New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-11
THE RISE OF THE ELEVATOR.
COMING ZIP FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS
THE NEW LIFTS IN THE TRIBUNE BOlhDiN'
THEIR SAFETY, ELEGANCE AND swlFTNhss

THE NEW LIFTS IN THE TRIBUNE BUlLDlN'
THEIR SAFETY, ELEGANCE AND swlfTNhSS'
rho.a was a time when the numbering stage-coach
xvas considered fine example of the rapid suIuos
of civilization but its usefulness was shoIV"' "
hest There was a time, too, when men were s"' :"
avail themselves Of the convenience OF an cieN ''o
of the rudest type, heavy, clumsy plau'iH -"
was pulled up TO the top Of building by some s'4uS
HOY. Three passengers were big load and UP
- no TON ~ a nine-story building, had there been
such buildings in those days, they woulu naSo us
cnraccd the most patient or lazy of men. improve
ments in the speed capacity and convenience VI gro
vators kept pace with those In other thlhes anu -
The hurrying, scramblng eager people OF 'niS p,uDe
ing age called for greater convemehceS' nu',i
men had 10 content themselves with oMces ms, uP
in the air, and minute saved IN getting 10 UT noi'
them was minute of valuable time salned'
The two hydraulic passenger eeVa"rs
which have recently been placed IN
The Tribune building give s,rihins
example of the attention that is paid no"adaSs !"
the needs and convenience Of an impauen'' roS',o9'
unbllc In appearance they are Hos' Piea9iis'
Light and airy, the whole car except ilo hooi D.i"e
made If light ironwork, they give one The sensation
experienced In making balloon ascension Inc piao
Ia mirrors in each Of the four corners OF inc car
Tho electric lights with their tinted shades anu inc
oaken floors give them touch OF luxury Iho 'P
reached by the is exceedingly RAPID AH0 ~
mum rate is 500 feet minute, but the cars arc soi
orally run at the rate of about 400 feet hhu.o' ="
ing 10 the frequent stops. The hois, rum '0 w.
tom IN the top of The Tribune Building IS lot lco''
80 ,ha+ rho trim rnay easily be made In t"eh'y SCI
ends When one is making trip from ue io"or "
the INNER landing without a stop the eApo''n'0 "
something like this: closing door, shoo' UP
rard an opening door, and a stereotyped Noioe s'S
ing " Nne.' .A cor ,s
The maximum weight carried by each car Is
1900 pounds. There Is not 'ho '"s ehat
ger Of car falling down the sndi'
wing to the giving way of the cables Tor 'he loui
hosting cables have "a lifting capacity OF ii'ooo
mounds each To insure fuller freedom lrom "'o'
dent two of these are slightly slack so that 'ofo 10
no strain upon them, and should tho o'heI '"o pc
siblv become worn out and thus be suddenly parou'
there would slI be two unused cables, with nluhs
capacity of $4,000 pounds to hold weight ol Only
5000 pounds Should everything give way how
ever the car could not drop for It's speed IS regulated
by an automatic governor placed It's top If the
speed Of the Car should exceed 500 feet minute, the
governor snaps a spring and the car is instantly
brought to a standstn by two automatic grips which
seize the guide posts.
The car IS not operated by the old-fashoned hand
cable running through the car but by means Of a
| lever This is held constantly by the operator, who
thus has the under perfect control In connection
with the lever IS auxiliary valve, by means OF
which the water pressure Is so directed as TO
| operate the main valve In addition 10 TINS
appliance. there is fixed 10 the machinery an indepen
| dent automatic valve which stops the az the
terminal landing by itself BY this means there Is nc
possible danger of a full of people being shot vi
through the ceiling as from catapult, In case the
operator becomes confused careless.
There TWO water tanks for tho supply of water
The upper has capacity of 5000 gallons, and the
lower one Of 3700. with the valve In the steam
pump is connected automatic float, which controls
the supply of water to the upper tank As a further
prevention against accidents the discharge pipe Is
Supplied with slphon relief valve which stops the
car instantly # any obstruction 10 its progress is
met.
With all the precautions taken for the safety OF
passengers their comfort and convenience have been
looked after with equal care. An automatic stop
valve prevents the operator from stopping the car
with sudden jerk. Furthermore that no efforts might
be spared add every possible thing TO their con
venence the ordinary perpendicular cylinder OF ele
vators which gives OUT a Kissing sound has been
replaced on these with noiseless horizontal
cylinder attached to the bottom of the car These
cars, which made by the Crane Elevator Company,
working order under the personal supervision OF
Edward L. Raht, the Tribune Building architect