Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-23
Loudspeakers
AtWashington
Shaft Planned
Device Being Set Up
To Tell Visitors
About Monument

A mechanical voice will be placed
In the elevator of the Washington
Monument, to explain the famous
monolith to visitors if experiments
now under way succeed.
This was disclosed yesterday at
the annual meeting of the Wash
ington National Monument Society
at the Metropolitan Club by Fred
eric A. Delano. its first vice presi-
dent, who presided.
Mr.. Delano reported that an ex-
detrimental device was being in
stalled under supervision of Irving
c. Root, superintendent of National
Capital Parks. 1t is photographic
apparatus with turntable on the
ground floor, wired to loud speakers
in the elevator cage. Most of it
already is in place, it was learned
today, with the exception of
switches which will turn the
voice" on.
Script Already Written.
Visitors will be told on the ascent
about construction of the monument
and on the day down about WASH
ingtons ideals and how they are
symbolized in the structure. The
record will be Transcribed by the
radio division of the Interior De-
partment, from a script already
written. The voice" has not yet
been selected
The device was considered by the
Washington National Monument
Society as an experiment and judg-
ment was withheld pending results.
But it was predicted that if the
device works satisfactorily it will
be made permanent.
In line with the purpose of the
National Park Service to make the
Monument more interesting and
educational, the stone lodge at the
east front of the approach has been
reconditioned, Mr.. Roots report
said. A number of photographs and
other pictures relating to Washing
ton and the construction of the
shaft have been placed on the walls
of the central room of the lodge
and stand offers for sale SOU
venirs and literature about the
Monument.
Brochure Prepared.
A new l6-page illustrated brochure
is among the offerings. 1t was pre-
pared by National Capital Parks,
published by the Government Print
ing Office during the year, and is
for sale at 10 cents a copy.
A marked improvement was noted
In the heating of the Monument
during the past year. Adjustment
of the heaters which have been in
stalled between the 10-foot and 90
foot levels and the enlargement of
the intake draft at the base of the
Monument have resulted, it was re-
ported, in more satisfactory tenn
peratures, not only at the bottom
Of the shaft, but also at the OBJ
servation platform at the 5O0-foot
landing.
The temperatures recorded at the
top during the extreme cold days |
of February Is, IA and Is were |
so, So and Sc degrees, respectively, /
for the same days of the |
previous year, not nearly so cold. the |
temperatures were 38, So and 40.
Reporting on the Inauguration of |
a Decent elevator charge last June, |
Mr.. Root stated that during the |
seven-month period a total of ST.
1880 was collected. The cost of
operation for this period was ap-
proXimately $4,000, he said.
THE normal peacetime collec-
lions could be much greater" Mr..
Root reported. No charge is made
for men in the military service and
so, 554 servicemen entered the Monu-
ment in 1912. Children also are
admitted free. OF the total of
314,000 persons who visited the
Monument since the i0-cent charge
has been made, more than $4,000
have been admitted free.
100000 Visitors in 1912.
During the calendar year 1912
there were 500 900 persons admitted
to the Monument, as against 964 900
In 194l.
Chief Justice D. Lawrence Groner
OF the District Court of Appeals and
Robert Lincoln O'Brien were elected
to membership in the society to fill
the vacancies caused by the deaths
during the past year of DR.. Harry
S. Garfield, son of President James
A. Garfield, and Logan Hay of
Springfield, Ill.
Other members of the society in
clude Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone,
second vice president; Theodore w.
Noyes, Oldest living member, treas
urer, and others. President Roose-
Welt Is president ex-officio of the
society. Governors of the States are
vice presidents ex-officio.