Evening star., 1927-10-30
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

When the Government took over the
work of completing the Washington
1r. Monument so years
MONUMENT ago, some doubt was
Foundation. expressed as to the
foundation. The Star of October 90.
1877, discusses the matter in the fol-
lowing editorial:
"The board of engineers detailed to
examine the foundation of the Monu-
ment in their report stated that it had
settled s and 50 hundredths inches
and that consequently it would not be
safe to place any further weight upon
it. The Monument Society successfully
combated this opinion, showing that
the engineer had selected the wrong
stone for the bench-mark, and that
there was no indication whatever OF
the Monument having settled. The
board Of engineers, 1t Is now under.
stood, admit that they selected the
wrong stone for the bench-mark and
that as the stone adopted by the archi-
tect of the Monument for the bench
mark had been removed there were
no means left of determining whether
the Monument had settled. The act OF
Congress making the appropriation
for completing the Monument provided
that the foundation should be eXamin-
ed, and if found not sufficiently strong
to sustain the weight contemplated to
be put upon 1t, the appropriation
should not be used for continuing the
work without further action of Con-
ress. The board of engineers having.
it Is understood, admitted their error
as to the subsistence of the Monument,
and that their report amounts to moth
ing in that respect. there Is no evi.
dence of weakness in the foundation
and Of its inability to sustain the su-
perstructure that is proposed TO be
erected upon 1t. and consequently
there Is no reason why the appropria-
ton should not be applied as Con.
gress intended and work Immediately
resumed upon the Monument. Not
withstanding the engineer board has
been unable to detect any weak point
in the foundation, it is rumored that
they wish to expend some fifty or sixty
thousand dollars in strengthening it,
which would be waste of money,
as there is no necessity for it. Why
does not the joint commission take
steps to start the work?
In view OF the Patent Office
fire, which destroyed records as
For an Archives erty. Mty "a a little little more more
RuiId;no than fifty years
ago, commits
sion consisting of Col. Thomas l..
Casey. Architect Hill Of the Treasury
and Architect Clarke of the Capitol
was charged by the President with
the investigation of the va'ious public
buildings to ascertain the condition of
the records of the Government. The
report Of the commission Is printed in
The Star Of October 25. 1877, making
numerous recommendation for spe-
cifc structures and urging in the fol-
lowing language the erection of an
archives building such as now. after
the lapse Of half a century. is def
nitely proposed for constructions:
I'VE therefore recommend for the
relief OF the overcrowded buildings.
and in view Of the rapid increase of
the public records. that a fireproof
building of ample dimensions be con-
structed for the accommodation of
the archives of the Government no
longer required for constant use. This
structure should be built in the most
approved and thoroughly fireproof
manner, with walls of brick, and so
designed that additions can be made
from time to time without impairing
the general architectural features.
Its location should be so remote from
all other buildings as to place. it be.
yond Danger nom exterior fires"