The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-07
MOn0litllic Memorial of the
COuntry's Father.
NEW FACTS BROUGHT TO LIGHT
The Tedious History Of It's Construction
Feathery Aluminium Crowns Its Tower
ing BuIk-An Army of IL, 600 Could BE
slowed Away Inside Its Walls-District
Subscriptions and Memorial Tablets
Ccoprrlrht. lsss br Rudolph De zarul

Copyright 1889 By Rudolph De ZzppJ
The Continental Congress, on the 1th
day or August, A. D. l72, unanimously
resolved Uen States being present.:
That an equestrian statue OF Gen.
Washington be erected at the place where
the residence Of Congress shall be estab-
lished In honor of George Washing
ton, the illustrious commander-in-chiefo Of
the Armies of the United States of
America during the war which INDICATED
and secured their liberty. sovereignty. and
independence"
At Washington's death Joint committee
OF both houses of Congress was appoint
ed TO deliberate oyer and establish proper
ways, means, and methods Of honoriLg
ms memory. The following resolution
was passed by Congress IN the 18th day
OF December, 1893:
That marble monument be erected by
the United States at the city of Washing
ton, and that the family of George Wash
lngton be requested to permit his body
10 be deposited under it, and that the
monument be so designed as 10 cOmmem-
CRATE the great events OF his military and
political life"
Although never executed bv Congress
above resolutions were the germ and seed
from which sprung thai mighty marble
monolith, and which, after one hundred
years OF deliberations and laboriOus and
spasnodIc growth, was dedicated 10 the
memory Of The Father of His Country. -
ihese acts Of Congress were merely the
airy seed, 1t is true, the planting and cuhi-
Natlon OF which was mainly due to the
cares OF an association formed by a num-
Der or Washington citizens in the year
ls55. This association was organized Tor
the purpose of erecting a national mOnu-
ment 10 the memory of Washington, at
the seat OF the Federal government The
cost or the monument in round numbers
amounted TO about one and half million
collars Of this amount, the populq- sub
scrlpuon reached the sum Of S}1J,1O0 and
congress appropriated the balance The
indifference and iukewarmlesS Of the pCO-
PIE ana Congress, and the painful absence
OF proper and due manifestation of patr:-
Ouc and popular interest Turing the course
OF erection of the monument, evidenced IT.
sell IN the appeals OF the commission TO
congress and the people alike for funds
Wherewith to carry out a nations duty
remaining unheeded, or receiving very lit
tie marked attention. This apparent lack
OF patriotic spirit and enthusiasm DELAYED
the completion of the monument fer near
~ forty years. It's cornerstone was laid
on the Fourth Day of July, 1913, and its
dedication was celebrated on the DIST day
OF February. 1885. The same deplorable
symptoms of carelessness are being GiS-
played again to-day; they evidence them
selves IN the absence of proper and effec-
tive measures and safeguards f0r the pro-
lection and preservation OF our national
monument, or at least those parts thereof
which were contributed by States, cities,
counties, societies, foreign nations, &c, as
tributes to the illustrious great dead in the
shape of memorial stones and tablets,
against the Decorating hand of the van
dal, the inclemencies of the weather, the
devastations of natural decay, and un-
cleanliness.