The midland journal., 1890-01-10
JOTTINGS FROM MEMORY
HERE AND THERE.
Written for the MIDLAND JOURNAL.

Mr.. EDITOR.-Perhaps too late, but
your request made in September last
for pocket pencilings--hcre and there =
during our absence this summer, could
not receive my earlier attention. l
never entertained a thought Of following
closely, any line of experience, because
it could only in great measure be
re iteration of the same story told by
others, because the lines of travel are SO
clearly marked in the old world that
every one follows the beaten paths, and
tits said he who leaves them, soon re-
turns from necessity. In response, how
ever, to the request of many have
thought that here and there, circum-
stances could be related and remarkable
features described, that might not be
all repetition to every one Of your
readers.
THE EIFFEL TOWER.
This item first because being the
highest elevation of its kind, is in that
respect at any rate the most prominent
item Of interest in all Europe. Of this
much has been written and said but SO
wonderful is this "Tour Eiffel," as the
French people term it, that it will af-
ford much being said Of it. There are
many wonderful things in the world |;
some wonderful in one line and some
in another and this Tower almost doub.
ling in elevation any other steple,
monument or tower in the world makes
it the '.wonder of wonders" in its line.
From almost any part oc the City Of
Paris it can be seen, and hence it attracts
, your attention, Immediately upon your
first arrival, in that beautiful City let
it.be by daylight or in the night time
because it is then Illuminated.
This is not an institution erected as
feature of the Exposition alone al
though located in the centre of the
grounds, and by this time while the
other structures of the Exposition are
being rapidly cleared away and the
"Champ de Mars" commencing to as
sumo its former position among the
many open Parks and Pleasure Grounds
of Paris, the "Eiffel Tower" still stands
and will stand as permanent institu-
ton of that great city. The ground
upon which it stauds was leased for 20
years and the company organized to
build and operate this great undertak-
ing, contracted to give it to the City of
Paris as gift if permitted to operate
it for their own profit for that space Of
time. While no estimate seems to be
given of its cost that can be based on
good authority yet it is said the owners
have long since received its cost price
and the profits Of the next l9 years
will be clear gain having no money in
vested in the enterprise now. 1t in
cludes between the four stone masonary
pillars upon which its four feet rest,
just two acres of ground. You can
form good idea of its four corners by
looking at square lot of grounds con-
tanning two acres and placing foot on
each corner to build Tower over 900
feet high. 1t has been represented as
1000 feet high but it is but little over
900 feet.
When the exhibition was at its
zenith, during the middle of the day,
all the available facilities of the Tower
were occupied and we're estimated to
accommodate in all, including en-
ployes, 10000 people. Glance at these
dimensions a Tower over 900 feet high
made of $500 tons of iron, fastened to-
gether as bridge work, standno on four
feet, each foot on corner of two acre
lot of ground and bearing up 10000
human souls at one time, distributed at
all elevations from the ground up to
900 feet. Upon its different platforms
are numerous restaurants, printing
office where paper is written and
printed called the "Figaro," also num-
erous Bars, (French people do not con.
slider any resort complete without a
place to get their wiue), also any
amount of booths and counters every
where for the sale of trinkets and me.
mentoes, so that the commerce of the
Tower is enormous. The cost of ascend
ing the Tower is five francs, or one dol.
lar in American money. The shrewd.
ness of the French is in this particular
fully displayed.
Ifthe full sum was demanded at first
the number who would start out on the
expedition would. venture to say be
diminished one.half, but the first charge
is two francs Tor 40 cts J to first plat
III. IL