The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-23
TO BEAT EIFFEL'S TOWER.
An English Structure That Is to Be
200 Feet in Height.

Sew ork sun.
The foundations OF Sir Edward Watkins
new tower of London have been completed.
They occupy four acres in pleasure park
of 120 acres between Willesden and Harrow.
They consist of immens Sc blocks OF concrete.
The nature OF the ground where the tower is
TO be constructed is so sloping and uneven,
that while one set Of f0otings appear about
five feet above the surface another is seven
feet below. third FIVE feet below and the
fourth at least twenty feet below the sur
face. These foundations go down nearly
twenty feet and should be capable of bear
ing any weight that could be paced upon
them. They have cost between SIS, coo and
$4,000
Some idea Of the magn itude Of the whole
undertaking may be gathered from the
statement that the Eiffel tower. which Is to
be SO far surpassed in size by the English
tower. was made Of 700 tons of steel and
iron. consisting Of L.. 600 specially designed
pieces, fastened together with 2.500. 900
rivets. The English tower is TO be $50 fe ct
higher than the French wonder. and the
latter can be seen at q distance of seventy
five miles. The English structure will also
be on higher ground. On the top OF the
English tower there will be an observatory
aud rooms for scientific experiments, which
are likely TO be Of great value.
The plan provides for large landing
stage that will aecomm odate 10000 people.
This landing stage will contain a large
dancing room and several shops, and will
have Tefreshment bars all round. Under
meath Will be rooms for stores and other
purposes, while at the top there Will be
number OF small rooms. Half way up will
be another landing stage, and arrange
ments have been made In the plans for hit
ing to the top of the tower double the num-
Der OF people that NJ. Eiffel can carry up his
structure. Ii is estimated that the tower
can be constructed in twelve months up TO
the first floor, and that the whole can be
completed in eighteen months.
Persons who have seen other tall buildings
of the world may gain some conception of
the height of Sir Edwards l20O-f0ot tower
by bearing in mind that Notre Dame in
| Paris is but PIT feet high. ST. Peters, Rome.
! 433 feet: the Washington Monument 554
| feet, the Great Pyramid OF Egypt 479 feet.
| Rouen Cathedral 1872 feet Strasburg Cathe-
| dral 467 feet. Cologne Cathedral 55l feet,
| and the Pantheon IN Paris 279 feet.
| The pleasure grounds round the tower
] will be the most extensive place Of amuse-
| ment in the world. Advantage has been
taken OF the River Brent, running through
| the estate, TO make an ornamental
lake, covering an area Of five acres.
| This is near the main entrance. In the
| summer it will be used for boating and in
the winter for curling and rinking. at one
| end Of the lake is picturesque waterfall.
| by means OF which the Brent, after eircling
several islands, releases itself and pursues
winding course through the park and on
| ward till il joins the water from tAe Welsh
| Harp Hendon. afterward falling into the
| Thames at Brentford.
A sufficient quantity OF water Is forced up
| hill from tine lake by a powerful ram to
| form a reservoir, which supplies a very
large ornamental fountain, similar to that
at the Crystal Palace. This fountain has
been completed. Close by is cricket
| ground Of seven acres. The whole area has
| been leveled, well turfed and efficiently
| drained On higher ground workmen are
| now laying out winter gardens in the large
| pavilion In which entertainments are TO be
| given. A band stand is also to be- provided
The whole 12o acres will be opened to the
| public early next spring, although the tower
will not be completed until ten or twelve
| m Onths later.