The Colfax chronicle., 1888-12-01
SOME LARGE THINGS.

SOME LARGE THINGS.
An Interesting Compendium OF Fact
Gathered From Everywhere.
The largest desert is that of Sahara
a vast region of Northern Africa, ex.
tending 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 1000, ,O0C
square miles. Rain falls in torrents in
the Sahara at intervals of five, ten and
twenty years. In summer the heat
during the day is excessive, but the
nights are often cold. In winter the
temperature is sometimes below freez-
ing point.
The most remarkable natural bridge
is probably the Jisrel Hajar, which
spans gorge not far from the ruins of
the Temple of Adonis. in the province
OF the Lebanon in Syria. 1t is fat
piece Of limestone rock, from ten to
fifteen feet thick, perfectly arched on
the under side. The gorge is about $50
feet across. and the bridge is about 100
feet from the bed of the torrent below.
The bridge is so broad and level that a
good carriage road might be made over
it. This bridge is surpassed in height
by the natural bridge in Rockbridge
County, Va. about 125 miles west of
Richmond and about two miles from the
James river. 1t extends over Cedar
creek. The height of the arch is 200
feet, and the upper surface of the
bridge is 240 feet above the stream.
The largest suspension bridge in the
world is the New York and Brooklyn
bridge. 1t was commenced under the di-
rection of j. Roabling in 1870, and CON-
pleted in about thirteen years. The cos,
OF building was $l5, 100000. Construc-
ton commenced January 8, 1870; size
OF New York caisson, 172 by 1O2
feet; size of Brooklyn caisson, 16S by
1O2 feet; timber and iron in caissons,
5,253 cubic yards; concrete in wen-
holes, chambers, etc., 1863 cubic feet:
weight ofNew York caisson, 1000 tons;
weight of concrete filling, 5000 tons;
New York tower contains 46, 945 cubic
yards masonry; Brooklyn tower con-
tains 1924 cubic yards masonry:
length OF river span, 1885 feet inches;
length of each land span, $50 feet and
and 1850 feet; length of Brooklyn ap-
proach, 971 feet; length of New York
1862 feet and inches; total
ength of bridge, $3.50 feet; width of
bridge, S5 feet; number of cables, 4;
of each, 15} inches; height of
over above roadway, 159 feet; weight |
IT each anchor-plate, 23 tons; height of |
'ridge above high-water. 1876 feet.
The highest tower in the world will
'e the Eiffel Tower when completed. |
The iron tower which the engineer
siffel proposes to erect on the banks of
he Seine, opposite the Trocadero
'alace, as feature of the Paris Ex-
'osition of 1889. will if completed
warf all other structures yet reared
y human hands. Its height is to be
ominally 1000 feet-actually about
90 feet. The commission controlling
be finances OF the Exposition have
oted the subventiono of /, 125, 900 francs
sked by the inventor The tower has
cen actually commenced.
The largest church in the world is
he basilica of st. Peters in Rome. Its
are as follows: Length of
,terior, 6l3 feet; breadth of the nave
nd aisles, 1874 feet; height of the
ave, 152 feet; length of the transepts,
i63 feet; diameter OF the dome. in
uding the walls, 1876 feet, or nearly
Vo feet more than that of the Pantheon;
lameter OF the interior, 139 feet; height
ON the pavement to the base OF. the
intern, 4O5 feet; to the summit of the
'oss outside, 448 feet. The whole of
: Paurs Cathedral in London might
and within the shell OF st. Peters
it'll room to spare. The towers of the
ologne Cathedral when completed will
the highest church towers in the
old-511 feet-which is the length of
10 Cathedral. The breadth of this
lifice is 23l feet, = San francisco
ronicle.