Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. VI, November 1850, Vol. IVarious
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. VI, November 1850, Vol. I
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
[10] This monument stands in the centre of the grounds included
within the breast-works of the old redoubt on Breed's Hill. Its
sides are precisely parallel with those of the redoubt. It is
built of Quincy granite, and is two hundred and twenty-one feet in
height. The foundation is composed of six courses of stone, and
extends twelve feet below the surface of the ground and base of
the shaft. The four sides of the foundation extend about fifty
feet horizontally. There are in the whole pile ninety courses of
stone, six of them below the surface of the ground, and
eighty-four above. The foundation is laid in lime mortar; the
other parts of the structure in lime mortar mixed with cinders,
iron filings, and Springfield hydraulic cement. The base of the
obelisk is thirty feet square; at the spring of the apex, fifteen
feet. Inside of the shaft is a round, hollow cone, the outside
diameter of which, at the bottom, is ten feet, and at the top, six
feet. Around this inner shaft winds a spiral flight of stone
steps, two hundred and ninety-five in number. In both the cone and
shaft are numerous little apertures for the purposes of
ventilation and light. The observatory or chamber at the top of
the monument is seventeen feet in height and eleven feet in
diameter. It has four windows, one on each side, which are
provided with iron shutters. The cap-piece of the apex is a single
stone, three feet six inches in thickness and four feet square at
its base. It weighs two and a half tons.
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