Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-07-25
WHAT THE CHINESE WALL rs AND
WAS.

We are accustomed to regard the Egyptians
and the Thebans of old and the Greeks and
Romans of later period as the consummate
builders of the world We see John China
man living in rattle-trap howell and we get
in the way of regarding hin as butt little re-
moved, as builder, above the Indian who
contents himself with wickiup, or gypsy
who asks for no better home than tent. As
to the Great Wall of China, we who look
back over space of thirty years or more to
be reminded of our school days, are much in
clined to classify that structure with the
myths-the maelstroms and the William Tells
of superstition and tradition. But here
comes practical, measuring man, fresh
from the Orientals, and he finds what is re-
lated below In the San Francisco Bulletin
of July IA we find an article from which We
extract as follows:
Among the passengers of the Occidental
and Oriental Steamship Oceanic, ON her last
voyage from China to this city, was A. w. I'm
thank. civil engineer, who made an exami
nation of the topography of the country along
the Grand Canal from Shanghai to its head.
His Journeys half around the world, from east
to west and north and south, and mis- observa-
tons of railroad building in different quarters
of the globe, would make an interesting
volume. In 1867 Mr. Unthank made the
surveys and soundings for the pneumatic tub
ular bridge which spans the Missouri at Leav
enworth. Leaving that country, he went to
the headwaters of the Little Missouri, in
Montana Territory, and conducted surveys for
the Government of lands in Gallatin, Jefferson
and Madison counties. When that task was
completed he journeyed across the country to
the Pacific and reached Portland. For some
months he was engaged in surveying for the
Northern Pacific, Oregon and California roads.
He then came to San Francisco, then went to
New York, returned to this State again and
took passage for Lima.
Having spent two years in Peru, taking
in the Andes, Mr.. Unthank went
to China He made some extended surveys
on the line of the Grand Canal and examined
the Great Wall; and here is what the Bulletin
reports of his observations on and about that
strange structure,
The Great Wall of China was measured in
many places by Mr.. Unthank. His measure
ments give the height at IL feet, width on
top Is feet. Every few hundred yards there
IS tower "a feet square and from 20 to 40
feet high. The foundation of the wall is of
solid granite. Mr.. Unthank brought with |
him brick from the wall, which is supposed |
% have been made 200 years before the time |
IF Christ k building this immense stone |
ence to keep out the Tartars, the builders |
never attempted to avoid mountains or chasms |
% save expense. For 1900 miles the wall |
goes over plain and mountain, every foot of |
he foundation solid granite and the rest of
he structure solid masonry. In some places
he wall is built smooth up against precipices
where there is sheer descent of l 900 feet.
small streams are arched over, but in the
arger streams the wall runs to the waters
dge and tower is built on each side
IN the top OF the wall there are breastworks
II defenses facing in and out SO the defending
orce can pass from one tower TO another with
ut being exposed to the enemy on either side.
% calculate the time Of building or cost OF
his wall is beyond human skill. So far as
of the work is concerned, it sur
asses anything in ancient or modern times
f which there Is any trace. The Pyramids
f Egypt are nothing compared to it.