,
and instead of the acres of space around present
ing the appearance of New Jersey fishery, OF
Colorado mining town, there will be parks and
drives, and walks and flowers, and lawns. From
the top Of the monument by the aid of field
glass; Baltimore can readily be seen; so can all
the cities and towns in Maryland and Virginia
within distance Of forty miles. The Potomac
can be viewed with the naked eye down to where
it rolls into the Atlantic, and the city of Wash
ington can be seen as if on paper before your
very nose.
Immediately surrounding the monument there
is much beautiful natural and artificial scenery.
The vacant space consists of probably six acres.
To the north is Babcock lake, occupying
couple of acres. 1t is one of the prottiest little
bodies of water in the world. and was covered
with skaters to-day. A few hundred yards to
the west is the Potomac river. South is the Agri-
cultural Department buildings, green house. etc.,
and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
East is the Smithsonian Institution, and its spa
clous and beautiful grounds, while the Capitol
looms up a half mile beyond The White House is
a half-mile directly north of the monument Ar
lington mile and a half northwest. So, when
the work is done, there will be an attractive To-
cality about the place dedicated today.
1t has frequently been regretted by patriotic
citizens that the monument was not located in
another part of the city. All towns and cities
have a five points. Washington has one.
1t consists largely in division three squares
deep and about half-mie long, lying be-
tween the monument and the city proper and
the Capitol building. Strangers going from
one of the half-dozen first class hotels or White
House, or any of the departments to the monu-
ment, must go through this offensive locality
1t is evident now that this has not always been
so for although there is every reason for locat-
ing the monument where it stands, looming UP
against the clouds in the direction of Mount
Vernon and Washington's birthplace, looking
from the White House, it would likely not be
located there were the site to be chosen next
week. The reason, it is believed it was placed
where it stands was that that portion of the
city was better built up at that time, and it
makes cheerful mark to view for passengers
coming up the river
INTERVIEW WITH HENRY CLAY'S SECRETARY
There were many thousands of old men and
women here when the dedication ceremonies
began, but there were few among them who lis
tened to the speeches delivered at the laying OF
the monuments corner stone on July 4, lS48
met one of them this morning, however He
was Henry Clay Boudinot, an attorney of this
city. Mr. Boudinot was private secretary to
Henry Clay at the time the corner stone was
laid. asked him if he recognized many faces
he saw upon the other occasion.
''No" he replied, II have seen none that
recognize-none but that of Cherokee chief
On the day the corner stone was laid handsome
young buck Indian stood prominently among
the honored guests and attracted great deal of
attention. He was here upon some mission
with the chiefs of his tribe, and was curiosity,
for at that time few Indians came to Washing
ton saw him awhile ago He is here to-day,
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