Evening star., 1934-06-24
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Half a century ago there was much
complaint as to the quality of the
luminant fur
oau 1IlumlnanI nished by the
Causes Complaint. Is local a, gas gas com ON
tests on this score were occasionally
expressed, as the following in The
Star of June rs, 1884:
"If the Washington Gas Light Co.
wishes to avoid greater danger than
it has ever yet encountered in the
way Of a projected new company,
backed up by public opinion, it will
do well to supply a much purer and
better Illuminating agent than it is
now furnishing. The light from its
gas, as made at present, is little bet
ter than the daring blaze Of a pitch
pine knot, while the smoke arising
from it Is so dense that it smells Of
fensively, and it blackens ceilings and
walls and seriously damages paintings
and other objects Of art. Unless the
quality is improved, people who have
handsome houses and furnishings will
soon be forced to seek relief in some
approved substitute, whether it be the
electric light. oil lamps or gas manu-
factured by better process from purer
materials than those used by the ex-
isting companies. The light it fur
nishes at present is not only made
quate but an unmitigated nuisance
The Washington Monument was
nearing completion fifty years ago,
and much interest
monument In was felt in the
Final Stage. progress IS. o. e.. tne ne
June 20, 1884, says:
THE Washington Monument has
now reached o height Of 47o feet, and
the customary shift is being made to
continue the structure twenty feet
higher, at which point another and
last change will be made, as only f1ve
courses will then remain to raise the
structure to height Of 500 feet. From
this point a pyramidal roof So feet
high will begin. All Of the stones
which have been laid thus far have
SuiOOt11 AA44olI Ol1 IA1C AAoA0Ct SAS eAAN
stones Of the next course will jet
little on the inside, and the next ones
a little further and so on, these cor
bels forming the support for the in
terror arch, which will be the base Of
the pyramidal roof. 1t is expected that
the Monument will reach q height Of
500 feet in less than two months.
Steps will then be taken to commence
the work upon the roof, and while
that work itself will not occupy more
than three weeks, the preparations
for it will be so delicate and Of such
a different character from anything
heretofore made that it will be some
time before the laying OF stone Is
begun.
"By the first of November it is con-
fidently expected that the structure
win be under cover and practically
completed. There will be some fin
ishing touches to be made, perhaps,
but these can wait until next year If
necessary. Very detailed and carefully
prepared plans show how the roof Is
to be constructed, and everything has
been arranged In advance. The ele-
vator, of course, can raise the stones
no higher than 500 feet. At that point
q platform, extending out ten or
twelve feet, will be built to receive
the roof stones.
Strong posts. resting upon the arch
foundation at 500 feet, will meet near
the apex about q large mast, which,
resting upon heavy timbers, will ex-
tend about twenty feet higher. From
the tops Of the posts will extend at
right angles q large boom. supported
by rods from the top Of the mast.
The boom viii be fastened to drum
30 that it can be moved around the
whole circle. On this boom win be
the customary pulleys and hosting
arrangements, 30 that stones can be
raised from the platform ut 500 feet