THE EIFFEL TOWER. 743 



of compressed gases and vapors with such extensive vertical possibili 

 ties, — these are some of the objects to be attained by this tower, des- 

 tined to be one of the hmdmarks of scientific advancement. It may be 

 of use as an army signal station in case of war as a position from which 

 to observe the movement of an enemy. At a time of siege or of inter- 

 rnption to telegraphic communication the tower could be used as a cen- 

 ter for optical military signaling for long distances, such as the 70 

 miles from Paris to Ronen. In such instances an answering signal 

 might be sent from a high hill near at hand. 



The immense ontlay of work in this great structure cost only 6,500,000 

 francs, $1,300,000. There are twenty-seven iron panels, each of which 

 reqniretl a separate diagram, that in turn formed the basis of a series 

 of geometrical designs calculated by means of tables of logarithms. 

 The metallic i)ieces number about twelve thousand, and the position of 

 each, and the places for its rivets, had to be decided without error. In 

 the iron i)lates were drilled 7,000,000 holes, which if placed end to end 

 would form a tube 43 miles long. There were five hundred engineers' 

 designs, and twenty-five hundred leaves of working drawings. It was 

 necessary to employ forty designers and calculators, for a period of 

 about two years. It is thus seen that the iron forms a vast complicated 

 net-work not easily realized when contemplating the gracefulness of 

 the completed tower. The large halls at Levallois-Perret had almost 

 the appearance of a government administration. 



M. Eiffel did not employ workmen of special skill, accustomed to very 

 high scattblding. It was feared that few could be found not subject to 

 vertigo. But in the tower they did not work high in the air, with an 

 open and dangerous footing. They were on platforms 41 feet wide, and 

 as calm as on the ground. 



It is proper that two great republics shoukl, regardless of nationality, 

 recognize the constructive genius of M. Eift'el, as they have already 

 done in the instance of M. Bartholdi, designer and constructor of the 

 wonderful statue of Liberty enlightening the World. ]\Ir. Roebling's 

 great work, the Brooklyn Bridge, thus seems extended into new condi- 

 tions. The idea of a tower 1,000 feet high first assumed definite form, 

 it will be remembered, in the United States, and it remained for a man 

 of constructive genius in another and newer republic to crystallize it 

 into an accomplished fact*. The power of thought over the refractory 

 materials of the earth, as shown by the ingenuity of Thomas A. Edison, 

 a power which Emerson illustrated in various ways, is thus emphasized 

 anew. The limits of scientific achievement slowly recede. 



* The tower is designed to be 300 meters (984 feet) high. A slight addition, mak- 

 ing it 1,000 feet, could be easily made. 



