The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-11
In AND ABOUT THE CITY.
HE COURT HOUSE TOWER.
An Illuminated CLICK TO Be Built in
tina lower.

An Illuminated Clock TO Be Built in
the Tower.
The work on the tower Of the new court
house is rapidly approaching completion,
and will add macl TO the architectural
beauty of the costly edifea.
The iron framework Of the tower roof is
in place, and when the wooden framework
or ,sheeting has been bolted in place the
roofing Of tile will be attached
The four rims for the tower clock are in
place, and behind each diamond shaped
stones have been inlaid in the tower front
on four sides, with central perforatioas
through which the arms will extend from
the clock mechanism upon which the hands
viii be placed.
BY an ingenious arrangement the dials
will De illuminated by hooded electric lights,
which, whila the glare Of the electric lamps
VIII bs concealed, they will reflect their
nghr upon the hands and figures of the
dials so that the time may be seen in the
darkest night. The plan has been suggested
DIV Judge w. ID. Harden, and it is under
stood that ths commissioners will adopt the
economic and ingenious method of dial
Illumination, which Judge Harden, who has
investigated the matter, says will be several
hundred per cent cheaper than transparent
dlals, an expense that the commissioners do
not feel justified in undergoing.
The dials will be plain, aud the electric
lights not being visable will reflect back their
light from the hood to the dial. Illuminating
the figures and hands The figures and
hands and the minute marks will be painted
black, and the rim light color or gilded-
Judge Harden, who has obtained great
deal or information about clocks during a
correspondence which he has had with
clock manufacturers, VITA view of aiding
the commissioners in getting the best tower
clock, and at reasonable figures, in an inter-
view with MORNING NEWS reporter yes
| terday said that there are only two firms in
this country which manufacture tower
clocks, the Il. Howard Watch and Clock
Company and the Seth Thomas Clock Conn
pany.
The L. Howard company manufactures
| and furnishes pendulum and weight clocks
and spring and electric clocks. The Seth
Thomas Clock Company manufactures only
pendulum and weight clocks and spring
clocks.
Bids have been received from the Hotter
Cabot Electric Company of Boston to fur
nish tower, court room and lobby with cleo
trio clocks, and Blodgett Bros.
q Company of Boston have
| also proposed to furnish electric clocks.
The 4. Howard company has offered to
| electric clocks as may be desired The Seth
Thomas company offers to furnish pendulum
| and weight clocks for the tower. court
| rooms and lobby, dialS to be "a inches and
Ia inches in diameter. The figures in the
various bids are considered as confidential
until the board of county commissioners
| act upon them.
Judge Harden says that at one time he
| mad advised le use of electric clocks, be-
lieving them TO be cheaper and better than
the pendulum and weight clocks, bat he
| says that he is now satisfied that they are
not cheaper and, very decidedly, are not
better. The Seth Thomas Clock Company,
he says, have strongly advised against the
| purchase of an electric clock, and the
| Howard Company also strongly advise
| against adopting the electric clock system,
Inquiries in other directions, Judge Har-
den says prove that the electric system,
except in very rare cases. does not give sat
isfaction
The Seth Thomas and the Howard COM
pauies in their bids guarantee to put in
tower pendulum and weight clock which
will run with variation of less than 10
seconds per month, and warranted TO be free
from original defects for five years. The
guarantee for the minimum variation in the
| finest watches. Judge Harden says, is so
seconds per month, so that the variation of
the tower clock in 12 months would be less
| than two minutes.
The new tower, with its four Illuminated
| dials, tile roof, and the vane, with its
| wrought iron staff varying from square
to spiral column, will add Architectural
finish to the handsome structure. The
blade of the vane viii have two "C's linked
together on it, standing for Chatham
| county.
Mr.. Urban. the supervising architect,
says that the building will be ready for oc-
cupancy beyond question by Aug. Is. The
exterior work is almost completed, and the
work on the interior and tine general clean
ing up will be prosecuted with that vigor
which has been characteristic of the work
since the contractors, Miles & Brandt, broke
ground last summer.