THE EIFFEL TOWER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1720, 5 April 1888, Page 4

THE EIFFEL TOWER.

A Paris correspondent, writing on January 31st, says :—That stupendous construction, the Eiffel Tower, has now reached a height of about 150 feet, and is growing rapidly. It is not only a success for the enterprising but is also daily attracting more and more of the public’s attention. Among the numerous objects of interest which are thus far encumbering the Champ-de-Mars in an embryonic state of davelopement, this gigantic mass of iron shafts is naturally the most prominent, and invites the comments of the passersby. There is no doubt that many persons—and among them the owners of the adjacent houses—view its progress with an evil eye, and make more than light of the skill of the engineer. The very fact, however, that the tower seta the tongues of the spectators and gossips a-wagging is proof that it is an object of more than common interest —one that strikes people sufficiently to call forth all sorts of talk and all manner of rumours. Barely a fortnight ago a rumour was current that nearly 200 workmen engaged in the construction had already been killed by falling from the staging, and the lower classes more particularly animadverted upon the fact that the fame of the engineer of the tower —one of the glories of the coming exhibition —was built up on the flesh and hones of the poor laboring man. It is, perhaps, needless to say that there was not an iota of truth in the silly rumour. The matter was closely investigated, and it was proved to the satisfaction of the municipal authorities that, save a few trifling accidents, neither life nor limb of the workman had suffered. This time it was bruited about that the stonework of the foundations of the tower had settled, owing to the infiltrations of water; that the props supporting the heavy iron beams in process of being hoisted into place had given way; and that a portion of the lower structure was listing over, etc. So persistently was the story repeated that the Minister of Public Works deemed it imperative, together with M.M. Eiffel, Alphaud, and Berger, to visit the grounds in order to verify the fact or contradict the rumor. This latter has been done, and it is to he hoped that henceforth there will he an end to

nonsensical canards of this kind. The tower stands firmly planted, work on it is being rapidly pushed on, and there is no doubt that, when completed in due time, the work will redound to the credit of the engineer whose name it bears.