Evening star., 1934-10-07
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

With the great scaffolding that Is
being erected around the Washington
Finishing the ~ the nurpose OF Of
Monument Roof. cleaning and
shaft approaching completion, the
following in The Star of october 8.
1884, has timely interest.
"The work of constructing the roof
Of the Washington Monument was
suspended shortly after setting a
comparatively few stones and will
not be resumed for two or three
weeks. 1t was found inadvisable to
continue that branch of the work
until there was no danger of being
compelled to wait for the proper
stones to place in position. To set
stone few days and then wait twice
as many for further supplies was
state of affairs to be avoided. The
progress Of the stonecutters was not
quite as rapid as was expected, on
account Of the delicacy Of the work.
1t is different from what they have
been doing, requiring a great deal Of
delicate joining and the preparation
of more numerous surfaces. Several
stones have been spoiled, but not so
many as might be expected from the
character of the work. When the
stonecutters have completed a sufi-
cient number of stones so that there
will be no danger of further delay
on their account, the work of setting
will be resumed and prosecuted as
rapidly as possible. The force of men
can then be employed both night and
day if necessary. If the Fall is an
open one there is no doubt that the
Monument will be completed before
freezing weather sets in. If, however
cold weather makes its appearance
earlier than usual advantage will
have to be taken Of the customary
clear spells in which to work. In
either case there seems to be no doubt
of the completion of the work long
before the date set for its dedication"
A company, in an effort to "sell"
an electric lighting system for pub
Capitol Dome was permitted
As a Fly Trap. ;.ivn 50 years sag, ago to 70
the Capitol. They were, however,
removed and The Star Of October 8,
1884, says:
Now that the appliances for elec-
trio lighting have been removed from
the Capitol 1t has been found that
the building presents most untidy
appearance by reason Of the billions
Of insects which have been drawn
thither by the brilliancy Of the elec-
trio lights and whose skeletons are
either hanging on the walls or are
piled up in heaps all over the recesses
Of the roof. To the student Of in
sect life this would prove O grand
field Of study and discovery. There
are myriads of may flies, beetles,
crickets, earw1gs, dragon flies, grass
hoppers, caddis flies, bees, wasps, ants
hornets, butterflies, moths, cicadas,
froghoppers, plant lice, water beetles,
whirligigs, shippers, horned-midgets,
gnats, mosquitoes and every species
of insectoria known to the surround
ing swamps and woods of the Dis
trict. 1t is said that during the
lighting of the dome by the Brush
Swan Co. the clerks in the Capitol
used to go up there of nights and
watch the influx of insects from every
part OF the compass and that they
pervaded the air like clouds. So far
the winds do not appear to have
shaken the dead insects loose and as
there have been no heavy rains for
two or three months the Capitol
presents mottled appearance, and it
viii probably require the aid Of
scrapers, brooms and brushes to re-
move these skeletons from the walls
and the roofing"