Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-11-19
NEW VOL. 32.--NO. 5.
The Washington Monument.


ter of debatable interest with WASH
ington people Not train approaches
the city, or boat speeds up or down
the Potomac, but carries group Of
people anxious to see at just what point
they can last see the white marble
against the sky as they depart or first
find It as they return.
Probably the greatest distance at
which the monument is seen is from
the summit Of the Blue Ridge at Snick-
er's Gap, distance of about fcIty-
three miles in an air line. The eleva-
ton there Is 1000 feet above the
Potomac. The mountaineers years
ago, with their keen eyes trained to
long and sharp sight IN the mountains,
detected the white spot cleaning on
the horizon, and they can always quick
ly determine its place on the horizon
line. But 10 city fvlkr, ho"~e-s', th~
location Of the white shaft ia not an
easy matter. Thousands Of Washing
ton people every summer invade that
region as summer boarders, to subsis'
on fresh milk and fried chicken, and
incidentally in their excursions up on
the mountain to get sight OF the
monument On clear days II is dis
tinctly visible, especially to those who
are familiar with Its precise location
| But it Is more easily seen at sunset
than at any other hour, as the sharp
reflection of the sun $ rays brings ont
the white surface Of the marble.
one of the most singular stories that
may be told about the Washington
monument is hardly credible, vet 1t
can be youchci Cor as perfectly true.
/ There are hundreds of ladies' in Wash
iugton who wear upon their hats the
plumage or tn. entire skin Of bird
which has lost It's life flying against
the tall mass of marble in the dimuess
of twilight or daybrcak. Every Morn
ing one of the wotchmen who spends
the night in the monument finds about
ITS base quite a number Of birds who
have lost their lives IN this way. This
mortality is not limited TO any one spc-
cies. but includes nearly all the birds
known in this region. Strange 10 say
few English sparrow, have lost their
lives by flying against the monument,
but the beautiful golden hnches cedar
birds, siarlings tanagcrs, grossbeaks
and many others Of bright plumage
and great rarity have been found. The
watchman takes these birds up town to
a taxIdcrmist, who stuiis and mounts
the rarer specimens, which are sold for
good round price to collectors, and
the skins Of those less rare are pre-
pared for the milIiner Hardly
morning comes that there are less than
a score Of dead birds about the base Of
the shaft
Another queer thing to know about
the monument is that its height aud
width vary. 1t is taller in summer
than in winter, and IN the latter season
it.. width on the south side il about an
inch greater than on the north, east
or west side. Thiai due to expansion
under the heat Of the sun IL rays This
phenomenon was determined by Cap
tam Green during the erection Of the
shaft. Plumb lines were hung at each
corner Of the marble wall, and the
plumb "bobs, or plummets, were rus-
pended IN pots Of glycerine and mo-
lasses Across the top Of each pot was
laid finely graduated steel bar, and
three times a day an army engineer
! took oil the registration thus made
Of the expansion Of the walls. 1t was
! held that the Plummets moved precise
ly with the points at which the plumb
, lines were attached TO the top Of the
shaft, and the glycerine held them
! firmly without vibration or oscillation,
50 that the officer could note any
change Of position. All these registra.
tions, twice a day every day Of the
-, year, were recorded in book during
the seven years that were occupied in
! finishing the monument Warrington
4 Star.