The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-01-26

LnlHSS were "olheo oo0 LII o0A N~S' 49,
seems strange to note that the Wash
ington obelisk was more than half a
century in it's building. Almost i'm
mediately after the death and burial
of Washington the subject Of a suit
able memorial to the father OF his
country was broached.
For thirty years the project was,
every now and then, suggested, but
nothing definite happened until Sep
tember, 1888, when the Washington
National Monument Society was
formed, with Chief Justice John Mar
shall, then seventy-three years old,
as president. It was not until three
wears later that advertisements were
inserted inviting designs from Ameri-
can artists. Many were submitted,
and from these one by Robert Mills
was selected by the society.
Public Raised $s7, 900.
An effort was made to secure the
funds by popular subscription and by
1S47 $4,000 was in hand and pre-
parations for construction was begun.
Congress, by resolution, granted a
site where the monument now stands
and the cornerstone was laid on the
Fourth of July, 1848, in the presence
of the executive, legislative and judi
cial branches of the government, for
eign ministers and officers and a vast
concourse of citizens from all parts
of the union.
Among the distinguished guests on
the stands were Mrs. Alexander Ham
ilton, then ninety-one years old; Mrs.
Dolly Paine Madison, Mrs. John Quin-
cy Adams, George Washington Parke
Curtis, Chief Justice Taney, Lewis
Cass, Martin Van Buren and Millard
Fillmore.
The work of erection progressed
steadily until 1854, when the shaft
had reached height of 156 feet and
had cost 100000. The treasury of
the society now having been exhaust
ed, a memorial was presented to Con-
gress asking it to take action in the
natter. Politics in the government
prevented ready response and it
was not until 1859 that the society
was given formal charter. "
Halted BY Civil War.
Then came the Civil War and all
efforts to complete the work were
stopped, not to be resumed for a doz-
en- years. The centennial year again
brought activity to the society and
large sums were promised by private
individuals and Congress made an ap-
preparation of 100000 and a new
start was made for it's completion.
The Washington monument was
finally finished in the winter of 1884,
'e5, and it was decided to dedicate it
upon the anniversary of the birth of
the man to whom it had been erected.
Consequently, on February %, 1885,
there were impressive ceremonies at
the national capital, when the monu-!
ment was turned over to the nation.
The formal presentation of the
monument was made at the base of
the grand obelisk, but owing to the
raw, cold weather that existed the
dedication ceremonies proper took
place in the hall Of the House of Rep
resentatives. Five thousand persons
braved the chilled winds that blew
over the Potomac flats to be present
at the monument when the dedica-
tory ceremonies were begun by Sena-
tor Sherman.
Many Notables Present.
On the stand about the monument
sat the President of the United States
his Cabinet, the members of the Ma
tional Monument Association, Colonel
Casey, the engineer and Senators
Sherman and Hawley. The address
at the monument was by Professor
Willing, president of Columbia Col
lege, and at the ceremonies in the
House of Representatives the dedica-
tory address as prepared by Robert
Charles Winthrop, was read by Rep
resentative Long, of Massachusetts,.