The times., 1901-03-17


It almost seems improbable, but meas
urements and Investigations made by Oh
ficials establish the fact that there ia
enough room in the interior of the w ASH
iugton Monument To house an army OIL
l2.ue5 men. II is estimated that the iano-
ings viii accommodate 76l3; the SlalIS'
3S45. the upper and lower platforms sou
and the elevator so men
ON an average, 500 visitors daliy aS''."
70 the ton Of the Monument either oN III.
staircase of 500 steps. or in the elevator
n casts the Government about S-o.wo a
year to take the public up the 5' feet
and down again. after they have had "a
view Of the surrounding country from
the top of the Monument.
An immense iron frame structure sun
norris the machinery Of the elevator.
which is hoisted with steel-wire ropes,
Two inches thick At one side begin the
iron stairs. of which there are htty
fiEhts. each containing eighteen steps.
Five hundred and twenty feet from the
entrance to the Monument at the base OF
The pyramidal top. there is lookout plat
form containing an area of llSil4 square
feet and y windows. IS by - inches. two
on each face
The total height Of the Monument above
ground is 800 feet, SIS inches; or 595 feet.
3 inches above mean low water in the
Potomac: OF $50 feet. 955 inches above the
mean level of the Atlantic at Sandy
Hook. y. y. or J92 feet from its founda-
tion bed. The entire height is slightly
greater than ten times the breadth Of
base The Monument is the highest per
manent structure in the world
THE MATERIAL AND COST
The estimated number Of granite blocks
in the shaft is ., ,eo0, and its total weight
including foundation and earth upon it,
SLIGO tons. The mean pressure Of the
Monument is five tons per square foot.
Ihe total cost of the structure in round
figures amounted to about 81, 5000 The
popular subscription reached the sum of
$@lNVtl, and Congress appropriated the
balance necessary. The foundations Of
the Monument. which bear a weight Of
N,lzG tons, are constructed of solid blue
rock and are 1t6 feet inches square, and
&c feet $ inches deep. The base of the
shaft is 81 feet square, and the lower
walls are i feet thick. At the 500 foot H.
ovation, where the pyramidal top begins,
The walls are only is inches thick. The
inside of the walls, as far as they were
constructed before the work was under
taken by the Government in lSIS-l50 feet
from the base-is of blue granite. not laid
in courses. From this point to within a
short distance OF the beginning of the
top or roof, the inside OF the walls is of
regular courses Of granite, corresponding
with the courses Of marble on the out
side. For the top marble is used eScu-
SlNely. The marble blocks We're cut or
dressed in the most careful manner and
laid in courses Of -et by experienced
and skillful wOrkmen. There is no fill
ing or backing between the granite
and marble blocks. but they are al close
~ Joined. the work being declared the
best piece of masonry in the world. BY
a piumbline suspended from the top of
the Monument inside. not three-eiEhths
OF an inch detection has been noticed.
The keystone, which binds the interior
ribs of stone that support the marble fac
ing Of the pyramidal cap Of the Monu-
ment, weighs nearly five tons
ToPMoST STONE OF THE PYRAMID.
The topmost stone of the pyramidon was
placed in position December G. 1884. 1t
weighs $500 pounds; its height from base
TO top is feet ~ inches; it is feet 5z4
inches high on the outer face, with -
inch shoulder TO bind on each side, eE-
tending leIR inches below; its base Is
feet and a fraction square, and inches
in diameter at the top where the aluml-
mum top fits in. This is 9 inches in height
and ~ inches a the base, and weighing
100 ounces terminates the top stone or
cap. This metal was selected because CT
its lghtness and freedom from oxidation,
and because il viii always remain bright
Altogether, there are inserted at-he Va
Tious landings Of the monument ll5 ne
mortal tablets, g of which were contrib
uted hy States. I by counties, 10 by Tor
eign countries. 20 by cities 80 by societies,
lodges associations military, and other
wise, . by private individuals. 10y an un-
known party, as the inscription IS llicgl-
BILE being deCayed. one OF the stones con-
tributed was a block of African marble
from the Temple Of Concord at Rome. and
was the gift Of the Pope. IL bore the sim
pie inscription. Rome TO America.
In March 1854. during the Know-Noth-
ing excitement. the lapidarium, where the
memorial blocks were kept was fOrcibly
entered. and this stone was taken, and,
il is supposed, was thrown into the Po-
tomac A reward for its return was Of
1ered. but the asOne up TO this date has
not been recovered, and Its hiding place
remains a mystery. The thirteenth plat
fern is at a height Of l52 feet, and IL IS
here where the Government began its
work Of finishing the Monument. This
platform does not contain any memorial
tablets The reason for TINS apparent
oversight cannot be ascertained. IT may
have been the SuperstitiOus belief Of the
builders in the bad omen Of the fatefal
number thirteen which caused them not
10 honor this platform with any Of the
Monuments invaluable autographs.
With the aid Of a little Imagery, one can
trace in the peculiar grain and appar-
entity accidental happy laying Of the mar
blc blocks on the exterior at a height OF
about $50 feet on the east side Of the
Monument. the outlines Of semblance Of
an immense eagle with wings Outstretch-
cd, as II protecting tho landmark Of lib
erty against all danger and evil
MASONRY THOROUGHLY CONSTRUCTED.
The masonry constructed by the Gov
ernment Is the best known 10 the engi-
neering art. and the weight is SO distrib-
uted that. subjected TO wind pressure Of
100 pounds per square foot on any face,
corresponding to a wind velocity Of li5
miles per hour. the Monument would have
a large fatc0T Of safety against Cyerturn-
ing.
In the monoithic columns Of the Capitol,
has a fine grain, is close and compact In
texture free from dislntegratlng impur-
ties. and, in this climate, VIII endure for
ages.
In the proportions Of this, the grandest
monumental column ever erected in any
age Of the world. the ratios Of the di-
mensi0us Of the several parts Of the an
cieut Egyptian obesLk have been carefully
followed.
The cornerstone Of the Monument was
laid July 4. 1875 and on February y, 1855,
iu the presence Of the executive legisla-
tive. and judicial officers Of the Govern
meut. the officers Of the army and navy.
the Marine Corps, and the Volunteers.
the Diplomatic Corps, eminent dlvlnes,
jurists, scientists and Journalists, ven
erau0us, the National Monument Society
and the Masonic fraternity, the Washing
ton Monument was dedicated.
TO HOLD THE NILE WATERS.
Extending the Assuan Dam "A Greut