Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-20
WAsHINGTON's BIRTHPLACE.
Progress of the Work in Erecting n
Monument.
washington star)

CIV dSniuStOh Cldi.)
Mr.. Crawford, the Buffalo sculptor who
has the contract for erecting a granite
monument at the birthplace Of Washing
ton, Wakefield, Westmoreland county,
Va, has informed Colonel Wilson. the
engineer officer in charge Of public build
ings and grounds, that he expects 10 have
the stones 10 form the pedestal and
column at the site In about ten days or
two weeks. These huge blocks OF granite
were tOWCd 10 Wakefield from this city
on nayy-yard barges, and temporary
wharf had 10 bee built for their disem-
barkatlOn. The monument IS IN i've sec
tons, including the shaft pllnth, two
square-h.se blocks, and die-o.ock. Al
tog Their they weigh 1900 pounds.
The monolthc-shaft is the largest single
stone. Il is Al Il feet high, and weighs
$500 pounds. The total height OF the
monument will be 81 feet. Each section
has been hewn from carefully elected
granite. quarried at Barre. VI. The
monolith is one OF the largest single
pieces Of granite ever quarrled IN this
country.
trusted by Congress TO the Secretary OF
state. ana by Inat omclai was placed IN
the hands of Colonel wilson, by whom the
present contract was entered into Mlth
Crawford * Son, Of Buffalo. Colonel VIII
son has selected as the site for the mOnu-
ment the site OF the old homestead where
Washington was born. The house - en-
tirely dismantled, and nothing but p0r-
tons of the foundatiOn-walls remain 10
mark IT'S location. The monument VIII
be erected directly over the ruins. It's
Dase VIII nearly equal the area OF the
ancient building. Mr.. Stewart, of Colonel
Wilson'S office. surveyed the ground last
week ana marked OF the lines or the
monument 1t Will stand on square
meeting the four points Of the compass,
To nd lra "a
bearing the simple inscriptions. Birth
place OF Washington" and Erected by the
United States"
Although the site Is some distance back
from the river the monument VIII be IN
plain view Of passing steamers sIhis Is
the main reason for having IL face IN
tnat direction. II Is proposed 10 convert
the land around il into a park, and other
wise make II attractive 10 visitors. \
wharf has already been built out in the
river. when Is quite shallow at this point,
so as 10 facilitate the landing Of pdssen-
gers ana freight.
Great difficulty is being encountered in
taking the stone sections from the river
bank 10 the site. The worst OF the work
is over, however. now that the blum near
the river has been crossed. The con-
tractor says he VIII have all the stones
no position m few days. NOl0ncl wilson
has sent one OF his best men down 10
Wakefield to supervise the work OF erect
ing the monument. This is Mr.. Stubs.
the same man who supervi- a the erection
Of the pedestal for the Hancock statue.
az the corner Of Pennsylvania avenue
and Seventh street. He is now on the
ground. Nnen the stones are at the site
no difficulty Is anticipated I'm putting them
IN place Colonel Wilson expects 10 make
a visit 10 Wakefield next week, In order
10 satisfy himself as 20 the faithful eXecu-
ton OF the contract.
When the monument Is erected he Will
report the tact 10 the Secretary OF state,
and il will be for that official 70 say
whether any ceremonies shall mark the
event.
Colonel Wilson IS now endeayoring 70
have Congress authorize the employment
Of. a Waterman 20 look after the monu-
ment and guard Il against the attack Of
the Unsuitable relic-hunter That such a
provision Is necessary Is clearly shown
by the history of a memCrial-Stone placed
over the same SPOT by Wasfa gt0n' =
adopted son. George Washingto vparke
Custis I'his stone. which was intended
TO mark the birthplace OF Washington.
was Clipped into small pieces by relic
hunters. until now not a Yestige Of il ro-
mains TO tell its story. Inasmuch as Con-
gress has authorized the erection Of a
monument 10 mark the spot where Wash
ngton was born, II would not appear IN
ADVISABLE that IL should make some pro-
vision for the protection OF the mOnu-
ment. as otherwise its purpose Will fan
Of fuifilment.