West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-03-05

presses hope that Next Winner
will be from Preston
/ Thinking perhaps, the boys OF Preston
county would be interested in knowing
something of the most interesting things
TO be seen in n trip to the National Capt.
tol, il gives me pleasure TO write brief
history of our trip, We started on De-
cember, 18th, in company with two other
boys, one the winner of the state prize,
and the other the winner of the prize
offered 10y the congressman from the
Third congressional district. We had as
guide, Prof. VIM. Kcndrick. state agent
in charge OF the boys and girls corn club
, work in West Virginia. We arrived in
Washington the same evening, and regis.
tered at a fine hotel, and after breakfast
the following morning was ready 30 see
the sights of the city,
The first place we visited was Washing
ton Monument. This il magnificent
monument erected by the American
people in honorof OF George Washington.
IL stands on the bank of the Potomac
river. The corner stone was laid 10y
President Polk July, 4th, lSiS, and the
monument was completed in 1891. The
base of the monument IL about 50 feet
square and the walls are very thick At
the 500 foot mark where the pyramidal
top begins, the shaft is % feet square
and alb )ut feet thick. Tho monument
is made of blocks of marble two feet thick
and IL is SAID there are over $4,000 of
them. Each state contributed block
and the one contributed 10y West Virgi-
nia is placed more than 400 feet above
the ground. The total height OF the
monument is 555 feet. In the center is
the elevator which IL hoisted with steel
ropes two inches thick. At one side be-
gins the stairs OF which there are 80
| flights, containing Is steps each Five
hundred and twenty feet from the base
there are eight windows, two on each
face, and 10y looking out one has fine
view of the city and the surrounding
country. The Washington Monument il
the highest monument in the world and
cost about 81, 100000.
From there we went to the Bureau of
Printing and Engraving where the green
backs and other certificates are made
which we prize so highly, and also
postage stamps. We hear the rattle of
machinery as we enter the door, and
the guide takes us through room after
room IN which behind walls OF iron lattice
work, scores OF men and women are busy
printing bank notes. The women wear
aprons over their dresses, and the men
have their shirt sleeves rolled up to their
shoulders, The printing il dirty work
and every one in the press room Is spotted
cutting out Of steel fine pictures such az
you see upon bank notes.
How carefully every thing is guarded
We met watchmen "very where and
there are steel vaults where the plates
for making the bank notes are stored at
night Not one of the employees can
leave the building until all notes on
hand have been counted, and every sheet
OF paper and every printing plate is
known 10 be in its place. This IL TO
prevent counterieiters from stealing the
plates and paper and making money for
themselves. As we 20 through the de.
partment we get some idea Of the wealth
OF our nation by seeing the bank notes
required for It's business Notes repre-
senting millions Of dollars are printed
here each day. There are scores Of
women who do nothing but count bank
notes. Their fingers go like lightning,
and they count the bills at the rate Of
hundred a minute.
In the afternoon we went 10 Airing
ton and the Fort Myer dri. This
was one of the most interesting trips
during our stay in Washington. After
watchin the soldiers drill for about an
hour, we visited Fort Myer, passing
through large National cemetery we
saw one monument representing 22,l11
unknown dead. These soldiers fell dur
ing the Civil War, and while they sleep
| in an unknown grave, We should ever
remember them az heroes who gave
theis lives 30 preserve the Union which
we 20 much honor and revere That
evening We went to the Congressional
Library.
The present building occupied by the
Congressional Library was erected in
! 1897 at a cost Of over 100000. The
building occupies three and three-quarter
acres upon a site 10 acres in area. II
| is the largest and most magnificent library
building in the world The floor space
is 326 l0j square feet or about acres
The book stacks contains about 10 miles
Of shelving, aGording space for about
10000 volumes Were the long corri-
dors, now used in part for exhibition
| purposes, completely shelvcd, the build
ing would accommodate about 5000. 900
| volumes.
The next morning we received our
diplomas from Secretary Houston. This
we prize most highly, being a tribute 10
us Tor our success az corn growers. In
the afternoon we went 20 the T.. S.
Treasury building This building is con.
structed Of granite and cost about SO. 600.
900. There are in all about 2OO rooms
including the cash room. whicn IL finish
ed in marble and occupies two stories.
All money manufactured and all money