Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-12
Il. WHITNIORE,
Publisher and Pronriatnl
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.
HOW the Great M0nOIith VIII be
TrnnBpOrted Across Seas.

hCHOHA seas.
Alexandria Letter to the Scotchman.
There is now a reasonable prob
ability that before many weeks
elapse Cleopatra's Needle will be
en- route for England. The mono
lith has been handed over to Mr..
Dixon's agent, whose men have
commenced the necessary work for
its removal. I informed You on
the goth of April that Mr.. Carter,
Mr., Dixon's agent, had arrived
here, and had obtained from Mr..
Demetrio, the ownerof the ground
on which the obelisk lies buried in
the sand, a promise of permission
to remove it, provided the Egyptian
government and the British consul
general authorized Mr.. Carter to
take possession. A document to
this effect having been obtained ut
Cairo, Mr.. Demetrio, although he
considers he has a pecuniary claim
against the Egyptian government
in respect Of the obelisk, has handed
over absolute possession to Mr..
Garter on 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 de-
lay 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 afterwards resold it to Mr..
Demetrio. In the sale no conditions
were made as to the obelisk, 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 o5elisk, which we have given
to the British government" AS
the British government did not re-
move 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 government flor he has
tried and iailed), and does not pre-
tend to any against the British gov
ernment 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 22O 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
around it Oh shore cylindrical
iron case or ship, and then to roll
the entire mass, nearly 800 tons,
into the Mediterranean, and when
the necessary ballasting and addi-
tions have been made to the ship
in dry dock, to have her towed TO
England. The iron vessel is now
being made at the ironworks, and
when ready will be sent out here in
pieces, to be built round the obe-
lisk, under the superintendent Of
Mr.. Waynman Dixon, brother to
Mr.. John Dixon, the enterprising
designer and contractor. The YES
sci must be considerably longer
than the obelisk, because of the
shape of the stone. 1t will be
ninety. two feet long and fifteen feet
in diameter, with plates three
eights of an inch thick. 1t will be
divided intonine water-tight COM
partments by eight bullheads; to-
tai weight Of iron, seyenty.iiye tons.
To lift the end of the obelisk, jacks
of immense 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 water,
and to reach this depth it must be
rolled 400 feet. Once aAoat and in
dock it will be fitted with bilge
keels, rudder and steering gear. 1t
will be cutter rugged, with one mast
aud two sails, and will have deck
house for Mr.. Carter, who will
have chMgeof it on the voyage, for,
although it will be in tow of a
steamer IL will Inc I'm every