Evening star., 1934-12-02
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The following story in The Star Of
December 5, 1884. tells &C the plans for
Completing aork .ne hnat IN 1be oaros oay
the Monument. pletion OF the
Monument:
The capstone Of the Washington
Monument, which is now suspended
in the air over the place where it is
to rest, 500 feet above the ground, will
be set tomorrow at o'clock. This
event will be the occasion of a little
ceremony. The stone will be placed
in position by Col. Casey, the engineer
in charge, and his assistants, as stated
in yesterdays Star. A few persons,
including representatives of the press,
have been invited TO witness the cere-
monies from the platform at the dizzy
height of 533 feet from the ground.
There never before has been a ne
cessity for constructing a marble roof
similar to that of the Washington
Monument. An iron roof could have
been built much easier to crown the
Monument; but as it was desired to
have the entire face of the Monument
Of exactly the same appearance In all
weathers and circumstances, marble
pyramidion was erected in the novel
manner which has been heretofore de-
scribed at length in The Star.
In order that the public may enjoy
the magnificent view from near the
dows, or portfolios, were left, two on
each side of the Monument, about
four feet above the 500-foot level.
When these windows are open the ap-
pearance of the Monument is marred
by two black holes on each face. To
obviate this blemish on the milk-white
surface, and also for the purpose Of
protecting the structure from the
weather, marble shutters, about two
inches thick and weighing l40 pounds.
will be constructed to fit exactly these
portfolios. These can be opened dur
ing visitors hours and closed at all
other times. In order that the outer
faces Of the shutters may always be
kept perfectly clean, very ingenious
contrivance has been devised. An iron
crane arm will extend for each shutter
from the arch rib in the interior Of the
roof, which arm will swing the shutter
back against the rib. There will be a
separate guiding rod, which will re-
volve the shutter as it is swung back
so that its outside will face the wall.
On account Of the slanting position OF
the roof stones, the shutters when
swung back will not At the perpen-
dicular arch rib. They will come in
contact with it only at the bottom.
An iron hood will project from the
arch rib in such manner as to pro-
tect the outer faces Of the shutters
when swung back.
"The windows on the east face Of
the roof are three feet wide and two
feet high. The other four are but
eighteen inches high. Those on the
east side were made higher than the
others to permit of easier handling Of
the roof stones. Below one Of these
windows an aperture was left by
omitting to place one Of the roof stones
| in position. This aperture has been
used in getting the roof stones to the
outside. When everything is COM
pleted this outer stone will be placed
in position like shingle from the out
side The platform which will then
remain can be taken apart and passed
through the window and be followed
by the last workman. The iron beams
running through the wall which sup
port the platform and upon which the
last workman stands until he In
through, will be pulled in from the
interior, and the holes through which
they passed will be plugged up with
exact fitting stones. The face of the
Monument from base to capstone win
then not have a defect"