Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-02-27

The Washington monument, at the
National Capital, was dedicated Satur-
day, since Washington's birthday fell on
Sunday this year. The history of the
monument dates back over Il hundred
years but for fifty year, it was an idea
rather than an enterprise. Before Wash
ington was elected President of the New
Republic, Congress resolved that an cques-
tran statue should be erected
in his honor. Fifty years later an
association was formed to redeem the
faith thus plightcd. Under the first plans,
no person was permitted to contribute to
the fund more than ~ year. In 1886
S2S, 900 had been collected and invested.
In 1871, with interest and new subscrip-
tions, the und amounted to $1,000 and
the society resolved to begin the month
mcnt. In January lSiS, Congress granted
Il site for it said to have been one that
Washington himself marked rs early as
1873, rs IL site for Il monument to the
American revolution
The design OF Robert Mills was accepted
by the management. and the cornerstone
was laid ON the ith of July 1SiS, Robert
G. Winthrop delivering the Grafton. The
work was pushed steadily upwards for six
years when the funds were exhausted. In
this time the monument had risen 40
feet and Sl3O, 900 had been expended ON it,.
In 1852 boxes were placed at the polls on
the day of the Presidential election, in
many States. for the increase of the fund.
/ At the annual election of 1860, the people
of California contributed at the polls So
5G20l, which was California's way of
showing loyalty just before the great
struggle began. Before the war the assO-
citation had invited and received blocks of
stone to be wrought into the interior from
various States and societies through the
world. There are nearly one hundred of
these, many of them curious. Brigham
Young sent one one is from Braddock :
field, one Processes to be from the ruins of
the AlcNandrian Library. one is from the
Merchants in China" one is from Il tenn
pie in Carthage. and one from the Govern
mcnt Of Greece. During the war and for
ten years after, the unfinished stump of
the great obcliSN, stood, a modification to
all patriots. At last in 1876. Congress
came to the rescue, with an appropriation
of S2Ou.OOO The foundations, found to he
insecure. were skilfully strengthened
The engineers cut down the height, frOu
600 feet to - and the Greek temple, ol
pori,tyle, supported by great doric col
Umns,W which in Mili's plan surrounded the
base was dispensed with. This. indeed
was fatcd when a Dutch farmer told an
agent of the Monument Society that he
would not subcribe. Il give no tullar.
he said, ito any house nit sucn pie
Chimhly.' Art critics still complain that
it is only an immense chimney but III
pointed apex shows that it is a monument
and not IA huc. 1t will perhaps, hereafter
be capped with electric light, and stand
ut night, II mighty beacon to remind the
people that this is Il nation and that Wash
ington was its father. 1t is ut least done
and is the highest structure built 10y man
Build it to the skies, said Mr. Winthrop
at the laying of its cornerstone, "you can
not outrcach the loftinesS of his princi
pies It has been built well nigh to tn,
skies. We trust that no earthquake shocl
will shatter it and that it will stand a.
long as the City of Washington remains
the Capitol of the Republic.