The evening world., 1894-01-09
ARCH IS CRACKING.
The Beautiful Washington Me-
mortal Shows Signs of Decay,
Startling Discovery Made by a
Park Foreman To-Day.
Ink Spots Have Changed to a
Dainty Pink.

The crimson ink spots which have
marrei the beauty Of the Washington
arch. are very slowly but surely disap-
pearing.
Foreman G.. \. Johnson. Of the Park
Department, and half a dozen chemists,
made a thorough examination of the
stains this morning. and concluded that
the task of removing them by any
process Of rubbing was altogether use
less.
The solution prepared by Mr.. David y.
Carvalho. the well known photographic
expert, did all that 1t was expected to
do yesterd. y, and would have cont
pletely removed the red spots If they had
been merely superficial.
The examination made by the chemists
this morning revealed the fact that the
ink had saturated the stone TO a depth
of one-eighth of an inch. so that the
only way the stains could be made to
Immediately disappear would be to cut
just that much of the stone. AZ it t..
the deep red color has disappeared, and
in its place are strcaks and spatterings
of a dainty pink.
II" examination of the stone this
morning developed something of more
Importance to the benut" of the arch.
Ryland Stewart. Treasurer Of the Arch
Fund, and one of it's heaviest cOntribu-
tors. was present.
Foreman Johnson discovered that the
has" of the arch and It's second course
or layer were already showing signs of
decay. The stone In many places is
cracked to such an extent az to cause
fear for the safety of the arch.
ON the west wall from the top of the
pedestal that is mouutcd on the second
In Npr of tho hn GO nrp nnmpTnIlE CIlttg
some OF which are from nine to twenty
-four and thirty inches long. The cracks
are not of an ordinary character or Of
the kind which needs close looking to
be discovered.
They were visihly opened and in a few
instances are what might be called
directions. generally, from the tor, to-
ing the grain Of the stone.
And here and there peculiar circum-
stances in connection with this stone
arises. 1t is now plain that nearly every
stone in the arch has a peculiar grain
which has been made visible to the eye
by the action of the weather.
This Is the very thing which the
Committee and builder wanted to avoid
In selecting the stone. for as it wears
with time. SO will wear away the beauty
of the arch'S appearance.
The most alarming fact in connection
with the present condition of this marble
Ornapent is. that its magnificent front.
facing dNtTltS pace, IL tIdChtu mere
and there from tou to bottom.
on the north wall are several large
splits. some of which measure thirty-SiN
inches. and running zlg-zag through
At the base of the heavy stone resting
on the main layer at the north side, and
on which the right column Of tn" arch
stands. there is "A wide crack which looks
worse than any of the others.
Ryland Stewart was simply dumb
founded when his attention was called
to these cracks on all sides.
Foreman Johnson didn't hesitate to say
that the stone was bad. II was evident.
he said. that the stone was not the best
that could be found, although I was
and put IN. 1t was tho effct of the
weather that now brought the fact to
light.
Foreman johnson was positive in his
statement that 1t was not by settling
that the cracks We're caused. The
foundation was too solid for that. and
besides the manner in which the stones
We're placed would not permit of set
fling.
ut may be a few years before any Sc
rious damage befalls the structure, and
II may not Mr.. Johnson added.
'Bu the fact remains" said he, that
when heavy rain falls or heavy settles
on the stones IL is bound to ruin the
arch. The splits will open when the
water continually enters, and may work
the ina ruin Of the structure much
sooner than is expected.
d II. King, H.. who was the builder
Of the arch, was not at his offices In the
Mills Building when an Evening World"
reporter called.
Two policemen are guarding the arch
to-day from the ravaErH Of the numer-
Gus cranks who lOckei there this morn
ing to try and remove the ink stains
with all kinds Of compounds invented by
themselves.
Two young men from Brooklyn nearly
wore their arms off rubbing on n single
stain for over on hour. -,
The chemists say that the stains will
wear OFF in time.