Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-08
WASHINGTON MONUMENT
By Frederic ]. Haskin
[Continued from Editorial Page ]

stately finger OF washington, from
a distance and across open spaces, is
ever changing. People who have lived
In sight of it all their lives, each day
find some new framing for it or some
new effect OF light and cloud.
The movement to erect a monument
to George Washington began the day
after he was buried in 1893. A COM
mittee was appointed by Congress to
start the work, and it was intended
that the monument should also be-
come the tomb of the premier patriot.
President Adams wrote Martha Wash
ington about removing the body to
such a tomb. and received her con-
sent to the proposal. However, the
brothers of Washington later refused
the request on the ground that the
First President had specifically stated
in his will his desire as to where his
remains should rest. So the idea of
abandoned.
Later there was much agitation for
proceeding with the construction of
the monument, but no funds were
available. Then the Washington Ma
tional Monument Society was formed
and proceeded to collect 100000 by
popular subscription. This sum was
not secured until 1S4S. The corner
stone was laid that year, and it con-
tains the documents and publications
OF the period, which set forth the rec
ord of events leading to the construc-
ton.
The work proceeded until 1854. by
which time the shaft had gained the
height of 154 feet. Then the available
money was exhausted and the work
was stopped. The monument stood
in this uncompleted condition for "a
years. Congress then made necessary
appropriations and the work went
steadily forward until it was finished
in 1884. 1t was dedicated early the
next year.
The whole cost of the monument
was s1,1S7,710. It was more money
than had ever been spent for a monu-
United States government is preparing
to surpass this record by building a
memorial to Lincoln which is to cost
1000 900. 1t will be located on the
bank of the Potomac about a quarter
of a mile from the Washington Monu-
ment.
Many Memorial Stones
The people who come to see this
great shaft find particular interest in
the memorial stones which we're pre-
sented by various States, foreign ma
tions, societies and individuals. Some
of them are curious. China, for in
stance, pays her tribute to Washing
ton in the characters of her own lam
guage and admits that he was greater
than Tsau-Tsau or Lin Pi. The
Franklin Fire Company of Washing
ton gave a tablet. and so did Timothy
O'Neale who owned a quarry. The
Sons of Temperance and the odd Fell
lows vie with far-away Siam and the
island of Paros in the Grecian Archi-
pelago. These tablets line the inter
ior and mount about halfway to the
top.
The view that is offered from the
little windows in the capstone is un-
equaled for beauty and impressiveness.
To the north is the panorama of the
White House grounds. with that
stately colonial mansion in the dis
tance. 1t is f1anked on one side by
the Greek pillared Treasury, and on
the other by that architectural eye
sore, the State, War and Navy Build
ing. The heart of the City of Wash
ington is lost beyond in a green laby-
rinth of trees. To the south the his
toric Potomac winds past Alexandria
and Mount Vernon. In the west
there Is Arlington, the burial place of
heroes and the stately old home of
Robert f. Lee. Eastward the Mall
spreads out toward the noble dome
of the Capitol and the golden roof of
the Library of Congress.
The whole comprises a fit setting
for the imposing pile that dominates
lit. What a story there is in the
sweeping view of these few miles.
What historical associations are at
tached to this region, Here is the
acorn from which the sturdy oak of
America has grown. The sight of 1t
gives the beholder renewal of faith
in his country and the principles of
it's government Tt makes him feel
that the shifting currents of world
strife may swirl about it in vain. II
will prove as solid and enduring as the
noble shaft the wise fathers set up in
honor of the great man, Washington
he whose vision saw it all.