The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27
A COAL PALACE.
The Unique Structure to be Erected in
Iowa.

The Unique Structure to be Erected in
Iowa.
The city of Ottumwa, Ia, is showing
more signs of life than ever before in its
history, says the Chicago Herald. Every
where can be seen indications of thrift, of
a new awakening, which is almost startling
to the older citizens. Ottumwa, like all
other towns, has had its season of "red
paint" and this season there is a revival of
the art of painting, but it is in better taste
and in more harmonious colors. The rea-
son of the revival is indirectly, indeed, not
directly, attributed to the coming coal
palace. The work is begun, and by Septem-
Der the palace will be ready.
The palace will be an imposing structure,
26O feet in length with an average width of
100 feet, the main tower lifting itself
proudly upward over 200 feet. 1t will be
built with an architectural character of its
own, and unlike other palaces in the state,
of hay, wood or stubble. The whole struc-
ture will be veneered with coal, various
unique designs entering into the building,
the material being obtained from the out
put of the various mines about Ottumwa.
A miniature coal mine is to be one of the
features Of the palace, and the excavation
is most admirably adapted to the purpose.
Into this mine shaft will lead from the
main tower over $50 feet above. The tower
at it's base will be over forty feet square
and it will be reached by means of two
elevators in the mi-circular towers
toward the front or by flight of stairs in
either of the semi circular towers on the
rear corners. From this point the sight
seer will get into car just as in regular
mine, when he will be lowered through
dark and forbidding shaft into the sunken
part where the mules, the miners, with
coal in large veins can be seen.
From the mine the visitorsc an go directly
to the first floor to view the exhibits or pass
out Of the building by another exit 1t may
be of interest to those who still have an adj
miration for terpsichore to know that the
top of this tower-being large enough-will
be utilized by the young people for the
graceful minuet. Think of a dancing floor
with twenty to twenty-five sets tripping the
light "pedantic' $50 feet above the sur
rounding county, with but balustrade to
check the tendency toward slipping of.
Undoubtedly the youthful swain will pay
the fiddler we'll, for the dance there will
"come high" any way you view it. To make
market quotations, however, it will cost just
one nickel to ride to the top of the tower,
plunge down into the dark shaft and get
lost in the mazes of the mine.
The architecture of the building is COM
promise between the Gothic and the Byzan-
tine. The holiness hints at the Gothic, but
the domes, little more dubious would do
credit to the Russian style. The palace will
be two stories in height. the first being
about twenty-five feet to the ceiling, the
other reaching to the top of the structure,
varying from SO to 100 feet.
The palace at night from the exterior
will present the most striking appearance,
Powerful electric arc lights will fash out
their brilliancy from each of the towers
and each OF the many windows will be pro-
scene more splendid than any illuminated
castle of the rich barons of feudal times.