The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
A NEW MERIDIAN STONE
AN EXPENDITURE OF S2a ORDERED
FOR ITS PURCHASE.
The Original Landmark Carted Away
and Thrown ON Il Dumping Ground
Afterwards Used as Gate Post
George washiugton's Wish.

Afterwards Used as Gate Post
George Washiugton's Wish.
The Commissioners have ordered the
expenditure of $23 to mark the meridian
of Washington, the stone to be set in
place by the United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey. This is small
amount even for setting o stone, and If
1t includes the purchase of stone it
will make only despicable mark, one
worthy of the fate Of the first meridian
stone erected for the Capital City of
the United States.
SETTING THE MERIDIAN STONE.
When Thomas Jefferson was Prcsi
dent, George Washington ordered the
setting Of the stone, but he did not live
to see Il set. He is said to have been
of the opinion that our dependence
upon England could not cease until we
had cut loose from Greenwich time and
had established the meridian of Wash
ingtOn for the use of republics on the
Western Continent.
IMPORTANCE OF THE EVENT.
AS surveyor, Washington's mind
naturally attached great significance to
the event, and after the location of the
meridian stone he fixed the position of
the Executive Mansion so that the
north front door comedies with the po-
sition of the stone set upon Meridian
Hill.
TIE SURVEYORS REPORT.
In 1904 the stone was set. The final
report Of the surveyor is filed in the
office of the Secretary of State. The
writer says: I'm running the meridian
line / first ascertained the place of the
star in the tail of the constellation Ursa
Minor on its greatest elongation, and
then continuing the vertical circle to
the surface of the ground, ETC., etc, |
planted an obelisk of freestone two
miles north of the Presidents door on
the height. The apex is the true
meridian
LOCATION OF THE LINE.
The line runs directly through the
White House TO stone that has otter
excited question about its use, located
a few rods west of the Washington
Monument 1t has some signs ant
! figures on it that are worse than Greel
to the Chicago millionaires who STUN
Bile over it. A far more importan
stone was placed very near to the soutl
front of the White House, but il lonl
ago disappeared. An explorer of tn,
fiftieth century may find il in the ruin
Of house on X street and write bool
about it.
| TRACING THE STONE.
| The real meridian stone was trace,
after its disappearance from Meridian
Hill by Joaquin Miller through man
adventures to its present location as
hitching post in front of the Reform
School on the Bladensburg road. III
records the fact that the Washingto
meridian stone was set up in the door
yard of the mansion owned by the iirs
Commodore Porter of the United State
Navy. SiXty-seven years after th
mansion had fallen into decay and
street was projected through the door
yard and through the foundations G
the house. The meridian stone, S
cherished by Washington and set wit
ceremonies by Jefferson, was carted o
by the ignorant street contractor
of Governor Shepherd in 1871 to
South Washington receptacle for vast
material.
THE STONE USED As A GATE-Posr.
joaquin asserts that ii was subs,
quently used as a gate-post for Arlin!
ton Cemetery, and when an approprii
tion secured better posts for 18th
bivouac of the dead" the old stone WI
carried to Alexandria, to be again II
turned to Government property yar
near the wharf at the foot of SiXt
street. Washington's meridian stor
was not yet done its wanderings.
fence was needed in 1880 for the Il
form School. The letters and figure
on the meridian stone were CROWN
dim, but its size was about right tor
post, and the old iron fences that use
to encircle the Capitol grounds we
sent to surround the bad white IN
black boys Of the District.
MORE OF IT'S wANDERINGs.
The meridian stone went out Wi
the rest of the old material and W
cut down little, whitewashed, a stap
and ring were attached to it, and the
it stands to-day. Perhaps 1t will star
there until there is no need for II
form School in the District of Columbi
NEED OF A LARGE STONE.
1t is possible that the $23 just appr
priated may be intended to bring Il
old stone back to its original positio
1t is to be hoped that no sentiment W
prevail in this matter. The old stol
, would not have been removed if il h;
; been of proper size and had be-
properly guarded. 1t should Il
} now be placed on private ground.
1t should be monument in eve
| sense of the word, and it ought not to
, possible for the next twenty centuries
reduce it to the grade of hitching POI
Let us have meridian stone set II
commensurate with the dignity of t
country. Twenty.three dollars mi
1 "a