The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-06-21
CleOpatra's Needle-How 1t will BE
Transported to England.

1AClC 10 nOW q lCdSOu6UlC RiOU6Ulliby
that before many weeks elapse Cleopa-
tra's Needle will be en- route to England.
The monolith has been handed over to
Mr.. 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 a pecnniary claim against the Egyptian
Government in respect of the obelisk, has
handed over absolute possession to Mr..
Carter, on behalf of Mr.. Dixon and the
British Nation. 1t is only fair to MIR.
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
afterward 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:
"NO; 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 flor he has tried and faiIed),
and does not pretend to any against
the British Government, the monument has
been graciously given up. The Needle"
is sixty-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-wat
line. To get this mass safely into the
sea and across the sea, it is intended to
build up and around it on shore 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 ma0e to
the ship in dry dock, to have her lowed to
England. The iron vessel is now being
made ut the Thames Ironworks, and when
ready will be sent out here in pieces, to be
built round tine obelisk, 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-tw feet long and fifteen feet in
diameter, with plates three eighths iuch
thick. 1t will be divided into nine water
tight compartments by eight bulkheads;
total weight of iron, seventy 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 be required to roll it
into the sea- 1t win float in nine feet OF
water, and to reach this depth it must be
rolled 400 feet Once afleat 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 deck-house for Mr.. Carter,
who will have charge of it on the
voyage; for, although it will be
In tow of q 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
lines. which are to be Of steel wire. There
will be four or five men on board to make
sail, pump bilge-water, trim lights and
make signals in case of need. In the
opinion Of eminent engineers, the plan
proposed is admirably adapted for the
work to be done. and Mr.. Dixon's conf
dcuCe Is SHOWN In Jne fHct that should he
fail to complete his work, he will receive
nothing for his outlay and trouble. II,
however, the undertaking is success, the
entire expense will be borne by Mr.. Eras-
mus Wilson, the eminent surgeon. I'm
mense care and nicely will have to be ex-
ercised in obtaining the necessary strength
and rigidity; the obelisk must be so
packed, forming, with the iron cylinder,
one solid mass, SO as to avoid any strain
from the rolling into the water or from
the heavy working Of the ship after
ward. / presume the most anxious part
u the work win be to get the vessel and
her preciouss cargo into the sea. Once
adoaA oshef difficulties will be mastered. /
Thirty i've hundred years ago this obelisk
formed one u the pillars ia front Of the
great Temple Of Tum (the setting SUM-,
At HeliopOlis s(near CairoA and Was
brought to Alexandria durink the reign Of
CleopatrA; but if this and larger monu-
nients could be safely moved about some
sixteen hundred years B. c., II Is not poa-
sible TO doubt our ability to do likewise
IN the nineteenth century a. p. Aiezdn-