Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-06-21
CIeOpatra's Needle-HOW 1t viii Be
Transported to England.

There is now reasonable probability
that before many weeks elapse CleOpa-
tra's Needle will be en- route to England.
The mOnOlith has been handed over to
MIR. DiXOn's agent, whose men have COM
menCed the necessary work for its re-
mOval. / informed you, on the Goth of
April, that Mr.. Carter, Mr.. DiXOn's agent,
had arrived here, and received from Mr..
Demetrio, the owner of the ground on
which the obelisk lies buried in the sand,
a promise of permission to remove it,
provided the Egyptian Government and
British COnSul-General authorized Mr..
Carter to take possession. A document to
that effect having been obtained at Cairo,
Mr.. DemetriO, although he considers he
has peCuniary claim against the Egyptian
Government in respect of the obelisk, has
handed over absolute possession to Mr..
Carter, Oh behalf Of Mr.. Dixon and the
British Nation. 1t is only fair to Mr.
Demetrio, who is himself an eminent
antiquarian, to explain why there has
been some little delay and diplomacy on
his part. Many years ago the land on
which the Needle lies was sold by the
Egyptian Government to an Italian, who
aflerward resold it to Mr.. Demetrio. In
the sale no condition was made as to the
ObcliSk, but when Mr.. Demetrio wished
to build on the land in question: the Egyp-
tian Government stepped in and said:
mo; you must not remove the Obelisk,
which we have given to the British Gov
| ernment" As the British Government
did not remove it, the land has for years
been rendered valueless to Mr.. Demetrio
Morally, therefore, Mr.. Demetrio seems
to be entitled to compensation from some
one; but as he is unable to establish a
legal claim against the Egyptian Gov
eminent for he has tried and faiIed),
and does not pretend to any against
the British Government the monument has
been graciOusly givenup. The Needle"
is SiXtv-nine feet long and eight feet
square-not uniformly, but at the base
1t weighs about 220 tons, and lies in the
sand fifteen feet above high-water
line. To get this mass safely into the
sea and across the sea, it is intended to
build up and around it on shore a cylin-
dlical iron case or ship, and then roll the
entire mass, nearly 800 tons, into the Med
iterranean, and when the necessary bal
lasting and additions have been made to
the ship in dry dock, to have her towed to
England. The iron vessel is now being
made at the Thames IronwOrks, and when
ready will be sent out here in pieces, to be
built round the ohelisk, under the super
intendence OF Mr.. Waynman Dixon, brother
t. Mr.. John Dixon, the enterprising de-
signer and contractor. The vessel must
be considerably longer than the obeIisk,
because of the shape of the stone. twill
be ninety-two feet long and fifteen feet in
diameter, with plates three eighths inch
thick. 1t will be divided into nine water
| tight compartments by eight bulkheads;
total weight of iron, sevenyy-five tons. To
lift the end of the obelisk jacks of i'm
mense power will have to be sent from
| England, and after the cylinder is built
! tremendous tackle will berequired to roll it
into the sea. 1t will float in nine feet of
water, and to reach this depth it must be
rolled 400 feet. Once af1eat and in dock
| it will be fitted with bilge keels, rudder
and steering gear. 1t will be cutter
| rugged with one mast and two sails, and
will have a deck house for Mr.. Carter,
who will have charge of it on the
voyage; for, although it viii be
in tow of a steamer, it will be
in every respect ship, and able to take
| care of itself for time in case of acct
| dent or breaking away from the tow