Evening star., 1934-10-21
REPAIRS RECALL
MONUMENT STORY
Rudolph Kaufman, Then
Reporter, Mounted Plat.
form to Get Account.

OF the Settlng Ol tne capSCOne OF tIle
Washington Monument earlier in that
day, which is OF interest just at pres
ent IN view of the recent completion
of the great scaffolding erected for
the purpose of permitting redressing
of the shaft. This account was written
by the late Rudolph Kaufman, at
that time reporter and for many
years managing editor of The Star.
Mr.. Kaufman was one of the few
reporters present on that occasion and
was one of the handful of men who
were on the narrow uppermoSt plat
form referred to in the story, which is
as follows:
THE shaft of the Washington Mon
ument was completed at o'clock this
afternoon, when the capstone was
placed in its final position. The cere-
monies attending the laying of the
last stone were very simple. It was a
private celebration as it were, the dedi-
cation proper being set for the 22d
Of February, next. Early in the week
the hoisting apparatus, which had
been used for raising and setting the
stones of the roof, was removed and
in its stead was erected the quadrupod,
resting upon the wooden platform
which surrounded the roof at the
height OF 533 feet. There remained
but nine stones to complete the struc-
ture, and these were placed upon the
platform referred to, ready to be hoist
ed in position by means of the block
and tackle attached to the new ap-
paratuS. Eight of these stones were
set on wednesday and arrangements
were then made for the crown piece.
Cap Weighs $500 Pounds.
''It is really a cuneiform keystone.
It's height from base to top being
1eet 272 inches. 1t is feet So inches
high on the outer face, with a 7-inch
shoulder to bind on each side, extend
Ing lO12 inches below. It is 8 feet
and fraction square at the bottom
ana inches in diameter at the top
where the aluminium tip fits on. Its
weight is $500 pounds. That this
stone might be set in a manner be-
hitting the occasion small but secure
platform was built at the place where
II was to be fitted In order to obvi-
ate any delay, the capstone was raised
and lowered into position before the
hour for setting it had arrived, to see
II IL htted accurately. 1t was then
raised and lowered again upon strong
sKloS and remained in that position
until this afternoon.
by O'Clock many persons sought
points from which they could view
the ceremonies in midair. Many field
glasses and telescopes were leveled to
the top of the Monument. Promptly
on time, Notwithstanding the drizzling
ram, those who were to take part in
the aerial ceremony made their ap-
pearance upon the topmoSt platform
at the height of the capstone. They
were: Col T L. Casey, the engineer
oncer In charge; Capt. Davis and Mr.
bernard r. Greene, his assistant; Mr.
McLaughlln, the master mechanic
who has had charge of the work of
constructing the Monument; Dennis
OLeary, the principal mason, and the
coloreo man OBrien, who has mixed
all the mortar used in setting the
stones. On the platform directly be-
low were Mr.. F. L. Harvey, secretary
OF the Joint Monument Commission:
j. B. Dutton, chief clerk; Mr.. Friebus
draughtSman, and Mr.. G. M. Thomas
OF Col. Casey's Office: workmen who
had been employed on the Monument,
and representatives of the press
Each of those on the capstone plat
form spread some mortar upon the
bed OF the stone, Col Casey being the
last one to handle the trowel. The
capstone was then lowered into posi-
ton, hitting like a glove The copper
rOd, which is to connect it with the
elevator frame to form a lightning
rod, was then run through the stone
from below, and the aluminium tip
was at once secured upon it.
American Flag Unfurled.
"At this moment Col Casey pulled
a rope which unfurled the American
flag. 1t was impossible to float the
nag, as was intended, from the top
OF the flag staff which had been
erected for the purpose on account of
the very high wind. 1t was run up
to the top of the scaffolding above the
capstone, where it served as a signal
to announce the successful setting of
the capStone. When the, flag was
displayed, a salute of 81 guns was
fired by Maj. Hanneman's artillery,
stationed in the White Lot
THE Washington Monument So
ciety was represented on the platform
by Gen. w. Mckee Dunn, Hon. Hora-
Ito King, DR.. Daniel D. Clarke and
DR.. j. M. Toner. Nearly all the in
vited guests remained at the 50O-foot
scaffolding, being prevented from 60
ing higher by the high wind
Although the obelisk is now COM
pleted, there is much work still to be
done. Probably the most important
matter remaining is the design for the
base of the Monument, which has not
been selected yet. There Is no haste
in this respect, but there are many
other things to be attended to at once
All the scaffolding and rigging about
the summit of the Monument are to
be removed and great deal of finish
ing work is to be done in the interior
of the shaft The stairway is to be
much improved, and to prevent mois-
ture from collecting in the seams OF
the interior stones the walls are to be
covered with Portland cement. The
memorial stones will, Of course, not be
cemented and their faces will remain
untouched. There are great many
memorial stones yet to be set, but care
will be taken to exclude all those
which convey any personality or ad-
vertisement, or which are in any re-
spect undesirable in size, shape or de-
sign. When a memorial stone is to be
set one or more of the interior granite
stones will be removed to make
place for it.
Elevator Crude At First.
The elevator, which is now nothing
more than a plain movable platform,
will soon be put in a more suitable
form for a passenger service. 1t is
Col. Casey's intention to put rail-
ing and comfortable seats around it.
AS soon as this is done he will open
the Monument to the public and Wis
itors will be taken up at an appropri-
ate hour. The elevator weighs 3
tons itself and was made Is times
as strong as was necessary to hoist the
6-ton stones which it has had to