Evening star., 1951-02-23
Better HoodIighting
Will Be Installed al
Washington Shaft

- improved uQooilghtlng ana bet
ter aircraft-warning beacons will
be installed soon at the Wash
ington Monument by the National
Capital Parks.
This announcement was made
by the Washington National Mon
ument- Society at its traditional
Washington's birthday meeting
yesterday in the Metropolitan
Club.
Arthur e. Demaray, the society's
secretary, who Is about to be-
come director of the National Park
Service. after long years as as
sociate director. presented the an
nual report.
An expenditure of $4,000 has
been authorized for the installa-
ton Of improved and permanent
f1oodlighting for the Washington
National Monument" the report
pointed out.
Plans are now in preparation
for this project, and 1t is hoped
that clearance by the National
Production Authority and availa-
bility Of materials will make it
possible to accomplish this long
sought improvement to the Monu-
ment. Progress also is reported
on the design of satisfactory air.
craft-warning beacons to replace
the existing lights. which the Civil
Aeronautics Authority has de-
clared to be unsatisfactory.
Intensity Tests for Lights.
1.-THE new cylindrical fixtures
will be approximately eight inches
in diameter and eight inches long,
and it is believed they may be
affixed to an adjustable bracket of
the type now used. The Civil Aero
nautics Authority has arranged
with the Bureau of Standards for
light intensity tests, and if these
prove satisfactory it is believed
the installation may be made
without further delay.
Matters relating to the main
tenance and care of the structure
during the year have been routine
and were handled in the usual way
by the National Capital Parks
staff and the Otis Elevator Co.
The society vas informed, in the
report, that the 1850 attendance
at the Monument of 906,661 per-
sons was "the highest recorded at
the memorial in the past nine
years" The National Capital
Parks said the number of visitors
"has almost doubled since 1912.
when less than 100000 people were
counted at the Monument.
Two important collections of
the society's papers have been
turned over to the National Ar
chives for safekeeping, the report
pointed out. The most important
OF these were papers long in the
custody of William r. Harr, late
secretary of the society. They
included original letters from
Chief Justice John Marshall and
President James Madison accept
ing the Offices of the first and
second presidencies of the society
in 1888 and 1885, respectively.
Harvey Papers Deposited.
During the past year the pa
pers of Frederick L. Harvey, the
society's secretary for more than
20 years and editor of a 360-page
volume on the history Of the or
ganization, also were placed by
the society in the National Ar
chiveS, the report declared,
The National Capital Parks
prepared a brief history of the
society, together with biographies
of it's officers and members from
1888, when it was founded, until
the present. A copy Of this was
presented yesterday to each Of the
society's members.
A $1,000 District of Columbia
bond. bearing 5 per cent interest,
is the basis of the society's exist
ing assets. the report pointed out.
The principal and accrued interest
from this have been reinvested on
several occasions. In 1914, the
treasurer was authorized to pur-
chase two bonds of the Capital
Traction Roalroad Co. and. in
1924, another such bond was ac-
quired, the report said.
BY 1881, sufficient cash bal
ance was available to purchase a
q fourth bond. The present in
vestments of the society in the
Potomac Electric Power Co., Pub
lice Service of New Hampshire and
United States Savings Bonds were
acquired through recent reinvest-
ments. the report said
118th Meeting.
Yesterdays session was the
society's 118th. Election of officers
and luncheon followed the noon
day assembling fof the notables
who comprise stlie society. which
sponsored construction of the
Washington Monument.
Luncheon guests included In
terror Secretary Chapman and
Senator Watkins, Republican, of
Utah.
The society reelected most OF
Its officers. President Truman, by
virtue of his Office, is the society's
president. State Governors are
vice presidents.
Defense Secretary George C.
Marshall is first vice president
Charles C. Glover. jr., president
of the Washington, Stock Ex-
change, is treasurer, and Mr.. De-
maray is secretary.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, vice
president of George Washington
University. chairman of the So
ciety's Executive Committee, also
was elected second vice president,
to succeed former Chief Judge D.
Lawrence Groner of the United
States Court of Appeals, who de-
clined reelection. Judge Groner
remains on the Executive Commit
tee however, a.js