The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-06-21
Cle0patra's Needle How 1t will Be
Transported to England.

1oCAO 10 INV q lCdSOudUlC
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 CON-
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
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
nm hut hn 10 t1Ia e. oknI1 s1h n
legal claim against the Egyptian Gov
eminent (for he has tried and failed),
and does not pretend to any against
the British Government, the monument has
been graciously given Up. The Needle"
square-n0t uniformly, but at the base.
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 cylin-
d. ical 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 lowed to
England. The iron vessel is now being
made at the Thames Ironworks, and when
AC0uy Will DC oCut Ouo uClC III QlCCcS. W Uc
built round the obelisk, under the super
t. Mr.. John Dixon, the enterprising de-
signer and contractor. The vessel must
be considerably longer than the obeiisk,
be ninety two feet long and fifteen feet in
diameter, with plates three eighths Inch
thick 1t will be divided into nine water
II M, oytv,1 NV srht h,,Il dc.
total weight of iron, seventy five tons. To
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 will 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. It will be cutter
rugged with one mast and two sails, and
viii have deck house for Mr.. Carter,
who will have charge of it on the
voyage; for, although it will be
in tow of steamer, 1t 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
sail, pump bilge-water, trim lights and
make signals in case of need. In the
opinion Of eminent engineers, the plan
work to be done, and MIR. Dixon's conf |
dcnce II shown In me fact that should he |
fail to complete his work, he will receive |
nothing for his outlay and trouble. If,
however, the undertaking is q success, the |
entire exnenea will ha hrrno hr Mr. Eros