CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 September 1907, Page 4

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.

HOW IT WAS TAKEN FROM EGYPT TO LONDON, , Many years ago native rulers of *gypt made offers of obelisks to the Governments of Great Britain and France and it took the former 75 years and the latter 25 to arrive at the point of calling and taking home their presents. . : ; --t; To understand fully the enorniousTness of the task one must know that '•Cleopatra's Needle" is a monolith nearly seventy feet high and ten feet square at the base, and that at that time it was standing a short distance from the seashore at Alexandria. There was the possibility that in lowering the obelisk to a horizontal position it might break of its own weight; but by computation it was found that the section through the centre of gravity was strong enough to support the weight of the ends with the addition of 28 tons suspended at the centre of gravity of each end. Had it not been for this comparatively simple problem in physics the whole scheme might have failed. But to make assurance doubly sure the big stone was sheathed with heavy timbers and bound about with iron strips, and by means of pulleys, steel cables, and hydraulic jacks the block was safely lowered to the ground. It had been the original intention lo transport the obelisk overland to the Government dock. The distance was less than a mile, and for the most part the route was over comparatively unfrequented streets. An iron truss cable moving on cannon balls instead of wheels, in channel irons instead of an ordinary rail, had been brought to Egypt for the purpose. At the last moment, however, the foreign merchants of Alexandria feared that the tremendous weight might crush the sewers, and refused to give the necessary permission. Guarantees of repairing all damage done were of no avail and the transporting cradle was thrown away, and the dangerous method of sea transport in a wooden caisson at a distance of ten miles was the only resource, lo clear a. path to the sea shore expert divers were employed. Then with the aid of more mathematics and modern ingenuity the obelisk was lowered int« the caisson and placed on the launching j ways and slowly dragged out into deep water.

In removing his gift to Paris 50 years before, Louis Philippe used a specially constructed craft, and the undertaking cost bis Government £IOO,OOO. The British engineers, with a view to profiting by this experience, built a vehicle around their obelisk that could float it, and it could be towed by steamer so arranged as to give the crew an opportunity to save themselves in case of disaster. The caisson with the obelisk enclosed was abandoned in mid-ocean, and later was picked up and towed to England by some sea adventurers, who received some £SOO for their work.

History tells practically nothing as to bow these huge monoliths were quarried, finished, or transported; yet what proved so difficult an undertaking for the engineers of England, France, and America was accomplished years ago by nearly every nation that conquered the East. ~