Evening star., 1948-02-23
Society Is Told
OF Test Repairs
For Monument
Experiments Made
With Special Produc'
Invented by Done


the Washington Monument exterior,
the National Park Service is ex-
perimenting with a special product,
invented by a Dane and used ex-
tensively in Europe, the WASH
ington National Monument Society
was advised today.
The society held its 115th annual
meeting at noon at the Metropolis
tan Club, Seventeenth and H streets
NV. A report on the Washington
Monument, prepared by Arthur E.
Demaray, associate director of the
National Park Service, was read by
the society's secretary, william r.
Harr. Commissioner of Veterans
Gases of District Court here. The
society, which aided in bdilding the
Washington Monument. is charged
by Congress with advising the serv-
ice on administration of the famed
shaft.
Mr. Demaray disclosed expert
ments have been conducted in
patching the chipped area below the
150-foot level with the hope Of
matching the Maryland marble and
providing a more durable repair
material than has been used in the
past"
Dane Demonstrates Repairs.
The associate director advised the
society: "Of special interest in this
connection has been the visit Of
Mr.. Herluf Rask of Denmark to
demonstrate his product Deckosit,'
which has been extensively used in
Europe for the repair of historic
buildings and statuary Mr.. Rask
has made sample repair at the
monument, which can be inspected
by the members of the society.
Mr.. Demaray declared fewer peo-
pie are now visiting the monument.
He pointed out visitors during the
last calendar year totaled 794,813,
a drop of 51.436 below the preced-
ing year. He ascribed no reason
for this. Since the monument was
opened october 8, 1888, Mr.. De-
maray said, the grand total Of
visitors is now 21,971,777. OF these,
3,971,777 have reached the top by
way of the stairway, rather than
by riding the elevator.
Although the visitor total dropped,
Mr.. Demaray said "the revenue
from the elevator service charge
increased from $38,417 during the
fiscal year 1896 to $5O,o9350 for
the 1947 fiscal year" He added this
sum is substantially in excess OF
the total maintenance and operat-
ing cost of the memorial"
Visitor Check Made.
In December, Mr. Demaray de-
clsred, a spot check showed per-
sons from every State, Hawaii.
Alaska, Puerto Rico and the Canal
Zone, as we'll as So foreign lands,
were among the monuments visi-
tors. This check will be continued
through the slack season, he said.
"While study of an appropriate
design for the obstruction lights at
the 500-foot level has continued
Throughout the year, no satisfactory
solution of this problem has been
determined which meets the ap-
proval of all parties concerned" +"
Mr.. Demaray wrote. THE request
for funds to construct the warm
ing lights has been given high
priority"
In the course of his report, Mr..
Demaray said improving the en-
trance space within the memorial
has been considered. He declared
sit is generally agreed by the Com
mission of Fine Arts and this serv-
ice that the entrance area may be
refurbished when funds are avail
able without disturbing the manner
in which the elevator is housed and
operated"
Substantial improvement has been
made in the appearance of the
souvenir concession at the Washing
ton Monument Lodge, Mr.. Demaray
declared. He said his service. CO.
operating with Government Serv-
ices. Inc, has endeavored to bring
about gradual change in the
character of the souvenir items sold
here by introducing as many articles
as possible relating directly to the
Memorial and to George Washing
ton" He pointed out a souvenir
committee which approved all OBJ
jects the concessionaire desired to
sell is now at work. He added "it
is believed further progress in this
direction may be expected over the
coming years"