The Cairo bulletin., 1906-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER


| ripus year Of its history, More than
$4,000 have visited the great white
shaft. OF which number 1l0,96S were
taken up in tho big elevator while
34.3G2 made the trip ON foot.
Included in this number were persons
| from all nations on the earth. Sight
scers from Europe, Asia. Africa and
South America, as well as citizens of
/ This country, We're among them,
/ The largest number of slghtseers in
| ANY one month was in March, when
! by the inauguration exercises, visited
| the monument In January, owing to
repairs being made on the elevator,
there were but 2,293 passengers carried
10 the top The average number Of
monthly visitors for the year was II l0J
View From the Monument.
No point of interest in Washington
attracts more slghtsccrs each year than
the monument From Il, windows
at the top the visitor can get perfect
view of the topography Of the surround
ing country 70 the west on clear days
The vague outlines of the Blue Ridge
mountains may be seen. while 10 the
north person with good eyes can see
thc faint Silhouette Of the Alloghanies.
Sugar l.oal mountain and the peak
near Hnlpcrs Ferry are the most easily
discernibe Looking 10 the south one
secs the historic Potomac, with its nu
mcrouS winnings, and, set in a plat Of
trees. Mount Vernon appears 10 be only
4 stones throw away.
Beautifully Carved stoned.
Among the most interesting sights in
the monument are the liz memorial
stones that are placed at the different
landings in the interior Besides he
beautifully carved stones set there by
the several states and territories and
private organizations there are stones
from many foreign nations, all suitably !
inscribed with the name Of the donor.
The monument. though begun in !
1SlS, was not thrown open TO the pub
lie until in the fall OF 1883, II measures !
from he base to the pinnacle 555 feet.
At the base it is - feet square on the |
outside ana - feet in the interior The |
foundation is IS feet deep and meas |
meS 12i feet square. The thickness of |
the walls tapers from Is feet at the
base to Is inches at the pinnacle.
The ffce OF the monument 10 made |
Of Maryland marble On the inside
bluestoue is used for the first $50 feet,
the rest being granite. The total cost
OF the shaft was S1,300,0GO
Unpleasant Ghosts From the Past.
Unpleasant ghosts of the dead and
thought to be buried past are rising -
certain residents OF Washing
ton. 10 lie great glee OF persons OF
spirit who hate a .swolled
head" An enterprsing real estate
man has discovered n directory Of
about sixty years ago and intends 10
reprint ,t as Il curiosity This directo-
~ goes more deeply into details than
such books do today. Not content with
.he statement tllat So-and-so is Il cob
bier and So-and-so Il carpenter. it tells
what every citizen owns and the style
u bs house. There are social leaders
Ia WASHINGTON uh0 have been active
Ia Keeping so called ntrudcfs out Of
he swim. and they are anguish2d at
hc thought this old directory proclaims
heir IrmQsires were bIacksui,h5 Or
mail hqcJr dealers some parents
yhosr daughters have found husbands
II high places are IA wee al the i'm
pending revelations on The other
land, folk who don't take the capitals
at It's own valuation of
tself are ticklcd ut the prospect,
Historical Documents.
A collection Of historical American
documents, said TO be one Of the most
Ntcusive and interesting ever assem-
led was recently on exhibition al The
congressional library. The collection
vas gathered for the benefit Of the
members OF the American Historical
ssocation, which met the other after
oou in The library.
In the collection are documents that
ave furnished inspiration 10 many
Of patriots. The earliest
ccord Of American history on view IS
be- Columbus CodeX." q grant Civ
u by The sovereigns Of Spain TO Chris
ophcr Columbus ia 1885. There are
lso Virginia records OF The seven
zenith century. aud three eases are
He'd with lie history Of colonial times |
Time Clocks For Printers.
Time clocks are 20 be placed in the |
oycrument printing office. The new 1
ubllc printer Mr.. Sullings. has de- !
Idcd that there is too much absentee
~ among the 1000 employees of the {
* print shop and that it must cease.
IT, asked Comptroller Tracewell If he
ad the authority to control the timc Of
IS employees by putting in the clocks. !
nd The comptroller decided that he !
)uld do so if he desired
BY an act Of congress the use of re
1rding clocss is prohibited in all Of the 9
Xecutive departments in Washington.
nj since Feb. a. 1899. when r'is law
as passed. no such system has been IN
zistcncc in any Of the branches Of gov J
nmcnt service.
The comptroller says that the govern
lent printing office is not included in Y
ny executive department and that I
- act OF congress prohihiting the pur
lISe aua use Of recording clocks does