New-York tribune., 1902-08-09
PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC EYE

If there IS a man in the world who might restors
the piaciGity Of Venice. which has been dis
turbed by the fan Of the CampaniIe and the pre-
caTious condition of its other famous types Of
architecture. he IS the new American major gen
eral who is shortly TO relieve Chafee Of the Philip
pine command For II George W. Davis whd
saved the Washington monument from destruction.
and, by the application OF his ingenuity. solved
fundamental problems In his unique orfhand
ner that had baf1ed the highest engineering skill
OF modern times. After the great shaft TO the
Father of His Country had risen slowly 70 the
height of 1S7 feet and rested there like rough
factory chimney, unfinished syesore for twenty
years. Congress determined TO complete it. and
gave the JOB 10 the army. Built on
the edge OF the Potomac marsh, as IN
stable the soil OF the Queen OF the Adriatic.
the shaft had already leaned five feet out OF
plumb. and nobody could be found II straight
and insure its permanent stability until Davis.
lately a quartermaster. then infantry captain.
volunteered TO lift the hundreds Of tons of masonry
back to the perpendicular and build under 1t a
foundation that would permit the lifting of It's top
the highest point attained by monument
erected by man. To hold the soft earth IN place
he built huge barrel a hundred feet in diameter
around the base and drove it deep in the earth
below the tidal level He bound together the IN
closed with piles and braces. weighing IT all
down with stones and concrete. until he had Sc
cured stability that would endure forever Then
he wedged up the monument and put an everlasting
over TO the engineers under Colonel Casey. who who
eventually set the capstone 90 feet above tle
moved hairs breadth. and frequent inspec9on
demonstrates how wonderfully Davis planned bur
perhaps il would be as well for the Venetians TO
come 70 Washington and study his triumph
The Rev. DR. Charles Tyler OImsted. vicar Of
St. Agnes's Chapel. Trinity Parish who will soon
be consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of Central New
York has long been regarded as the logical sue
cessor OF Bishop Huntington, of that diocese The
term logical successor is from the poIticai
vernacuIar. but 1t Is not altogether malapropos.
for politics sometimes creeps into the election or
bishops. DR.. Omsted long prominent as
presbyter In the diocese which he will one day
preside He was for years rector OF Grace Church.
Utica, regarded (next to Trinity, Watertown. KOS
well P Flowers church, as the most desiraols
parish in the diocese He represented Central New
York in several general conventions. and held
numerous other places Of high trust and influence.
His brethren naturally turned TO him for episcopaI
timber especially since to his prominence in Cen
trai New-York had been added the prestige OF a
high position in the historic parish or TRINITY VIEW"
The donnfns OF the nnicre means a financial sac
riice to Dr. oImsted. but. he Is a man Of inds,
The Right Rev. Dr. Frederic Dan Huntington.
will eventually succeed is TO the very day Jne az
OF the late Queen Victoria ne Is @ one 5rSnnary T Of
scholarship It used TO De sad tha{ LEE 1es Wers
toxeI Wt,Iisn5s and Huntington. Dr Coke. Of west
ern New-York and DR.. Williams. of Connecu1SSI'
have both died within the last nxe SesrSS nS Al. a
clergyman OF that denomination was resident
preacher and professor Of Christian morals alsag1zsd az
works 10 the theological literature of the day ne
was rector OF Emmanuel Church. Boston WE
ader IN IN the the Circles 0s 1s
Athens.