Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-02-22
THE DEDICATION.
Intensely Cold But Large Crowds In At
tendauCe,

tendance.
WASHINGTON, February 2l.-The formal
dedication of the Washington Monument,
which has been in the course Of erection for
the last thirty.seven years, took place to-day,
and the ceremonies, both at the Monument,
grounds and Capitol, were Of the most i'm
pressive character Unfortunately for the
comfort of the thousands who participated
and witnessed the outdoor exercises, the
weather was intensely cold, the thermometer
at II q. m. ranging II degrees below zero,
but the sky was clear and bright, and the
event proved a memorable one in the list
Of Washington pageants
The near approach of the Inauguration
ceremonies swelled the crowd Of visitors,
and at an early hour the streets presented
an unusually animated appearance with the
numerous military and civic organizations
and the crowds Of spectators marching to-
ward and converging near the base of the
grand shaft j55 feet high, which looks down
upon all other constructions unreaehed by
the hand Of man.
Outdoor Ceremonies,
The outdoor ceremonies began at the
foot Of the monument at precisely ii clock.
The grand stand was filed with distin-
guished guests, President Arthur, his Cabi-
net, visiting Governors OF States, Senators
and Representatives, the diplomatic corps
and members of the Monument Commission
all participating in the presentation, dedi-
cation, religious and Masonic exercises.
Senator Sherman presided and opened
the exercises with brief address, reviewing
the history OF the monument and paying an
eloquent tribute to Washington. An ad-
dress By the venerable w. W. Corcorsn,
aresident of the Washington Monument AS
sociation, who was present, but unequal to
the task of speaking, was read. Col.
Casey, as engineer in charge of the con-
strucuon of the monument, reviewed the
work done under his superintendent and
then President Arthur delivered the dedica-
ton address.
He concluded as follows: Il do now as
President OF the United States and in be-
hall of the people, receive this monument
from the hands of its builder and declare it
dedicated from this time forth to the i'm
mortal name and memory Of George Wash
iugton.' This closed the ceremonies at the
monument, and the procession, a grand
display of military pomp and civic power
moved from the monument grounds to the
capitol. The sidewalks of Pennsylvania
avenue, through which the procession
marched, Tor the distance of one mile were
literally packed with people.
The Association.
W. W. Corcoran then described at length
part taken in the initiation of the project,
L. nfKha hv
| the Washington National Monument So
eiety, andin conclusion said: at is glory
enough for the Washington National Mon
ument Society, that its pious labors, as put
to the proof Of time, have issued in the ma
iestie structure which stands before us to-
day, and it is glory enough for the legislative
| and executive departments Of the govern
ment that in assuming and directing the
| completion of the monument, on the found
alton laid BY the people, they have once rem
dered sacred the national pledge and full
filed sacred national duty by giving to
this great obelisk the elimination and crown
| with which it towers above the earth and
scars heayeuward ike the fame it commem-
| crates.
An Engineering Feat,
To Colonel Thomas L. Casey, L. S. En-
gineer, was assigned the duty OF presenting
the part taken by the general government
in the construction of the monument and of
delivering it to the President Of the United
States. He gave an account Of the first
! proceedings in Congress with a view to the
! completion of the monument and des-
cribed each successive step in the
construction of the work until the
setting Of the espstone finished the
great undertaking, and then he said:
"Although the dimensions, the foundation
of the base were originally planted without
due regard to the tremendous forces to be
brought into play in the building Of 50 large
an obelisk, there sources Of modern engineer
ing and science have supplied the means for
the completion Of the grandest monumental
column ever erected In any age the
world In Its proportions the ratios ot
dimensions Of several part of ancient Eye
ian obelisk have been carefully
followed, the entire height has been made
slightly greater than ten times the breadth
Of the base, producing an obehsk that foI
grace and deicaey Of outline, is not ex
celled BY any of the larger Egyptian Mono
hihs, while in dignity and grandeur it sur
passes any that can be mentioned
Mr.. President for and In behalf of thS
joint commission ior the completion of the
Washington NoRument 1 deliver to you thil
column.
Arthur Accepts.
President Arthur, in accepting the mons
ment said: "FelloW eountrymea: BeFor
the dawn Of century whose eventual rear
will soon have faded into the past whei
death had bnt lately robbed this RepG6.i
a offs nOal beloved sai Iialtsioas citizen