The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-02-28
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Dedication of the Monument-The High
est Shaft in the World-Preparing
for the Inauguration, &c.


WASHINGTON, d. c., February Oath, 1885.
Messrs. Editors Last Saturday, the day set
apart for the dedication of the National Washing
ton Monument in this city, Notwithstanding the
sky was clear and the sun shone brightly and ap-
parently warmly, was not just exactly the one
that could have been best selected for such pur-
pose, for the temperature was nearly down to zero
and the wind was blowing strongly from the north
west, making the air still more chilly. As early
as o'clock in the morning the military and other
companies began assembling and forming on the
streets amid the bitter cold The early ceremony
of presenting the monument to the President of
the United States by the builder and the Monu-
ment Association took place in pavilion con-
structed for the purpose at the foot of the monu-
ment in the presence of q small but conspicuous
assemblage of prominent persons and others, the
extreme cold preventing many from attending and
those that did so suffering greatly. Senator Sher-
man presided aud delivered an address, as did w.
W. Corcoran and others. Col T. L. Casey, the
engineer who supervised the later building and
completion of the monument, presented the struc-
ture to the President in an address in which he
described the various stages of its erection Pres
ident Arthur replied in neat speech, he being
the only one that laid aside his hat and gloves
during tho ceremony account of the great cold.
After this ceremony completed the procession,
which consisted of number of very ancient Rev
dictionary military companies from Massachu-
sets, Connecticut Rhode Island, South Carolina
and other States; of Masonic Lodges, Union vet
eran and cadet corps and other societies, the fire
department, &C., reformed and marched down
Pennsylvania avenue to the Capitol. Gen. Phil.
Sheridan acted as chief marshal. The procession
was divided into three divisions commanded re-
spectively by Gen. r. B. Ayres, Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee. and Breyt. Brig. Gen. w. w. Dudley, U. S.
A. The display of uniforms by some of the mill
tary companies, especially one which wore the
continental uniform of the Revolutionary times,
was imposing. The Marine band of this city, and
other bands attended the procession. The Nation
al Monument Association, prominent visitors,
Governors of States, the President and Cabinet,
foreign legations, Senators and congressman and
others rode in carriages in the second or zen.
Fitzhugh Lees division. Although the crowd on
the avenue to witness the procession was large, it
was not nearly so big as it would have been had
the day been pleasanter. Yet it lined tho side
walks from the Treasury to the Capitol. Presi-
dent Arthur rode in an open barOuche drawn by
four spirited bay horses, ana was the recipient OF
many hearty cheers and ovations along the route,
he rising from his seat and bowling to the crowd
that cheered him ever and anon. At the Capitol
he left the barouche and reviewed the procession
at the east front, after which the principal cere
monies of the dedication took place in the hall of
the House of Representatives. These consisted of
prayer by Rev. S. A. Wallis, of Powhick church,
near Mt. Vernon, Washington's home; an eloquent
address written by Hon. R. c. Winthrop, of Mas
sachusetts, and read by Hon. John d. Long, of
that State, and most eloquent Grafton by Hon.
John w. Daniel, of Virginia. wish, Messrs.
Editors that every young man in America would
read the address of Mr.. Winthrop, as delivered
by Representative Long, and would be governed
thereby in his duties to and love for his country.
and for the uprightness. purity and virtue OF
Washington's character as depicted therein. After
the close of Mr.. Daniels Grafton the benediction
was pronounced by Rev. John S. Lindsay, chap
lain of the House of Representatives, and the ded
icatory ceremonies were over, the procession hav-
ing been dismissed previous to these last ceremo
MES taking place
The monument is now completed, so far as the
outside of the shaft is concerned, and stands 555
feet high-higher than any other artificial struc-
ture in the world, although not so high as the
Tower of Babel was supposed to be, its altitude
being reputed to have been 66S feet, or lib feet
higher than this monument. But, although the
outside or essential work of the monument is CON-
pleted the inside work, including the fixing In
place of the memorial stones given by the differ
emit States societies and foreign nations, has yet
to be flushed, and for this purpose Congress has
been asked to make an appropriation OF S4O,0U0
Daily the preparations for the Inauguration are
still going on, and now not only is grand dis
play on the occasion assured but the parade will
be one of the largest if not the largest, ever seen
in this city. Fully twenty thousand men, it is as
doubt it is said, but that the great hall being pre-
pared at the new Pension building for the grand
ball, will be completed and that the latter will be
On entire success. A great deal of the talk among
society people in this city is about the costumes
that will be displayed thereat, and the modises of
every character and grade are being kept busy
and exercising their utmost wits to have their par
tcular patrons excel.
Presideni-elect Cleveland will not arrive here
from Albany until the afternoon or evening OF the
Sd of March, and then will receive no callers until
after the Inauguration. His Cabinet, it is said,
although it will probably be made in Albany, will
not be announced until he reaches this city, and
even then, it is being whispered around among
Democratic Congressman, it will be great sur
prise to almost everybody, even to those who have
heretofore thought themselves to be the "knowng
ones"
President Arthur gave his last public reception
last Saturday evening, and in many respects it
vastly differed from former ones. Generally a
motley crowd attend the Presidents public recep
tions, but on this occasion the better and more
prominent class of people were conspicuous in the
attendance, the assemblago consisting in large
part of the military and other prominent visitors
who had come to attend the dedicatory ceremo-
MES of the monument. 1t ia said that not less than
5000 persons shook the hand of the President, or
rather his hands, for sometimes he compelled
to use both hands in the job in order to get through
il. ANON.