CITY BUILT OVER VAST CAVE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8918, 11 September 1907, Page 1

CITY BUILT OVER VAST CAVE.

Two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants of Minneapolis, the chief city in the State of Minnesota, and one of the greatest grain centres in the world, have just received an unpleasant thrill. For the last five years, it is ofiiciially announced, they have been living in imminent danger of collapsing with all their buildings and property into a vast underground cavern. As the danger is now over the city authorities have no longer need to conceal the manner in which it was discovered and the secret methods adopted to avert it without alarming the inhabitants or interfering with the immense business interests of the town.

It appears that live years ago workmen were excavating in the centre of the city for a now sewor, when they broke throufh the covering crust of earth into a gigantic cave. The city authorities were immediately notified of the fact, and subsequent investigations by the city engineer showed that almost the entire city was built over a vast cavern, which in its dimensions is behoved to exceed the mammoth cave of Kentucky. Strict orders were given that the discovery should not be made public, as it was feared the citizens would be seized with panic, and take to flight. At the same time it was recognised that a terrible disaster might overtake the city at any moment. Minneapolis is one of the greatest business centres in America. Its town ball alone cost nearly a million pounds. It has many other magnificent public buildings, is the seat of the University of Minnesota, and possesses lumber and flourmill lug j clustries unrivalled in the world. ; Working with the utmost secrecy, I the city authorities [set to work to I prop up the roof of the mighty cavern. Miscellaneous appropriations were used to buy concrete and pay the cost of erecting supporting pillars underground. Inquiring citizens and the newspapres constantly raised questions where the money all wont. The officials were often at their wits’ end to explain tiie disappearance of the money, but they wore, nevertheless, successful in keeping the secret and averting a panic.

The city is now propped up with hundreds of ample supports, and the underground streams, which were chiefly responsible for hollowing out the cavern, have ' been diverted. Now that the facts have been made known, the public of Minneapolis have nothing but the highest praise for the authorities. We had reliable information that Linoleums were about to advance in price. The expected lias happened. Linoleums have gone up 20 per cent at Home. We placed large orders at old prices ; the first delivery is now to hand. You will find them very choice patterns and colourings. Wo offer you every yard of them at sale price during the' next 14 days. See them at J. McEldowuey’s Oleariugup Sale, Marton, Taihapo and Huntervillo. When you feel the first twinge of rheumatism, gout, sciatica or lumbago, send for a bottle of Rheumo. It will quickly euro you. All stores and ciiemists sell it at 3s Od and 4s 6d. A positive and lasting care. Two Hundred Honeycomb and Satin Quilts for single, threequarter and double beds, slightly soiled, half price at McEldowney’s Sale.