Evening star., 1950-02-23
Screening Entire Shaft
OF Monument Studied
To Prevent Suicides

National Capital Parks Of1clalS
are considering inclosing the en-
tire elevator shaft In the Wash
tngton Monument with wire
screening as a safety measure.
This was disclosed yesterday
during the 117th annual meeting
of the Washington National
Monument Society at the Metro
politan Club. 1t was included in
the annual report submitted by
Parks Supt. Irving c. Root and
read by A. E. Demaray, associate
director of National Park Service.
An attempt at suicide in the
Monument was made last August.
the report recalled, when a So
year-old man plunged to his death
down the elevator shaft. Appar-
emily he had climbed over the
present 7-foot screening.
Fourth Recorded Suicide.
This is the fourth recorded
suicide at this memorial" the
report stated. 1.-TWO have now
occurred in the elevator shaft, and
two by jumping from windows at
the 500-foot level. Preventive
measures were taken following the
earlier suicides by placing bars at
the observation windows and a T.
loot wire mesh screen around the
elevator shaft"
On recommendation of the Dis
trict elevator inspector, Mr.. Roots
report declared, "a study is now
being made to determine the ad-
visibility of inclosing the entire
elevator shaft by extending the
height OF the screen to 20 feet"
The Monument Society took no
direction action on the study, but
authorized its Executive Commit
tee to act after looking into the
matter. Yesterdays meeting was
presided over by Maj. Gen. q. s.
Grant III, In the absence of acting
officers. President Truman is
president ex-oficio of the group,
New Lights Planned.
Mr.. Roots report also disclosed
that improved aircraft warning
lights at the 50O-foot level are
expected to be installed within
a year, for which $4,000 in funds
are now available. The new de-
sign for the lights appears to
meet the requirements" both of
the Civil Aeronautics Administra-
t1on and the Park Service, the re-
port declared.
During the last year, the report
noted. visitor No. $4,000, 900 was
recorded at the monument. Last
years total visitors was 867 ,327
q gain Of some $4,000 over ls48
improvements made during
l949 to the obelisk included paint
Ing OF the waiting room, entrance
area, elevator car and visitor
spaces at the 500-foot level. New
turntable and amplifynig appa-
ratus also was installed to in
crease the tone qualify of the re-
corded interpretive lecture. The
metal floor plates Of the observa-
ton platform also were straight
ened and secured the report said.
Change Is Proposed.
A request by the Governor of
Utah that stone in the monu-
ment now inscribed "Deseret" be
identified as Utah's contribution
curing her territorial period by
adding the words now Utah" also
was included in the report. The
Monument Society, however
adopted a resolution suggesting
that the words Since date of
admission to StatehoodD. Utah +"
be inscribed on the stone. Utah
was called Deseret when it was a
territory.
In other actions, the group re-
ceived Mr.. Demaray into member
ship and accepted the resignation
OF Frederic A. Delano, former
chairman Of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
The society also authorized a
compilation of members since It
was incorporated in 1859.