THE WORLD’S HIGHEST BUILDING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2075, 30 December 1907, Page 4

THE WORLD’S HIGHEST BUILDING.

At tlio corner of Broadway and Liborty Street, Now York, stands a large bloc'k of offices known as the Singer Office building. To this is being built an extension, which, when finished will be the tallest structure in tlio world, tho Eiffel Tower alone excepted ; sinco tho vertical distance from tho pavement to tho baso of the flagstaff on tho peak of the roof will ho Gl2 foot.

Including basement and foundations tho total height of' this “skyscraper” may ho set down at 740 feet. Wore St. Paul’s Cathedral, tho Monument and Nolson’s Column piled ono on tho other, they would not attain such an altitude. To giyo another comparison,tho gigantic Lusitania, stood on end on the foundations, would only just overtop the flagstaff.

This building contains forty-nine floors, thirty-five of which belong to a huge tower, 60 feet square in pilau, that springs out of tlio main mass of the block. The weight of tho towor alone approaches 10,000 tons. Tlio entire building contains about 91 acres of floor space, and when fully occupied will ncomodato about 6,000 people—a much larger poulatiou than many a well-known English town can boast. To proinoto tho comfort of this Inigo army of business folk, there will bo instailled 15,00 incandescent lamps, sixteen elevators, and sufficient steam engines, dynamos, pumps, and air compressors to equip a largo factory. Whoro so many storeys have to be served, some of the elovators are “local,” others “express”—tho last for tlio uppermost floors. Thu pace at which the elevator travels plays havoc with tho constitutions of some of the attendants* after a while.

A “tower” of offices offers peculiar constructional difficulties. Cross-brac-ing from side to sido with diagonal! ties such as are used in tho Eioffel Tower is -rendered impracticable by tho need lor having largo window spaces. At the same tune means must ho adopted for enabling tlio structure to withstand tlio hurricanes which occasionally visit New York. Tho problem has been solved in tlio following manner. As has already been mentioned, the tower is 60 feet squaro in plain. Each of the four faces is divided by vortical steel columns into five panels 12 feet wide.

Alii the necessary bracing is incorporated into tho end panels of a side, and in a largo central elevator well, which oxends the wholo height. Tho tower may therefore be described as a series of compartments built among five smaller rigid towers, one at each conrncr and one in the centre. Thus tbreo panels on tho sido aro left freo from obstruction, and great rigidity is obtained.

The building lias already reached a height of 520 feet, and so ousts the spires of Cologne Cathedral from tho pride of second place. As fast as a floor is /laid great derricks, with long swinging arms, aro -rigged up on it to raiso the steel girders for the continuation of tho work. The floorers follow the riveters, and behind them come the masons and other mechanics. Not a moment is lost, and long before the roof is on tho lower part of the tower will hum with tho business energy- of New York.