740 THE EIFFEL TOWER. 



care) was lessened by the decreasing length of the girders that bound 

 the whole together. In high trestle work, the apparently slight metallic 

 bars seem insecure to the casual observer, an effect peculiarly notice- 

 able in the high skeleton iron- work of the Manhattan Elevated Eail- 

 road near Eighth avenue and One hundred and tenth street, New 

 York City. The spmdling frame work, in this case suggests weakness; 

 but this is an illusion due to an association of strength with the pon- 

 derous solidity of masonry or earth-work. 



The tower is spread much at the base to enhance its stability. Per- 

 haps its height is exaggerated by the distant view of buildings in the 

 Exposition grounds. The lirst gallery, which consists of an immense 

 hall, is to be used as a promenade or for restaurants. It is 230 feet 

 from the ground. Still further up is the second gallery, about 100 feet 

 squaie and at a height of 377 feet, which exceeds the altitude of the 

 following well-known structures : 



Feet. 



The dome of Milan 3(i3 



Spire of the In valides, Paris 342 



Spires of Sr. Patrick's Cathedral, New York 332 



Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor (above the water) 328 



Brooklyn Bridge towers 279 



Continuing up the Eiffel tower until it has narrowed to about 75 feet 

 on a side we come to a point where the four great pillars combine, at 

 about the height of the Washington Monument, the next highest 

 known structure in the world. Only three of the following public edi- 

 fices, aside from the greatest of the Egyptian pyramids, are more than 

 half as high as the Eiffel tower : — 



Feet. 



Washington Monument 555 



Cathedral of Cologne 522 



Old St. Paul's, London (destroyed by fire) 520 



Cathe ral of Rouen 492 



Pyramid of Cheops 480 



Cathedral of Strasbourg 465 



Cathedral of Vienna 453 



St. Peter's, Kouie 432 



Present St. Paul's, London 404 



After adding 306 feet to the height of the Washington Monument, 

 making 8G1 feet, the third gallery of the Eiffel tower is reached, where 

 there is a glass-inclosed room 32 feet square, surrounded by a balcony. 

 Surmounting this and 124 feet higher is a small observation room, with 

 two windows on a side, from which can be seen Paris and its environs 

 for a radius of about 75 miles. 



The elevators, four in number, are to be worked in pairs, two to be 

 used for visitors ascending and two for those descending, that an in- 

 cessant stream of people may move in each direction. The ascent is 

 to be made no faster than 20 inches a second, because great speed in 

 stopping and starting would be decidedly alarming and disagreeable. 



The escape of lightning is to be provided for by two cast-iron con- 

 ducting pipes, about 20 inches in diameter, reaching from the summit to 

 the base and thence 00 feet into the ground. 



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