WASHINGTON MONUMENT DEDICATED: MASSIVE OBELISK COMPLETED IN NATION CAPITAL

WASHINGTON, United States - The federal government is officially dedicating the completed Washington Monument today on the grounds of the National Mall. President Chester Arthur formally accepted the 555 foot tall marble obelisk on behalf of the American people this afternoon. The ceremony marks the end of a highly contentious construction process that spanned nearly four decades and survived a major civil war.

The dedication of this massive stone pillar represents a major symbolic victory for the republic. The initial foundation laying took place over thirty years ago, but progress abruptly halted due to a severe lack of funds and immense political upheaval. The unfinished stump stood as a glaring national embarrassment for an entire generation. Congress finally assumed total control and financed the completion of the tower. Today the completed structure stands as the tallest building in the world. It officially surpasses the Cologne Cathedral in Germany and firmly demonstrates the growing engineering prowess and unified resilience of the United States.

The weather in the capital is bitterly cold this morning. High winds and freezing temperatures are forcing the massive crowds to bundle tightly in heavy wool coats. Despite the harsh conditions, thousands of citizens are lining the frozen mud of the National Mall to witness the historic procession. The ceremony began with a grand military parade marching down Pennsylvania Avenue led by Lieutenant General Philip Sheridan. The booming sounds of artillery salutes are echoing continually across the Potomac River. Following the brief outdoor presentation by the monument commission, the freezing dignitaries quickly retreated to the warm interior of the Capitol building for the formal orations. The sheer scale of the marble tower is completely awe inspiring to the gathered crowds. The aluminum apex glints brightly whenever the winter sun breaks through the heavy cloud cover. The visible shift in the color of the marble at the 152 foot mark serves as a permanent visual reminder of the long construction delay. The original quarry could no longer supply the exact same shade of stone when the government finally resumed the building process. Engineers utilized a heavy steam powered engine to hoist the final massive blocks into position, a significant technological upgrade from the manual pulley systems used by the original laborers. Workers are currently preparing an elaborate pyrotechnic display to illuminate the magnificent obelisk this evening.

The public will soon gain the unprecedented ability to ride a steam driven elevator directly to the observation deck at the peak of the monument. From that incredible vantage point, visitors will look down upon a rapidly expanding capital city. The towering marble shaft now dominates the Washington skyline completely. It guarantees that the legacy of the first commander in chief remains highly visible to all future generations of citizens.