Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-07-02


Washington Monument-and it all made
up hard days work: The most inter-
esting place of all these to the printer
was the Engraving Bureau In this
building was being printed the national
currency, the national bank bills and the
silver certificates. Also all the internal
revenue stamps used in the tobacco.
whiskey, and beer business of the
country. This work is all done by hand
presses, and by the most skillful work
men. Who has not heard of the Wash
ington Monument? 1t IS an obelisk 555
feet high; foundation Of the shaft so feet
square, and it IS set in solid rock 86 feet
below the surface of the earth. We
assembled the monument in the elevator
500 feet. and from the port holes we had
the most magnificent view of Washington
tits possible to imagine. This stupendous
work was commenced by private enter
prise July 4, 1S4S. The funds were
exhausted and work was suspended
before the civil war eliminated, and at a
height of ia feet, the monument came to
a standstill until an appropriation was
made by Congress only few years ago,
and on December 6, 1884, the shaft was
completed.
The event of the day was the steamboat
ride down the Potomac. The steamer
Corcoran was chartered by our Congress
sional delegation for the occasion. We
started at p. m. an hour late, but it was
trip full of genuine pleasure to each one
The scenery on this historical river is
almost equal to the Hudson, We passed
the old town of Alexandria about six
miles from Washington, which in the
colonial days. rivaled Baltimore in COM
merce.
We esoon reached Mt Vernon, the home of
Washington, sixteen miles away-a beau
tiful and romantic spot on the western
bank of the river. The reader can
perhaps better imagine our feelings than
we can describe them, as we ascended the
hill from the landing and entered upon
the historic grounds Of the old Custis
estate. With uncovered heads we stood
before the barred doors OF the tomb where
rests IN marble coffins the remains of
George and Martha Washington. In an
enclosure near by were tue graves of
several OF the Custis family, appropri-
ately marked by monuments. Near this
enclosure stood venerable looking
negro, seemingly acting as guard, who
Wss very proud to say that he was born
on that plantation. On the beautiful
lawn in front of the old mansion about
half of our party grouped themselves
together for photograph. We found
the house in good state of preservation,
and it was with great deal of interest
that we looked through the Several rooms
at the quaint old. fashioned furniture, the
same which is said to have been used by
the Washington family century ago.
Just across the river from Mt. Vernon
is Marshall Hall, in Maryland, the old
home of Chief Justice Marshall. Here a
most excellent dinner was served the
hungry company.
On the return trip Senator Davis and
Congresmen Dunnell, Lind, Snyder and
Comstock responded to calls for speeches;
aud we will remark right here that we
heard several editors say that our Con-
gresham Dunnell made the best speech
Of them all.
Thursday the editors took herdic
rlde-going in the forenoon to Arlington
Cemetery, and in the afternoon to the
Soldiers home The visit to Arlington
was very interesting old Lee man
sion being an object of interest. This
property, as IS well known. was origin
ally owned by Martha Custis Washing.
ton, the wife of General George Wash
ington, but was afterwards inherited by
the wife of General Robert E. Lee. who
resided there until the beginning of the
late civil war. Here is the grave of
General Phil. Sheridan, also the tomb of
OCuC4 OIL OOAu "A .AOSou' nAIC1
from Arlington we we're treated to an
elegant lunch at the residence of Senator
WashburD. The General made us q
speech-a very good one. Senator Pierce
of North Dakota was also called out, and
did himself proud. The visit to the
Soldiers Home. and the ride through the
ample, well kept grounds, was a great
treat to everyone.
Friday morning visit was made to
the navy yard, which proved very inter
esting. Under the guidance of young
seaman, who is q resident of Brainerd,
we were taken particular good care of,
and everything shown up and explained
in a most interesting manner We first
visited the enlistment ship, where the
new naval seamen are received and
examined. We found everything remark
ably clean and neat. Lying off in the
hsrbor could be seen the old abandoned
monitor" which performed such noble
service in the civil war. The "Cushman, "
the cigar.shaped torpedo boat, was the