The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1889-12-12
WESTINGHOUSE MARBLE SHAFT.
Precautions Taken to Complete the Securit
of the Monument.

Precautions Taken to Complete the Security
of the Monument.
At the time the government decided
to take hold and complete the Washing.
ton monument which had stood for years
in an unfinished state, and when in the
centennial year congress made an APP
preparation for the work, the question
suggested to the minds of engineers and
Others was whether or not the founda-
ton was secure and safe for the super
structure. The many years that had
elapsed since the commencement of the
work, and those that had passed during
which it had been left unprotected to
face the storms, winds and changes of
temperature, caused the opinion to exist
that the base of the shaft did not have
I as strong and durable resting place as il
Srequired.
In the outset, and upon the resumption
of the work, it was decided not to carry
the monument to the height first con-,
templated in the plans and it was re-;
duced a number of feet This change,
was made in order that the weight the
) foundation had been laid to carry woulG
be reduced in proportion according to
8 the feet taken off and make it that much
more secure to support the remainder
Competent and experienced engineers
made thorough examination and several
tests of the ground walls. extensive exca-
I vations We're opened up to permit the clos
I est possible inspection, and report was
submitted to the effect that the founda
ton was i'll prime condition, strong and
durable. But to make it doubiy sure the
earth was removed from about the lower
/ walls for some distance, and every crack
i'll the foundation plugged and walls
braced by another wall composed of brok-
en- stone and cement.
The monument was carried to compile
I ton despite the fears and predictions Of
{ the timid and weak hearted, who were
on the watch to see it tumble. 1t is not
j known whether they are now on the look
4 out, but the shaft still stands and is likely
to for ages The engineer in charge, the
custodian. and the subordinateS employed
about it are all co9nizant of the state
ments made regarding its likelihood to-
/ get out Of plumb They style them the
4 dreams of old women, and scout the idea
sof anything of that kind occurring.
Constant vigilance has been and is
still observed to note the slightest de
4 preston or sinking of any kind, and only
& ehis week Capt. Mount informed a Post
reporter that he had been unable to dis
cover at any point any indication that
3 would lead to the belief that the shaft
had sunk the smallest fraction since the
& work done about the foundation. If such
: a thing had taken place it would be easy
to detect, and manifest itself immedi.
ately in the working of the machinery,
I Especially in the movements Of the ele-
vator car. 1t would show as well in the
walls at the apex, and assures would be-
j come visible None of these evidences
have appeared, and the employees are
very confident that they will not.
/ The safety of everything about the
monument is guaranteed with conf
dence, as the custodian keeps in opera
4 ton a thorough system of inspection,
S4permitting no part of it to be neglected
8g0f course the elevator and stairway are
q the principal points to be looked after,
and when it is known that over $4,000
j persons have travelled to the top of the
monument since the LIST OF last Septem-
d Der by the car and stairs, the Importance
of paying this attention to insure the
safety Of the people will be understood
q and appreciated.
The work of the vandals has been al
most entirely discontinued. Beyond the
ambition of some people to have their
] names appear in high places and pencil
ing, the DETACHMENT of the monument by
7andals has been suppressed, and the
only distigurements lately have been
] made by the penciling Of their names by
visitors AS soap and water readily re
1 move the writing, this is not considered
{ serious enough an ofense to warrant the
prosecution Of the offenders. - Washing
Z ton Post,