Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-08-07

bring the work 70 a speedy end At
the END Of SIX months the shaft meas
ured twenty-seven meters in diameter
and the lining Of il six meters in thick
ness. As il was absolutely necessary
that the projectile should glide through
bore perfectly smooth, the interior of
it was covered with casting exactly
prepared. In reality this part of the
work was very similar to that of the cell
ebrated Columbiad, of Moon City, which
had sent the projectile to the moon.
But such work as this is impossible 70
the ordinary engineers of this world at
present
AZ soon as the boring was finished the
workmen pushed on with the work at
the second workshop.
At the same time that this metallic
lining was being made they were also
employed at making the enormous pro-
jectile. For this operation it was neces.
ssry TO obtain cylindrical mass which
would weigh $4,000, 600 Kilograms. or
$50, coo tons. 1t must be understood
that there was never any idea Of melt
ing this projectile in one single piece. It
ho0 W " III All0NcdlQ-lO
pieces, which would be hoisted one
after the other into the shaft and put
in place over the chamber where the
meli-melCnite was stored. After having
been jointed each to the other these
pieces would form a compact whole,
which would fit the sides Of the tubular
lining. In regard 10 the construction
of the massive furnaces TO effect the
melting Of the metal. there was met,
perhaps, the greatest difficulty Ten
furnaces of ten meters each in height
were at the end of month in working
order and able TO produce each $50 tons
per day. This would be J. 500 tons for
twenty-four hours-1s0, 600 tons after
100 work-days
In regard 70 the third workshop, made
for the manufacture of the meli-melon-
lite, the work was easily done, but
under such secret precautions that the
composition Of this explosive it has not
been possible to state perfectly. Every
thing went along splen6idly. 1t could
not have been possible 10 have met with
more success in any factory. One would
hardly expect to escape an accident Of
some sort on a hree-handrod-thous
franc JOB. Il was easily understood that
the Sultan was delighted. lie followed
the operation with indefaugable inter
est. And the presence 81 his Majesty
helped greatly to make these negroes
worl; as hard as possible. One day Bali
Saia asked what ala bhese operations
were going or for lie received this re-
ply from President Bar6icane. 1t is a
work, " said he which Ui.l change the
face OF the earth. work which VIII
bring The greatest glory on she greatest
Sultan 81 all t8e Easte 3 Sings
2 = tho 2Qth of August tne worries were
entirely finished. The shaft was bored
to the wished Tor point. # was pro-
vided with a smooth bore Of six meters
diameter Az the bottom of the shaft
were placed The 2ooo tons Of meli-
melonite: tbcn come the proicctile lo5
meters long. After dedueting nae space
occupied by the powder and projectile
there remained s,Il s94 meters before
the muzzle WAS reached, which secured
all the effect posz .ble by the reeoil pro-
duced by the expansion 81 the gas.
Now. the Grstq question which might
come up was, would tne pro iCctle de-
viate from the trajectory .gnea 10 il
By the calculations Of j. 4. Maston In
no way, for tae calculations were abso-
lutely correct. they Indicated 20 what
extent the proicst.le would deviatc ~
the east of the meridian OF kilimanjaro
because Of tAc rotation 81 the earth on
its axis, and what wound be the form OF
the curve which it would deser be be-
cause Of the enormous initial velocity.
Secondly, WoUld II ~ Visible during ils
course? No, because n going ont 81
the shaft i waald be thrown in the
shadow 81 the carta aGd It cga.d not be
seen, for in consequence If its low
trajectory il would have q very sharp
angle OF velocity compared Nith the
earth's course. in fael Iar1laano and
Captain Nieaoll could wei be rEoH5 of
their work, which had rs ia succeeded
i'm its cverg aetatl. Why was s. IL
Ma5ton net there ID watch this
great operation, founded Is thp SPUR
ing which he had aone2 And who
Was il thai KEEP. ann So far away, So
very far away, when tfis terrible def
Cnation woold wake lhe ceHae Is far
as the farthaeaost horizon of Africa
Thinking o5 Nm, Bis two associates
jid not know THAT the secretary had
been compelled to keen away from
Ballistic Cottage after having got out Of
prison and hidden himself In a safe
place away from tie savage people.
They did not know e what extent in
dignation rad been reused against the
engineer Of the n Il Z. A. They did
not know that they, too would have
been burnt Or hanged and tortured to
death If it had been possible to have
reached them. Really, they ought to
have been glad that at the moment
when the shooting would take place
they would only be saiuted by the cries
of tkis negro people Of Eastern Africa.
well, at last.' said Captain Nicholl to
President Barbicane. when on the I'D Of
September they we're standing before
their finished work Yes, at lastl'
said Impey Barbicane. What a chance
it was that placed at our disposition this