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INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, MARCH 7,1885. NO. 10
VOL. XX.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
America'* flreatest Architectural Aehleve-
ncnt in Honor of tne Immortal Washington—The Highest Strortnre In the World
—Dedicated on the Birthday of Ihe Hero
WbOM Greatness it Commemorates.
From onr Special Correspondent.
That pleasant anniversary, Washington's
birthday was chosen as appropriate for the
dedication of the Washington Monument
on the 21st ult. The capstone of this wonderful structure was laid December 6 last,
with patriotic demonstrations, such as
unfurling the stars and stripes from the
summit and rejoicing with the thunder-
voice of cannon. Bat the ceremony far
exceeded in interest and magnitude that
which accompanied the completion of the
exterior structure of the obelisk.
It had emerged from a successful struggle
with the mother country, independent but
weak, and  as yet,  with its ^ affairs in so
WASHINGTON MONUMENT AB IT NOW IS.
FRUITLESS CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS IN
1783.
The Monument is the completed expression of a movement of patriotic admiration for George Washington, which was
first begun more than a hundred years
ago. On the 9th day of August, 1783, the
Continental Congress resolved unanimously: "That an equestrian statue to
General Washington be erected »*-,t the
place where the residence of Congress
shall be established." The wording of
this resolution forcibly illustrates the condition of the young republic at that time.
ROBERT C. WINTHR0P.
chaotic a condition, that no meeting-place
for its Congress had been selected; but its
representatives were thrilled with gratitude to the man who, as its leader, had
overcome all the obstacles to tho vindication of the principle of popular freedom.
Hence the resolution and the accompanying directions intended to honor the
Father of his country. These were, that
the statue should be supported by a m»r-
ble pedestal, ou -?rh<r*h shonld be represented in bas-relief four principal events
of the war in which he commanded in
person; and that the pedestal of the statue
should be inscribed with the following
words: "The United States in Congress
assembled ordered this statue to be erected
in the year of our Ix>rd 1783 in honor of
George Washington, the illustrious
Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the
United States of America during the war
which vindicated and secured their liberty, sovereignty, and independence." With
characteristic greatness of mind the hero
discountenanced the erection of a monument intended for his personal honor, and
nothing was done further towards building it, until after his death.
THE MAUSOLEUM PROJECT.
Then Congress again resolved to do fit--
ting honor to the memory of the illustrious warrior and statesman. A joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives appointed to conside in what
way this should be done, reported: "That
a marble monument be erected by the
United States at the City of Washington,
and that the family of General Washington be requested to permit his body to be
deposited under it, and that the Monument be so designed as to commemorate
the great events of his military and political life." This report was adopted, also
one made subsequently by the same committee, May 8,1800. A resolution was next
passed by Congress reading as follows:
"That a mausoleum be erected for George
Washington." In pursuance of this, on
January 1,1801, an appropriation was made
of two hundred thousand dollars for the
purpose indicated.
BLAMEWORTHY CONGRESSIONAL  INACTION.
To the discredit of the Congresses of the
period be it related, that notwithstanding
the energetic action of some of their members, in behalf of it, no steps were taken to
carry out the scheme resolved upon; and
ashamed of and disgusted with delay, in the
year 1833, a voluntary association adopted
those measures from which, at this late
period, the Washington Monument has
arisen to its external completion.
THE MONUMENT BEGUN.
As before stated the corner-stone of the
structure was laid on the nation's birthday
in the year 1S48. Work was continued
steadily for six years, during which ?230,-
000 were expended on it. The Monument
by that time had reached the height of 175
feet. Nothing further was done towards
its completion during the next twenty-five
years, but in 1875 renewed interest was
created in the structure, by exertions of
the Monument Society, who wisely judged
the time opportune to remind the nation
of its pledge: the first hundred years of
American Independence was nearly at an
end and patriotic enthusiasm was ripening
for the historic commemoration of 1876.
In the early part of of 1875, the Society appealed for financial aid to the leading organizations and associated bodies, with
results which encouraged the expectation
that work would shortly be resumed; and
in 1876 Congress made an appropriation
which greatly assisted the hope.
