Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-21


- He sAL
TIE ORIGINAL DESIGN,
The original design, the estimated cost of
which was S1,122,O 600, as described in an old
| official paper presented by Mrs. Evans, the
daughter of Robert Mills, living in this
! city, was as follows:
| This design embraces the idea of a grand cir
cular cOlonnaded building. 25U feet in diameter
| and 100 feet. high, from which springs an
obel1sk shaft 20 feet at the base and 500 feet
high, making total elevation OF 600 feet.
This vast rotunda, forming the grand base of
| the monument, is surrounded by 80 columns Of
| massive proportions being - feet in diameter
| ana 10 feet nigh, elevated upon lofty base or
| stylobate of 20 feet elevation and 800 feet
square, surmounted by an entaDIature 20 feet
nigh ing and crowned by massive balustrade ID
The terrace outside of the coonnade is % feet
Wloe and the pronaOS or walk within the colon
made, including the column space, 20 feet. The
walks lncoSIng the celia, or gallery within, are
| 1retted with 30 massive ante (piasters) 10 feet
wide, do feet high, and IL, feet projection,
answering TO the columns in front, suImounted
by their appropriate architrave. The deep
recesses formed by the projection of the ants4
| statues.
A tetrastyle portico "a columns in 'front.' in
triple rows of the same proportions and order
with the columns of the colonnade, distin-
guishes the entrance to the monument. and
| serves as pedestal tor the triumphal car and
statue OF the illustrious chief; the steps OF this
| -, -
| mounted by appropriate figures and trophies.
over each column is the great freze OF the en-
tablatures around the entire building are sculp-
| tured eScutcheOnS coats ofarmS ofeach state in
| the Union, surrounded by bronze civic wreaths
banded together by festoons of oak leaves, &C.,
| all of which spring, each way from the center
| of the portco. where the coat OF arms of the
| United States are emblazoned.
The statues surrounding the rotunda outside.
| pedestals, and will be those of the glorious
signers of the Declaration of Independence
Ascending the portico outside to the terrace
level, lofty vomitoria door way 80 feet high
leads into the celia rotunda gallery 30 feet wide
5Oo feet In circumference, and 6Ofeet high with
colossal pillar in the center 20 feet in diane
ter, around which the gallery sweeps. This
pillar forms the foundation of the obelisk
column above.
spaces by pilasters. elevated on a continued
zoce or base feet high forming an order with
Its entablature, 40 feet high, crowned by "a
vaulted ceiling 30 feet high, divided by radiat-
ing archevauts corresponding with the rela-
tive positions of the opposing piasters and en-
closing deep sunken Golfers enriched with
paintings.
The spaces between the pilasters are sunk into
nlches for the reception of the statues of the
fathers OF the Revolution, contemporary with
the immortal Washington; over which are large
tablets toreceive the national paintings CONNIE
lucrative of the battle and other scenes of that
memorable period. Opposite to the entrance of
this gallery, at the extremity OF the great circu-
lar wall, is the grand niche for the reception of
the statue of the 'Fa ther of his Country
waited on its appropriate pedestal, and desig-
mated as principal in the group by its colossal
| proportions.
This spacious gallery and rotunda. which pro-
perly may be denominated the National PAN
theon, is lighted in four grand divisions from
above. and by its circular form, presents each
| subject decorating its walls in an interesting
point OF view, and with proper effect as the Gu.
| rloslty Is kept up every moment, from the
whole room not being presented to the eye at
| one glance, as IN the case of a straight gallery
| Entering the center pier through an arched
way, you pass into spacious circular area, and
| ascend with an easy grade by a railway to the
grand terrace, rs feet above the base of the mon.
| ument This terrace is 700 feet in circumfer.
ence, $50 wide. enclosed by a colonnaded balus-
| trade 10 feet feet high with its base and Gaping
The circuit of this grand terrace is studded with
| small temple-formed structures, constituting
the cupolas of the lanterns, lighting the Pan:
| theOn gallery below, by means of these little
| temples, from gallery within, birds eve
view Is had of the statues, &c, below.
| Through the base of the great circle of the
balustrade are four apertures at the four cardf.
| nal points, leading outside of the balustrade
| upon the top Of the main cornice, where gal
lery six feet wide and $50 feet in circum ference
| encircles the WHOLE enclosed by an ornamental
guard, forming the browning member on the
| top of the tholus of the main cornice of the
grand colonnade. Within the thickness Of this
| wall staircases descend to a lower gallery over
the platond OF the gronaos of the colonnade
| all round the colonnade. is twenty feet wide
| divided into rooms for the records of the monll-
ment works of art, or studios for artists en-
| below.
| In the center Of the grand terrace above de-
scribed, rises the lofty obelisk shaft of the mon
| ument, fifty feet square at the base and 500
feet high. diminishing as it rises to its apex,
where 1t is forty feet square; at the foot of this
| shaft and on each face project four massive
| Zocles twenty-five feet high, supporting so many
feet high, surmounted by fascial columns with
| their symbols of authority. These zocle faces
are embellished with inscriptions, which are
| continued around the entire base of the shaft
and occupy the surface of that part of the shaft
between the tripods On each face of the shaft
above this is sculptured the four leading events
| In zen. Washlngton's eventful career, in bdsso
retfeUo and above this the shaft is perfectly
plain to within fifty feet Of its summit. where a
simple star is placed, embleInat1c of the glory
which the name of Washington has attained
40 ascend scene, 10 the summit Of the column the
same san FACILITIES Ut, as below are provided within
be traversed by railway, terminating in a cir
| cular Observatory twenty feet in diamater,
| around which at the top is a lookout gallery
| which opens prospect all around the Horizon.
With reference to the area embraced by the
foundations and basement of the monument
and the uses to which they may be applied, the
underspace outwards, occupied by the lower
terrace and colonnade, may be appropriated to
ument, or those having charge of it and attend
These apartments, which are arched, are well
the light being disposed in the sunk panels OF
the styiobate (base.) The principal entrance to
sas ne will be the
| timer space. or that under the grand gallery or
rotundo, may be appropriated to catacombs for
| the reception of the remains of such distin-
guished men as the nation may honor with in
terment here. This subterranean gallery is so
large and lofty that it would accommodate
many catacombs
In the center of the monument is placed the
tomb OF Washington to receive hts remains
should they be removed thither, the descent to
which is BY broad flight of steps lighted by
the same light which illumines his statue.
MODIFYING THE PLAN.
This elaborate plan was modified consider
| ably before the cornerstone was laid. After
the soSiesy nad secured funds enough to war
rant them, as the members thought, in begin
ming the work objections were made to the de.
sign adopted. In March, 1S48, the matter OF
changing the design was referred to Mr.. Mills
ana MI. Renwick, who were requested to report
upon the expediency of various elevations from
three 70 nye hundred feet: In April they re.
the society decided on 500 feet "without steps,
which meant the adoption Of 5OO-foot SHAFT
clear, leaving the matter OF the surrounding
terrace undetermined. The shaft was com.
menced % feet square at the base instead OF
1O, as originally contemplated. According to
this modified design the work was prosecuted