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I.OUISI/ ■. STONE FOR WASHINGTON FONUF^NT AVAILABLE NEAR NATCHITOCHES WHERE GEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIND WAS FADE IN 1823-1821+
Daily Picayune - July 11, 18^9 - P 2 col 1
NATIONAL FONUFENT AT 'WASHINGTON
We have received the following communication on the subject of the sutmlying of a bl&ck of stone by Louisiana toward the construction of the Washington Fonument in accordance vith the invitation of the committee charged with the work.
We find we did great injustice to our noble State in presuming
that she was so soft in her internal formation respond to the apneal made to her patriotism.
as to be Not only
but at Natchitoches, we Eind sufficiently hard material grateful demand made on us. Who then will be the first shape and mark the required block ?
unable to at Harrisonburg to supply the to hew and
Yazoo City (Miss.) July 2, 18^9
Editors Picayune
I hs>ve noticed, gentlemen, in one of your late numbers, that Louisiana might fail to be represented in the national monument about to be erected to the memory of the Father of his Country, for want of the necessary material within her limits.
In 1823-'2W, while in connection vith the U. S. Army at the building of Fort Jesup near Natchitoches, I superintended the blasting of rock from a quarry in its immediate vicinity of a most durable ’quality. It was a species of limestone of a bluish color, and well adapted for the purnose in question.
Fany singular and beautiful petrifactions of plants v;ere then discovered imbedded in the rock, .and some specimens were deposited in p private cabinet at the North.
Doubtless some of the old residents in the neighborhood of the Fort cpt\ point out the location, which appears on a side hill some two hundred yards from the old road leading to Natchitoches.
Any additional information will be readily given if necessary.
Respectfully yours,
A. H. M.
(copied by F. James Stevens Nov. 1, 1976)