Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

Know Nothings and effectively estrangeA n
large body Of citizens from the Monument
undertaking. This resulted in such a slump In
contributions that it became necessary to sus-
pend all construction work
The Know Nothings took advantage of the
situation to attempt the capture of the whole
undertaking. Congress, however, came to the
rescue, and passed an act incorporating tbe
Washington National Monument Society, with
the President as its head
AT the close of the Revolution in 1888 tho
Continental Congress authorized an equestrian
statue of General Washington to be erected in
the city where Congress should be established
In accordance with this resolution, Mai Len
FAINT, designer Of the Federal City, as Washing
ton ID. C., was then known, provided a location
in his PLAN But nothing further was done.
IN 1888 body of influential citizens of WASH
ington determined to redeem the oft-repeated
failure OF Congress and to undertake them
selves the erection Of a suitable memorial Ac-
cordingly, the Washington National Monument
Society was organized and John Marshall.
Then Chief Justice, was chosen president At
his death, in 1885, he was succeeded by former
President James Madison and steps were taken
TO 1naugurate Immediately national drive for
funds.
Soon afterward American artists were invited
10 submit designs for a monument to cost an
proximately $1OOO0O The competition was won
by Robert Mills well known architect of the
Time His design provided for a circular colon
naded building $50 feet in diameter and 100
feet high, adorned with an equestrian groun
over the portal, from which rose an obeIisIr
shaft, 10 feet square at the base and 500 feet
neh' Inc pantheonic features of this design
were never adopted.
Congress authorized, in 1848 the erection of
the monument by the society," and the President
OF the United States and the board of managers
OF the society were empowered to select the
site. When this step had been ACCOMPLISHED.
the corner stone was laid with fitting ceremonies
on July T. 1848.
In the meantime the primitive fund campaign
was In progress with such publicity men as
Zachary Taylor. Henry Clay and Daniel webster
providing literature" A total of $4,000 was
raised at this time and the structure rose Tn a
nelght OF $50 feet in which unsightly state It
STOOD In the then most dismal 30 acres i'm
Washington" for so many years.
IL was at this Juncture, IS years ago that
tnere occurred the incident Of the Pope's stone
Wnlch mad so much to do with hating progress
on what has been called zone of the most str,-
pendouS works Of man, so great and so simple
that IL seems to be almost work of nature
Inc whole world acknowledges this to be an.
out the experts agree that it is still Incomplete
and that some kind of terraced pedestal must
replace the present simple green knoll upon
"ASn ~ SVaIluSJ the CalleSt obeliSk in the
world IS to take fitting place in the scheme
Tor the development of the Mall. This scheme
modern rendering Of the original L'Enfaut
plan, has already been authorized, except eoe
what shall be done toward finishing the Monu-
ment
Some day the great obelisk may be completed
In accordance with the ideas of the architectural
masters, but in the meantime it remains a mso.
mortal SO noble in Is immensely ind simplicxw
as to inspire awe in an beholders.