Morris tribune., 1897-09-15

L = ~ g AuAANOA ~ O@A5 oSASA-stAASS -
designations have been regularly con-
Quoted by the government which
prove conclusively the effects of heat
and cold on marble structures. This
| investigation has been carried on in
the Washington monument, The
monument stands on a slight emf
nence in the middle of a plain. 1t is
wholly unprotected from the ele-
ments. When the monument was
erected the investigation of its vibra-
ton was begun, a cord and plummet
being suspended from the top of the
structure, with needle to make the
record of any movement. One day
it was reported that the monument
was about to fall. The needle had
made number of eccentric varia-.
lions and was stillmoving about when
the observation was taken. Investi-
cation showed that an owl had got
ten into the shaft and Tapping about,
had caused the vibration of the cord.
The needle under normal conditions,
however, showed movement of the
shaft, and observations made since
its completion confirm this record.
There is cord hanging from the top
of the monument protected by metal
tube. At one end of this cord is fas-
tened pendulum which hangs in a
bowl of mercury. The pendulum
moves with the movement of the
column, but it cannot oscillate. The
record of the pendulum is taken
every day. 1t shows that the top of
the marble column, sos feet high,
moves four inches to the north on
very hot, clear day. At night the
monument returns to the perpendicu-
lar. The extraordinary power of the
suns heat is we'll illustrated by its
effect on the monument. The marble
column weighs 81,720 tons.
Scientists say that the monument
is not Injured in the least by its 'lit-
tie journey in the world" but this is
due to the fact that it is built Of many
pieces, of marble The obelisk in
Central Park, New York City, which
is single block of stone, deviates
more than the Washington monu-
ment. The Bunker Hill monument
at Boston, which is only half as tall
as the Washington monument, moves
about two inches from the perpen-
dicular.
Iron buildings are effected no less
than marble The dome of the cap
itol at Washington moves from the
south and west, away from the sum-
mer heat.
Nothing but burly policeman,
with good stout club, standing close
guard night and day over the Mar
quette statue in statuary hall at the
capitol could prevent the vandalism
which is continually occurring there.
So far no one has taken a hammer
and knocked off the nose, the beads.
or the prayerbook, but the poor bronze
Indian which stands out in bold re-
lief on the base of the statue, has
suffered. extensively, Each one of
these Indian figures wole, when the
statue was received in Washington, a
beautiful headdress of Indian feath-
ers, each one having from two to
eight feathers. Only two Of these
Indians have any feathers left now,
and one of these have only one re-
All the rest have either
been pulled out or broken off blythe
relic hunters, both from home and
abroad When the feathers are all
gone there are one or two spears,
which will be stolen next, and after
that the heads and arms of the In
dians themselves will begin to suffer.
Inasmuch as a bill is pending be-
fore the Wisconsin legislature at the
present time 70 take back this statue
Of Father Marquette, in view of the
III grace with which it was received
at the National capitol, it would be
to know whether Wiscon- I
sin will not expect the United States
to return the statue in as perfect or
Ter as it received it. :
There is no truth in the reports
hat an extra session of congress
would be called to consider the rati-
ication of Hawaiian annexation
reaty. Officials of the state depart
nent state this positively, but tho
unwilling to discuss the subject, they
ydmit that there is no reason to doubt ]
VIZ