Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-11-18
THE BIGGEST THINGS.

iAD hippLNi iHiNuc'
Interesting Facts Useful When You Get Into
an Argument.
Philadelphia Bulletin.
The largest theatre in the world is the
new opera house in Paris. 1t covers
nearly three acres of ground; its cubic
mass is 4,287 900 feet; il cost about SaOO,-
100000. The largest suspension bridge
is the one between New York city and
Brooklyn; the length of the main span is
1895 feet, six inches; the entire length of
the bridge is $3.50 feet. The loftiest
active volcano il Popocatapeti- ssmok-
ing mountain'-thirty-f five miles south
west of Puebla, Mexico; is 17,74s feet
above the level of the sea and has a era
ter three miles III circumference and l 900
feet deep. The longest span of wire in
the world is used for a telegraph in
India over the river Kistnah. 1t is more
than 5000 feet in length and is 1900 feet
high. The largest ship in the world is the
Great Eastern; She is $50 feet long, SO
feet broad and so feet deep, being 2S,627
tons burden, 1875 gross ana 1884, net
register.
THE GREATEST FORTRESS,
from strategical point of view, is tho
famous stronghold of Gibraltar; 1t oc-
cupies rocky peninsula jutting out in
to the sea, about three miles long and
three-quarters of a mile wide. One cen
trail rock rises to the height OF 1,435 feet
above the sea level Its northern
face is almost perpendicular,
while its east side is full of tremendous
precipices. On the south it terminates
IN what is called Europa Point The
west side is less steep than the east, and
between its base and the sea is the mar
row, almost level span on which the town
Gibraltar was built. The fortress IS con
sidered impregnable to military assault.
The regular garrison in time of peace
numbers about seven thousand.
The biggest cavern is the mammoth
Cave in Edmonson County, Ky. 1t is
near Green River, about six miles from
Cave City, and twenty-eight from Bowl
ing Green. The cave consists of a sue
cession of irregular chambers, some of
which are large, situated ON different
levels. Some of these are traYersea by
navigable 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 Lu-
cerne and Milan. The summit of the tun-
mel Is 800 feet below the surface at Ander-
matt, and 5000 feet beneath the peak of
Kastelhorn of the st Gothard group.
The tunnel is 26l5 feet wide, and is IS
feet 10 inches from the floor to the crown
of the arch roof. 1t is 81 miles leng1 q
miles longer than the Mount Gents Tun-
mel.
The biggest trees in the world are the
mammoth trees of California. One in a
grove i'll Tulare county, according to
measurements made by members of the
State Geological survey, was shown to be
276 feet in height, 100 feet in circumfer-
ence at base, and rs feet at point 2 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 $500
years.
The largest library is the Bibliotheque
National in Paris, founded by Louis XIV.
1t contains 100000 volumes, 300, 900
pamphlets, 10000 manuscripts, 100000
maps and charts, and 10000 coins and
medals The collection of engravings ex-
ceeds 100000, contained in some 10000
volumes. The portraits number about
| 100000.
THE LARGEST DESERT
is that of Sahara, vast region of North
ern 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
about 900 miles, its area about 100000
/ square miles. Rain falls in torrents IN
/ the Sahara at intervals of five, ten, and
twenty years. In summer the heat dur
ing the day is excessive, but the nights
are often cold. In winter the tempera-
/ ture is sometimes considerable below
| freezing point.
/ The greatest pyramid is that of Cheops
one of the three pyramids forming the
Memphis Group, situated on plateau
about 1877 feet above the level of the high
est rise in the Nile. It's dimensions have
been reduced by the removal of the outer
portions to furnish stone for the city of
Cairo. Its masonry consisted originally
of S9,02S,000 cubic feet, and still amounts
to S2,111,000. The present vertical
height is $50 feet, against 479 feet origin
ally. The total weight of the stone is es
timated at 6,3l6OO0 tons.
The largest bell in the world is the great
bell of Moscow, and at the foot OF the
kremlin. Its circumference at the bot
tom is nearly G8 feet, and its height more
than 81 feet. In its stoqtest part it is %
inches thick, and its weight has been com
puted to be 443, 722 pounds. 1t has never
been hung.