The mirror., 1919-07-17
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
One of the Most Supendous Works of Man is the Beautiful
and Stately Obelisk at the Nations Capital
Selected

| Ouo UuO CCuG0uutdI CApOSlUlOu VI
1875 brought revival of patrio-
tism and there was a nationwide
demand that the monument be
finished. Congress took hold of it,
funds were asked for from every
state, as we'll as contributions of
stone blocks with which to line the
interior.
In 1880 work on the monument
was resumed, but on altered plans.
The foundations were enlarged and
strengthened and the shaft in
creased in height. In 1884 it was
finished at total cost of 81, 200, 900.
Following is a detailed descrip-
tion of the monument taken from
the Rand. McNalIy Guide to Wash
ington:
''The foundations are described
as constructed of a mass of solid
blue rock 146 feet square.
''The base of shaft is 55 feet
square and the lower walls are Is
feet thick. At the 5OO-foot eleva-
tion. where the pyramid top be-
gins, the walls are only 18 inches
thick and about 35 feet square.
The inside of the walls, as far as
they were constructed before the
work was undertaken by the gov
ernment in 1878-150 feet from
the base-is of blue granite, not
laid in courses. From this point
to within short distance of the
beginning of the top of the roof
the inside of the walls is of regu-
lar courses of granite, correspond
ing with the courses of marble on
the outside. For the top marble
is entirely used. The work has
been declared. the best piece of
masonry in the world. By plumb
line suspended from the top of the
monument inside not three. eights
of an inch DETECTION has been
noticed. The keystone that binds
| the interior ribs of stone that SUD-
port the marble facing of the pyra-
mid cap of the monument weighs
nearly five tons. 1t is four feet
six inches high and three feet six
inches square at the top.
''On the 9Th day of December,
1884, the capstone, which COM
pleted the shaft, was set. The
capstone is five feet 2a inches in
height, and its base is somewhat
more than three feet square. At
it's cap, or peak, it is five inches in
diameter. On the cap was placed
tip or point of aluminium, a COM
position metal which resembles
polished silver, and which was
selected because Of it's lightness
and freedom from oxidation and
because it will always remain
bright.
"A staircase of 900 steps winds
it's way to the top, around an in
terror shaft of iron pillars, in
which the elevator runs; few peo-
pie walk up, but many descend
that way, in order to examine
more carefully the inscribed me-
mortal blocks which are set into
the interior wall at various places.
Within the shaft formed by the in.
terror iron framework runs an ele-
vator, making a trip every half
hour and carrying if need be thirty
persons. As this elevator and its
ropes are of unusual strength and
we're severely tested by use in ele-
waiting the stone required for the
upper courses as the structure
progressed, its safety need not be
suspected. The elevator is lighted
by electricity and carries a tele-
phone. Seven minutes are re-
quired for the ascent of 500 feet;
and one can see as he passes all the
inscriptions and carvings sufi-
GENTLY we'll to satisfy the curiosity
of most persons, as none of these
memorials has any artistic excel
lence. An officer in charge of the