Not, however, until about six years ago,
was the great undertaking again fairly on
the way towards completion.
"honor to whom honor is due."
It iu -meet and. ritjbt tbat honor should
bo paid to the Monument Society for its
action. Great names appear on the roll of
the Corporation, among them that of
Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United
States, and, cx-officio President of the Society; General W. T. Sherman, vice-president ; and W. W. Corcoran, vice-president.
J. B. H. Smith  figures as treasurer, and
sand dollars has been spent on it. In about
two years from now, the interior of the
obelisk, now complete as to its exterior,
will have been completed.— Concluded next
week.
COMPARATIVE HEIGHTS OF THE LOFIE8T BUILDINGS
IN TJIE WORLD.
I. The Washington Monti ment, 555 feet. 2. Cologne
Cathedral, 510 feet. 3. The Qreat Pyramid, 460 feet.
4. St. Peter's. Rome, 448 feet. 5. St. Paul's, London,
300 feet. «. St. Mark's, Venice, 3il feet. 7. The Capitol, Washington, 283 feet.. 8. Brooklyn Bridge, New
York, 263 feet.
John Carroll Brent as secretary. In the
goodly list of names stand those of bankers, lawyers, engine..- government officials and leading men in other corporate
bodies. The work for which the society
was formed has been well done; the last
stone has been placed on the pillar which
is the loftiest of all the creations of human
ingenuity.   Thus far eleven hundred thou-
Washington Letter.
From our regular correspondent:
There will have been only a breathing
spell between the celebration of the Washington  Monument   and  the   fourth  of
March.   Preparation for the inauguration
is taking more definite shape, and a grand
display is now assured.   The streets herald the event In the bunting and flags displayed  from  buildings  and in   the long
stretches  of  wooden  stands,  with their
tiers of seats rising  one above  the other,
which have been erected for spectators on
the public  reservations along  the line of
march.   A view of  the procession from
these stands may be had at one dollar per
capita.   The parade  will bo  one of tke
largest  ever  seen  here.   There  will   be
nearly twenty-five thousand men in line,
military and civic   organizations, representing every part of the country.   There
will be seven thousand troops from Pennsylvania alone.   There will pls^ be a large
n   tnber  of  colored troops   coming from^
both   the north   and south.   This procession, which will escort the new presi.lunt
from the White House to the Capitol and
return, will be the main feature of the inaugural feastivities.   It can be viewed by
everybody,  while  only  a  few hundred
people can get near enough  to Mr. Cleveland to hear the Inaugural address, from
the  Capitol portico,  and not  more  than
twelve thousand people are expected to attend  tho  evening  festivities.    The   fire
works for the night of the fourth are here,
ready to be touched off.   Some idea of the
extent of the display may be had from the
fact  that there were twenty  car loads of
material.   The  inaugural supper  is to be
cooked in New York and brought to this
city on  a special train.   At Buchanan's
inauguration the guests ate  up 900 chickens  and  500  gallons   of  oysters.   They
drank  400  gallons  of  claret  punch and
3,000 bottles of wine.   But this is nothing
to what will be consumed at the Cleveland
supper.   According to the itemized list of
preparations, 850 turkeys are on tlieir way
to the supper, with lobsters, oysters, clams,
salmon, bass, hams, roast beef, and tongue
in proportion.   The receipts will scarcely
be equal  to the  expenditure  for  the inauguration.   The loss of a few thousand is
expected, the deficency to be made up by
patriotic democrats.
This has been a troublesome and exciting week in Congress. The House has
been rushing business with the hope of
avoiding an extra session. There was a
common desire to get through with the
work, but the body was not in an acquiescent mood, and everything that was gotten
had to be fought for. Appropriation bills
have been passed, the River and Harbor
bill has been making a final struggle for
life, and the silver suspension proviso, in
the Sundry civic billinvolved the House In
an angry controversy. The final outcome
does not yet appear. The shadow of an
extra session soems to have grown smaller
with some finished work, but of Congress
it can always be said, that no one can tell
what a day may bring forth.
Washington, Feb. 23.