Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-17
THE PYRAMIDS.
Profssser wbitehouse's Remarkable Pager
Jptu Feyptjnu Nyehiteetur, and Travel.

Upon Egyptian Ayehitectur, and Travel.
Professor Ccpe WhitPhouse read HE
parer on his researches In the Moeris Basin
and the curious hight thrown upon the con-
structi0n OF the Pyramids by his examine
ton Of the Desert TO large audience yes-
teidny morning in the Academy OF Music.
Il was illustrated by number Of lantern
slides, A good deal oi the trouble con-
nectcd with the reading Of the paper was
caused by the fact that the room Ia which
the Geological Section met could not be
dsrkened so that the views could he pre-
sented. Many OF these views were from
the valuable collection OF Edward l., VIII
sor.
BUILDING THE PYRAMIDS.
In r. gard 10 the building OF the Pyramids
Mr.. Whitehousc said that the American
Society Of Civil Engineers had given him
most cordial reception al 1uilalo on June
i3th. lie had submitted hrs views 10 that
distinguished body, and. according 10 the
Buffalo press aud IN the opinion OF the
members whom he had met in Pbisfel-
phin, he could say that ii one would take,
quietly and soberly, the very accurate ac-
counts OF the ancients and treat them with
prorer consideration for the spirit Of the
age, he would find that the Pyrlmids were
supposed 10 have been bills, which once
contained quarres, tcuhs, ard temples.
The Egyptians seem. about u. 6. 1000. 10
have been Obliged 10 recor struct these bills,
and we have now the result.
"As practical men," said Mr. White
house, "we have no right 20 assume that
Egyptian engineers expended more labor
than was actually necessary 10 take thst
stone from IT. quarry aud put Il 10 place.
But where was it, quarryy Aproile across
the desert shows that the Nile flows like the
Niagara river, between two steep walls OF
horizontal limestone. and fills the bottom
81 the valley when high. The pyramids
stand upon a detached bill and the rock
At their feet |, covered with bisalt pave.
ment. smooth blocks OF limestone, granite.
and aabastcr. II was for. thousands Of yesrss
fayorite SPOT for costly structures. But the
Pyramids are not very conspicuous. They
cannot be seen At more than seven miles
distance. because the tops are not ~ high
A. the paleou. Hills Il horizontal lime
stone. Of the same height, are OF cxtrcmely
common occurrence" Mr.. Whitehouse
showed that the direction OF the Nile cur
rent bud left hill. This bill. IL WAS ex-
planned. was probably the quarry. whence
had been removed the large blocks used In
be rcyotmcnt of the terrice.
WHAT uERoDOTUs SAID.
lie believed that llcrod)tus corectlyrc.
pcated tradition. which was In the main
true. when he laid that the Pyramid, were
built "frOm above" The hills were
honcy-combcd with galleries andchamber,.
The stones were actually quarricd in the
bin and lowered into place, so that the
amount Of labor was exceedingly small.
| There was the further object OF protect.
ing the terrace from the danger OF falling
rocks, sand. and Wind. They were not only
| most Useful but highly creditable works.
| Ii was sal mItted that DO engineers could
| have been found in any aye to pcrpetuate
/ such INDUSTRIOUS acts oistupid oppression aud
waste o. those Pyramids would have been.
lad they been built according 10 tbs theory
commonly entertained. without clear
proof, Mr.. Whitehouse refused u impnte
folly TO those masters in geometery and
! hydraulics.
| Mr.. Whitehouse was from time to time
interrupted 10y lome one Of his auditors,
who showed a deep interest In these novel
| suggestions. At the conclusion votes OF
thanks to Mr.. Wbitehouse and Mr.. Wilson
weie passed, amid enthusiastic applause
and the audience seemed TO think that th,
civil engineers were right in believing tina
cautious. thorough examination Of tb,
geology and topography OF the Pyramid,
showed that they were not mere sepulcbra
/ monuments.