Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-22

structed to the height Of the head dress of
the statue as she now stands and working
In this was q sliding derrick. BY means of
this the heavy masses Of metal were car
ried above the dome and placed In position.
The statue, which u nineteen feet six inches
IN height. and weighs fourteen thousand
nine hundred and eighty five pounds. is in
nve sections. which were raised one at
time.
Saluted With Artillery.
The head and shoulders were placed In po-
sttioD with great ceremony on the second
Of December. 1853 Special order No. 24s Of
the War Department was issued by COM
mand Of Gen. Augur on the first Of that
month. directing that:
At II m, on the I'd instant. the statue Of
Freedom, which crowns the dome on the
national Capitol. will be inaugurated. In
commemoration Of the event and as an ex-
preston due from this department Of res
pect Tor the material symbol of the prIn-
cipai upon which our government Il based.
1t Is ordered:
First. at the moment at which a flag Is
displayed from the statue. a national salute
Of thirty guns will be fired from a Acid
battery on Capitol Hill
Second. the last gun from this salu-e will
De answered by similar salute from Fort
stanton, which will be followed In success
son. from right to left. by salutes from
Forts Davis. Mahan. Lincoln, Bunker HILL
Totten, De Russy. Reno Cameron, Corco-
ran. Albany and Scott.
architect Of the Capitol says Of this event:
PRECISELY at IL m. on the aforesaid I'd
day OF December. 1853. the browning feature
or the statue was started from the ground
IN front Of the Capitol. by means Of a steam
hosting apparatus. which has been success
fully used In the construction of the entire
dome. and In twenty minutes II reached the
height Of 300 feet. when 1t was moved to its
place. and firmly attached to the remaining
portion OF the figure; as soon as II was
properly adjusted the American flag was
lnffrPlod nv haod and thA Il
salute was fired. In accordance with the
foregoing program Of Cen Augur.
The effect was thrilling. and grateful to
every loyal heart
How IL Was Accumulated
This raising Of the statue to its place on
u dome was accomplished without acct
dent Of any sort. 1t occurred just In the
midst Of war times. when patriotic feeling
was aroused to the point Of great excite
ment. which added to the impressiveness
Of the occasion.
The figure was placed with face toward
which the building was built to face though
the city has built up chiefly toward the
west When the construction of the build
ing was begun 1t was expected that the
principal part Of the city would be on the
high grounds to the east. On account Of
the high prices at which lands were held
In that section. however. and because
moreover, there seems to be a tendency in
human nature to move toward the setting
sun, the growth Of the city set In the west
ern direction, and soon 1t was found that
most OF the Inhabitants had back view Of
the Capitol. Now the city Is built I'D In all
directions and the popularity of the situa-
ton OF the building is not as conspicuous
Moreover, the west front has been beauti-
ned by the construction Of the new terrace
which Is a striking feature OF the building
taking away from that part of the building
the idea of being back door. Yet the east
'front.' Is still the most imposing, and for all
time Freedom will look into the face of the
rising sun without a blink of her bronze
eye There has been some talk Of turning
her around. but this would be an expen-
sive and difficult task, and since the city
mas grown eastward as well as westward
an attempt to make a change in her posi-
ton would probably be very earnestly re-
sisted.
This statue stands as firmly as the rock
rioted hills On the inside from the head
TO the foot there Is a perfect mass of bolts
ana IRON bars and braces extending down
INTO the dome and bolted fast Nothing can
shake the figure. Many a mighty gale has
howied about her. Her head has been in
the thunder clouds, and the lightn,ng's
shafts have shattered on her brow with a
crash sounding through every arch and
scnoins wall Of the vast building