New Tower of Babal.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 237, 26 May 1874, Page 7

New Tower of Babal.

T]\q‘Scientific American contains a sketch •or engraving of a centennial tower 1000 ft. high,; with which it is proposed to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of American independence, in connection with the Great Exhibition of 1876. This sketch or engraving stands in the foreground of the picture, and is grouped with the Pyramids of Egypt, Strasburg Minster, St. Peter’s of Rome, St.. Paul’s of London, the Capitol at Washington, Trinity Church, New. York, and other large edifices, with the view of showing their relative heights. The Tower of Babel is not there, probably owing to the. uncertainty of its architectural construction, but we are approvingly reminded that its builders said, “ Let us go and make us a name," and .that it is in every way fitting for the Americans to imitate the example of the immediate descendants of Noah,

What befel this pile of brick and mortar when it reached the height of 156 ft. gives the projectors of the’Pennsylvania Centennial Tower no great concern- They rather glory in the fact that they shall be able to carry their structure 850 ft. higher towards “heaven” than what we have been taught to regard, as a stupendous piece of foltyj and that thpy shall be able to substitute iron for bricks in its construction, and bolts and screws and girders for mortar or lime. Indeed, they seem to make it their boast that their Centennial Tower, although small as compared with the mighty works of nature—the vast peaks of the Himalayas, for instance —will as far overtop the loftiest spires or domes on earth as the giant trees of California overtop the tallest maples or elms, and that they shall gain a» much in their structure over all others in durability as in height, on account of the material employed. Its greater liability to be struck by lightning does not appear to have occurred to them, or is not, at any rate, hinted at. Messrs Clark, Reeves, and Co. are the designers of the proposed Centennial Tower, and it is to be executed at their Phcenixville Bridge Works, Philadelphia, of American wrought iron throughout. It is to be 620 ft. higher than the great pyramid of Cheops, 532 ft. higher than Strasburg Minster, 643 ft; higher than the dome of St. Peter’s, Rome, Michael Angelo’s greatest work; 646 ft higher than the Chephren pyramid, the sudceasor to that of Cheops ; 635 ft higher than St Paul’s, London, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece ; 713 ft. higher than the Capitol at Washington, and it is to be circular in its form, with a base of 160 ft. in diameter, diminishing to 30ft at the top. Through its entire length, there is to be a central tube, with four elevators capable of carrying 500 persons up and down per hour, at the rate of three minutes up, and five minutes down, and around the central tube there is to be a spiral staircase for such as prefer 1 that mode of ascending and descending. The estimated cost of the fabric is 1,000,000d01,, say £200,000 to £250,000 sterling, and the time to be occupied in its construction one year. Its location is to be Fairnjount-park, in close proximity to the grounds on which the buildings for the Great Centennial Exhibition are being erected. Sections of the work, illustrative of its mode of construction, given in the Scientific American, are not likely to be of much interest to the general reader. They tend to show, however, that proper care will be bestowed on the bracing of the work, and that due attention has been paid to the probable force of the wind on: it; If constructed, it will be as rigid as though built of stone, and will, from its circular shape, expose very little surface to the wind. It will be the loftiest structure ever built by; man, “designed by American engineers, reared by American mechanics, and constructed of material purely the produce of American soil,” But, mi horn ? Their answer to that question by anticipation is, that the Americans may “ make themselves a name.” Nothing more.

men were lying beside the road for two or three days in a starving condition unable to go any further, but these were brought back to Oooktown. Flour on the river is from 2a. 6d. to ss. per pound, but that would be nothing if gold could be only obtained to pay for it. Don’t advise anybody to come over here at present. There is a good number of West Coast men here, but they are clearing out as opportunities permit. Any person coming now must be prepared to buy pack-horses and go prospecting, as there is no other show at present. I intend to clear out. to some of the neighbouring colonies as soon as I can, for I fancy this would be a bad place to get hard up in. The climate is healthy, though very hot; there is very little fever. I send you a Gooktown Courier , the only paper published here at present, although there is some talk of starting an opposition.” The foregoing is word for word as the letter was received, and needs no comments.