The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-07
TALL SMOKESTACKS.

A New Sky-Scraper at Fall River-Others
That Oyortop 1t.
The tallest smokestack in the United
States, and in fact the tallest in the world
designed solely for the purpose of provid-
ing draught for boilers, received its final
courses recently at Fall River, Mass. It IL
intended to meet the requirements Of the
entire steam plant of the four new mills of
the Fall River Iron company.
Some idea of its size can be had from the
following figures, furnished by the CON
tractor, William n. Manley. of this
city: From tho top of the gran
tie foundation to the cap is $50 feet,
the diameter at the base is thirty feet, at
the top twenty-one feet; the fue is twenty
one feet throughout, and the entire struct-
ure rests on solid granite foundation SIX
80. sixteen feet deep. In its construction
there was used 100000 bricks, 1900 tons
OF stone, 1900 barrels of mortar, 1000 loads
of san 1000 barrels of Portland cement,
and the estimated cost IS $4,000. It is ar
ranged for two hues nine feet six inches by
six feet, connecting with forty boilers,
which are to be run in connection with
four triple-expansion engines of ], $50 horse
power each.
In erecting this immense shaft no outside
staging has been used, but as the work pro-
crosses Cross pieces were set into the inner
wall, and on these platform laid for the
time being. All material was carried up
on an elevator. and self-closing matches
precluding the danger of either workmen
or material falll " from above, while by
speaking tubes and a system of electric sig-
| mails communication was established be-
tween the workmen and those below.
1t is circular IN form, and to insure its
being built absolutely plumb, observations
distant and the true center verified ever,
twenty feet the work WAS carried up. Thu
cap is of terra Gotta, in l2S sections, and
below this a distance of twenty-five ant
fifty feet are projecting rings. Between
these is the narrowest point in the diameter
of the shaft, fifteen feet four inches.
Ground was broken April 9Th, and brick
laying commenced June 9Th. Ten men hav,
been engaged on the job, unde. direction oi
Michael McNally, and no accident has
marred the undertaking.
The next tallest chimney in the countr
is at the CLARK Thread works, Kearney, N
J. This is 3s5 feet high. twenty-eight feet
year ago; 1857 900 bricks were used in it
construction. the cost being $4,000.
There are but three taller chimneys il
the world, and these are in connection will
| chemical works, whore high shafts are es
sential to carry noxious gases and odors Of
without endanRerinR the public health
| That of Townsend's works in Glasgow
Scotland, is 454 feet high and 81 at the has,
that 10, the height Of the brick work; but
owing to the fact that it was struck b
lightning, aud somewhat damaged, as pre-
cautionary measure, copper extensio
subsequently was added to il. making it
entire height 4SS feet. In order to get
man up 70 do this work, kite Was How
over the chimney and limo dro pped aero
Then rope was hauled by this means owe
and thus the workman was pulled mp,
to whom the copper sheets were hoisted on
at time, and Who did the perilous job I
the top alone.
When this chimney was building An
nearly finished heavy gale canted it mir
feet out of plumb, but thi was remedie
by saving into the mortar ON the side frol
which the stack leaned. until the immeni
shaft gradually settled back to its forme
position. II was three years building IN
cost $4,000
The next highest is at Tenant 4 CO..
also in Glasgow. This is 4S6 feet, 400 fe<
base, 1914 feet fiue, and vas ono year buill
ing.
The only other taller than the Fall Rive
chimney 10 ut Dobs0n i BarloW's, Bolton
fest 10 inches base, Is feet two inches fiue
and cost $4,000.
The Fall River one is graceful and sym
metrical in shape. but occupies positio
near the Shove. on the lowest level ia q
city, and doss not show up to good advaz
ta0s.