The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-28
THE BIGGEST THINGS.
Interesting Facts Useful When You Get Into
an Argument

Interesting Facts Useful When You Get Into
Argument.
The largest theatre in the world is the new
operahouse in Paris 1t covers nearly three
of ground; its cubic mass is 4,287, coo feet;
cost about 100 600 900 francs. The largest sus-
pension bridge is the one between New York
City and Brooklyn; the main span is i 500
feet 6 inches; the entire length of
the bridge is $3.50 feet The loftiest
active volcano is Observation-Disclosures noun
tain"-thirty-five miles southwest of Puebla,
Mexico; it is IL TAB feet above the sea-level and
has crater three miles in circumference and
1000 feet deep The longest span of wire in the
world is used for telegraph in India over the
river Kistuah. 1t is more than g. 900 feet in
length and is 200 feet high. The largest ship
in the world is the Great Eastern. She is $50
feet long, SO feet broad and go feet deep, being
%, 627 tons burden, 1875 gross and Is, 344 net
register.
The greatest fortress, from strategical point
of view, is doubtless the famous old stronghold
of Gibraltar 1t occupies rocky peninsula jut-
ting out into the sea- about three miles long and
three-quarters of mile wide. One central rock
rises to a heighth of ,435 feet above the sea
level. Its northern face is almost perpendicular,
while its east side is full of tremulous precipices
On the south it terminates in what is called Eu-
ropa point. The west side is less steep than the
east, and between its base and the sea is mar
row. almost level span on which the town of Glib
raltar is built The fortress is considered i'm
rison in time of peace numbers about 1000
mThe biggest cavern is the Mammoth cave in
Edmonson county. Kentucky. 1t is near Green
river, about six miles from Cave City, and
twenty Height from Bowling Green. The cave
consists of succession of irregular chambers
some of which large, situated on different
levels Some of these are traversed by naviga-
BILE branches of the subterranean Echo river
Blind fish are found in its waters.
The longest tunnel in the world is that of the
St. Gothard on the line of railroad between Luz
cerne and Milan. The summit of the tunnel is
900 feet below the surface at Andermatt. and
5000 feet below the peak of kastelhorn of the
ST. Gothard group. The tunnel is twenty-slx
and half feet wide, and is eighteen feet ten
inches from the floor to the crown of the arched
roof. It is nine and half miles long, one and
one-eighth miles longer than the Mount Gents
tunnel.
The biggest trees in the world are the nam
moth trees of California One of grove in
Tuare county, according to measurements
made by members of the State Geological Sur
vey, was shown to be 276 feet in height, 108 feet
in circumference at base, and rs feet at point
II feet above the ground Some of the trees are
376 feet high and 81 feet in diameter. Some of
the largest that have been felled indicate an age
of from 1000 to 2 500 years.
The largest library is the Bibliotheque Ma
tional in Paris. founded by Louis XIV. 1t con-
tains 1400, 900 volumes, 300, 900 pamphlets,
173, 900 manuscripts 300 900 maps and charts.
and 100000 coins and medals The collection
of engravings exceeds 1900, 900, contained in
some 10000 volumes The portraits number
about 100000
The largest desert is that of Sahara, vast
region of northern Africa, extending from the
Atlantic ocean on the west to the valley of the
Nile on the east The length from east to west
is about 5000 miles, its average breadth about
900 miles. its area about 1000, 900 square miles
Rain falls in torrents In the Sahara at inter-
walls of five. ten and twenty years.
In summer the heat during the day
| is excessive, but the nights often cold. In
winter the temperature is sometimes below the
| freezing point The greatest pyramid is that of
| Cheops. one of the three pyramids forming the
| Memphis group, situated plateau about 137
feet above the level of the highest rise in the
| Nile. It's dimensions have ceen reduced by the
removal of the outer portions to furnish stone
| for the city of Cairo. It's masonry consist
| ed originally of 69,028,000 cubic feet,
and still amounts to 90, Ill 900 cubic
feet The present vertical height is
$50 feet, against 40 feet originally. The total
weight of the stone is estimated at 2,316 00O
tons. The largest bell in the world is the great
bell of Moscow. at the foot of the Kremlin. Its
circumference at the bottom is nearly 68 feet.
and its hight more than Fl feet In its stoutest
part it is % inches thick and it's weight has been
computed to be 443 10 pounds. 1t has never
been hung.