Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-24
IN THE TALL MONUMENT.
A Place Where Women Sometimes Faint
and Strong Men Tremble.


WHY THE ELEVATOR MAN CARRIES SMELLING
BoTTLE-THE REFRESHING DRAUGHT OF AIR At
THE ENTRAsCE-REMovINa TRACES OF VAN
DAL1sM-cURIoUs FACTS ABOUT THE CROWDS.
Whatever may be the record Of the thermome-
ter, however hot may be the atmosphere. how
ever still may be the air, there is always one
place in Washington where a cool breeze fans
the bespangled brow, and puts a quietus for
the time on the us Observation-Disclosures"
fend. This place is the doorway of the Wash
ington monument, through which there is q
constant draught Of air, and where the temper
allure goes down from IS or 80 few feet off to
rs or even 20. Timid visitors who don't iust
like the idea Of going all the way up the big
chimney in the elevator car find comfort in
standing in the doorway while until the car
has made a few round trips and has demon
strated its safety.
There are lots Of people going up and down
the shaft nowadays. Some DAYS the number of
down to 400, but the stream of humanity is
pretty constant
WALKING Up.
There are not many who care to walk up in
this weather and most of them wait for the
car, which is usually filled to beyond point of
comfort. With the temperature high outside
the interior OF the monument is considerably
cooler, while in winter it is warmer than the
exterior atmosphere, this being due to the
equalizing influence of the solid stone walls,
But the air inside is still and dead. There is
absolutely no movement on the stairways, and
one ascending them wonders where all the
draught that he felt below has disap-
peared to. The center of the shaft, the
elevator well is veritable chimney, there
being a continual current up or down-up
when the wind is from the east and down when
it comes from any other direction. The least
Over-exertion on the stairways sets the climber
into O perspiration, and he feels grateful when
he comes to the top and can poke his head out
OF a window. This is because the air inside,
on the edges, is extremely moist and still,
having point of humidity far above ordinary
atmosphere.
WHERE WOMEN SOMETIMES FAINT.
When thirty people get into the elevator car,
as happened several times this morning during
the visit Of The STAR reporter, the cage ia q
most uncomfortable place to ride in. Holes
have been bored in the roof to allow some ven
tiation, but it is extremely close, nevertheless,
and the conductor carries bottle of ammonia
with him on every trip for use at the noses of
''faints." He has had several of late, he said,
and there has been no end Of trouble with
them. The women who faint, in his opinion.
are i'll already when they enter the car and
the closeness of the atmosphere, the fear Of
falling and the jar Of the car sets them off.
Men also show signs Of nervousness, and it
Is often the case that passengers Of the male
persuasion-great, strong specimens who could
face a pistol without finching-shake and
quake with fear as the car glides silently up
the big fume. Crying babies, too, often lend
their voices to make the trips up and down
pleasant. There has been quite q quantity
Of this article on hand during the hot weather.
REMOVING MARKS OF vASDALIsM.
There is little or no vandalism going OF now,
but Capt. Mount and his assistants are quite
vigilant and are ready 10 nab the first offender.
few days ago all Of the old pencil scratches
and names were cleaned from the stones
throughout the whole length of the shaft, 90
that they might not suggest similar acts 70
other tourists. Constant picking at the large
silver letters in the Nevada memorial stone has
loosened one Of them slightly. Outside of the
shaft the work Of putting the grounds in shape
broken stone to make beds for the roads and II,
few weeks the reservation will be crossed
with numerous gravel paths and drives that
will give much easier access TO the shaft than
there 10 now.
RHPLAciNo xLKcrHic WIRES.
Next Monday work will be started in replao-
ing the old electric wires OF the lower half of
the shaft with new ones. II has been found
that the dampness of the interior wallis tendp
to corrode the insulation and then 70 DESTROY
the wires themselves. A new kind, such e
was put in the upper half, will take the place 81
the old stun below. This work win not inter
fere with the lighting OF the shaft in the least.
for the wire will be cut one length ct : lime
and Topped around q
A Shipyard at Sparrowss Point. -.
The Baltimore Nesss yesterday said tEht Che
Pennsylvanis steel company intend n SsaxN&sS
an immense shipyard a Sparrow poinSe tSsivg
miles nom Baltimore. The company willhnw1
the most magnificent equipment in the United
States and possibly in Tho world for tbs oon-
struction Of steel ships. This industry 4 10 Be
carried on in connection with the iron and stee1
WORKS Of the company 81 Spaxrows point
Policeman (stsrnly. )--swhaA aes yoa dpine
On the street Ct The hoor Of the nishti'