Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-18
On Ton Of the M.,um.n..


WHAT THE woRKMEN ARE DOING AT THAT
DIZZY ELEVATION.
Preparations for building the scaffoiding about
the roSf Of the Washington monument, nosa
which 10 repair the damage by lightning ana
insure the protection OF the shan I'm the fntufs
nom lightning, were commenced yesterday az
ternoon. A narrow plank was run out III tie
little window beneath the capStoDe. and upon ID
a rigger took his stand and threw two no.lSsas
over the capstonc one five feet below the other.
These gave hand and foot-hold for tho men ~
complete the work OF attaching block ana
tackle TO the sides OF the monument. and The
ropes were let fall 90 the lower windows FOR the
purpose Of hauling up the scaffoldinE. FroIa
these ropes close examination of the crack ih
the roof stone was made. IL was found thSa
the stone had been cracked through, but that
stone was found TO be displaced somewhat. but
IL Is Thought that the broken portion can Ia
placed IN position again with little difficulty
A firmly built scafiolding surrounded the apox
OF the monument this morning, which had been
raised rom the lower windows and Put In place
lhe platform extended Just below the capStons
tol Casey visited the monument this morning
10 make an examination i'm person of the dam
age done by the lightning. The four coppsf
RODS, with their projecting needle points which
are intended To afford additional connection
nom the outside with the Interior lightning
roo apparatus, have not Yet arrived frnIn Philas
delphia but are expected before all the scafiilld
ing Is In readiness for the work oi placing the
rods through the roof.
All the details connected with the scaffpldin9
around the roof of the monument viii he canas
fiettu lo-uaN, ana Tomorrow effort will Ia
made 70 get the cracked roof-sione back I'm posts
uon. IL Is only displaced about "a of an inch al
one end, and II IL thought thai n lew hlows
from malet VIII set 10 In place unless hr,,ls.s
stone, which Is hardly likely. Is lodged behind
H. III VIII then be securely bottled. The fouF
copper rods, which are gold plated to proiect
them from the weather. are oNperfed To-
morrow from Philadelphia. and they wills
be al once placed in position. A coppcf
band viii encircle the capStone lust below Tho
aluminium iip,with which IL Will bee connect ed
Into this band viii be secured the fnur corner
rods, which will extend along the hipS OF tho
roof for distance of eight or nine f,sf
connection through the masonry will
be made with the interior lightning-rod anna
ratuS. Zach OF these rods viii have seven ne.s
dle-pointed projections about five inches long
ana ABOUT quarter of an inch thick,
each OF which will act as lightning
examined the damage In the monument with a
view OF making changes To- prevent similar &C.
cldent has not been submitted vet and tho
steps taken now are only precautionary. and
VIII not Interfere with any recommcnd atious
the committee may make. The needle proiac.
tions viii not he visible. aud the entire ROOF can
Toe covered with points like n porcupine N de.
strable. The small platform around the ton ia
the only one that VIII be erected, a. All tha
work at present proposed can he done from A.
The scafiolding was erected i'm exactly the ma n
ner intended in case Of necessity when the ruof
was designed. The little window on the south
side Immediately below the capstone il the kew
To the situation. A board from this wiudow
(which Is usually closed with a slab permits a
workman 10 throw rope over the capStane
ana, with block and tackle. scaflolding can -
raised from the lower windows. done in
be lowered To any portion OF the monumeni
without difficulty