Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-02
THE RAVAGES OF TIME
MT. VERNON WALLS CRUMBLIN0
INTO DUST.
The Authorities Apply a Process
Which, It is Claimed, Will
Arrest Decay.

Time, the destroyer, has laid its heavy
hand on old Mt. Vernon, and its sand
stone walls and foundations. are crumb-
ling away. For several years this decay
has been noticed but 1t was regarded as
so slight as to need no particular atten-
ton. Within the last six months, how
ever, the unusually wet weather has hast
ened the process of decay and steps are
to be taken that will, it is believed, arrest.
for time, If not entirely prevent. any
further disintegration of the stone. At the
old tomb, where the bodies Of General and
Mrs Washington rested until they were re-
moved to the new tomb about thirty-five
years ago. and in the foundations under
the mansion, the stone has become SO soft
that 1t crumbles to the touch of knife
blade, and with a finger nail one can.
without difficulty scrape a hole in the sur
face Of the stone.
The outside corner stone of the building
laid over two centuries ago by the Wash
ington family. and on which the Masonic
emblem was deeply cut. has so far disin-
tegrated. that the emblem has almost en-
tirely disappeared. The disintegration was
upon the surface presented to the air, the
other surfaces being yet firm and hard.
About a month ago Mr.. H. H. Dodge, super
intendent Of the old mansion. had the stone
removed and will have the decayfng surface
cleaned off and the emblem recut on it.
This will not alter the shape of the stone
except to make it thinner on rs broadcast
side. When 1t is replaced on the founda-
ton. no change will be noticed in it.
The decay of the old tomb and founda-
lions of the mansion. are a matter of the
greatest concern. and Superintendent Dodge
has arranged with the Nicollte Manufacture
ing Company of this city to use its prepara-
ton on the stone 1t Is claimed that stone
treated with this process Is made imper-
vious to dampness. and that it will arrest
the process of disfntegratfon and make the
sandstone hard and Arm as granite. Sec
rotary F. g. Hardesty Of the Nfcolite com
pany has guaranteed his process will
decay for thirty years. and. he bciieN
It's effect will last for a hundred years
Part Of Wall Treated.
Mr.. J. r. L. Hardesty, superintendent of
the company, with force of men yesterday
treated about 100 square feet of the founda-
ton walls in the cellar under the old man
sion. The walls were first thoroughly dried
out by use of gasoline torches. then the
nicolite was applied and driven into the
pores of the stone with a further applfca-
ton Of heat. When the walls were cooled
Off il was found, it is said, that while the
stone could be crumbIed by the fingers be-
fore treating, a knife blade made no I'M
preston on them when the process was
finished.
The officials directed that the process be
applied to the entire foundation and to the
old tomb on the brow of the hill overlook
ing the river Workmen are engaged in
pointing up the crevices in the stones Of
the old tomb with cement, and as soon as
this work is completed which will be
sometime next week, the nicolite will be
applied both inside the tomb and on it's
outside surface. The corner stone, which
Is now being recut at Mt. Vernon, will also
be given a bath in the composition next
week, and will be put back into position.
The work Of treating the foundation OF
the old mansion will not be completed until
after the fires are started in the mansion
to dry out the walls.
A process of treating stone, wood and the
like while new in this country has, 1t Is
stated been in use in England for many
years and has been a success there. 1t is
believed that the process will save the old
walls at Mt. Vernon. but should it prove
to be failure it will be necessary to tear
all the old stone work out and rebuild the
walls with a harder stone.