River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-01-25

it will occupy Tor ever and aye, while
your are catching breath and
trying to take in the nagnifi-
cent panorama stretching before
YOU. The city looks trife diff
ferent when viewed almost rom the
realms Of the clouds, and a realization
Of what it must be to 90 balloon voyaging
dawns on you. The public buildings
towards the north, the treasury, state,
war and navy departments, and the
White House look like doll houses.
SQUARES are as blocks on a checker-board
and streets But hair lines. Trees lose
their individuality and the woods are
only exaggerated clumps. The river
toward the south Is only a pond, bat
still you can trace its silvery lines for
miles Mount Vernon can be seen on
clear days witha field glass, and many
weil-known places in the neighbering
bills Of Virginia and Maryland can be
easily picked out. It is thought when
the monument reaches its fun height
that vessels can be seen on Chesapeake
bay. Tug boats on the
river excite more attention
by their pulling and blowing than
they do by their size. Everywhere you
turn tile view is pleasing. The tiny lines
Of green Crowning the heights and the
river washing its shores frame the CITY
ike Il picture Visitors are ALWAYS I'M
pressed with the safety net around the
monument, but none have exhibited any
pranks that would excuse them to being
caught in its meshes. The workmen get
so used to their elevated position as 10
sit on the edge with their feet hanging
over while they eat their lunch. They
know the security afforded by the net,
and can be a little risky. The average
visitor keeps within a respectable dis
lance of both outer and inner edges of
the wall, and feels all the time as If he
were treeding on air. The wind blows,
too. with business velocity and very
windy day takes up considerable atten-
tion. The wind has blown one workman
off ifs feet, but he was caught in the
safety-net. The only cases of brayado
exhibited yet were by young woman,
who got out in the safety-net just to see
how it would feel, and cat who risked
one of his nine lives in jumping from the
from the .oT. but with no serious results.
The descent can be made either by the
elevator or by the staircase. Most pre-
fer the known terrors of the former to
the undiscovered horrors of the latter.
The iron frame work of the staircase is
all right, but only temporary steps are
only narrow planks for steps.
Blessed with venturesome spirit, the
Star reporter has made the descent by
this means, and is willing, having escaped
all right, to attempt the task again.
While You have the light to guidey YOU,
it Is all plain sailing, but when the dark
passage is reached its takes n firm trust
in Providence and a clear head to make
any progress. Should the elevator pass.
as it viii several times, probably, the
delightful fear Of its dropping on you
comes familiarly to the front again.
The landings are the only colnpensa-
tons. for Won have good chance TO re-
cover your equi ibfium and get q rest.
The last two or three turns in the stair
way have sufficient light from the door;
and you reach the floor with sigh OF
relief
In connection with this topic we pre-
sent below table, made up with con-
siderable labor and great cafe, showing
the height of some of the most remark
able structures Of their class in the
world. 1t is not claimed that it lis eX-
actly correct, since authorities on the
subject, differ greatly in the figures they
give We have, however, iii cases OF
difference or doubt. taken the measure
ments of what are belle red to be the
latest and most reliable authorities IN
several cases, and the table may there
fore be accepted as relatively and APP
pToximately correct, if not absolutely so
in all minor respects. From the figures
gwen it will be seen that the Washing
ton monument will be, when completed,
lorty-four feet higher than any other
artificial object in the world.