The record-union., 1893-02-20
THE TOWER OF LONDON.
some Facts and Figures In Connection
With This Structure.

The foundations of Sir Edward Wat
kin's new tower of London have been
completed. They occupy four acres in a
pleasure park of 100 acres between Willes-
| den and Harrow. They consist of i'm
mense blocks of concrete. The nature of
the ground where the tower is to be con-
structed is so sloping and uneven that
| while one set of footings appears about
nve feet above the surface another is
| seven feet below, third five feet below
and the fourth at least twenty feet below
the surface. These foundations 90 down
nearly twenty feet and should be capa-
| bic OF bearing any weight that could be
placed upon them. They have cost be-
tween S25, 900 and $50, GOO.
Some Idea OF the magnitude of the
| whole undertaking may be gathered from
the statement that the Eitfel tower. which
is TO be so far surpassed in size by the
| English tower, was made of 800 tons of
steel and iron, consisting of Il, 900 special
| ~ designed pieces, fastened together with
2,500,0UO rivets. The English tower is to
| be l5O feet higher than the French won
| der, ana the latter can be seen at a dis
tance 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 and rooms for
sclentlhc experiment, which are likely to
| be OF great value.
The plan provides for large landing
| stage that will accommodate 20 GOO people
ms landing stage will contain a large
dancing-room and several shops, and Will
have refreshment bars all round. Under
meath will be rooms for stores and other
purposes, while at the top there will be a
number OF small rooms, which might be
used as private dining-rooms.
Half way up will be another landing
stage. and arrangements have been made
IN the plans for lifting to the top OF the
tower double the number of people that
M. Eiffel can carry up his structure. 1t
is estimated that the tower can be con-
structed IN twelve months up to the first
floor, and that the whole can be COM
pleted in eighteen months.
Persons who have seen other tall build
ings of the world may gain some concep-
ton of Sir Edwards I,2G0-foot tower bv
bearing in mind that Notre Dame in Paris
is but 2l7 feet high; st. Peters. Rome.
433 feet; the Washington Monument, 554
feet; the Great Pyramid of Egypt, 479
feet; Roune Cathedral, 1872 feet; Stras-
burg Cathedral, 467 feet; Invalds. in
Paris, 345 feet; Cologne Cathedral, 52I
feet, and the Pantheon, in Paris, 279 feet.
The pleasure grounds round the tower
Will be the most extensive place of
amusement in the world. ADVANTAGE has
been taken of the River Brent, running
through the estate, to make an orna-
mental lake covering an area of five acres.
IhlS 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 a picturesque
waterfall, by means Of which the Brent.
after circling several islands, releases
itself and pursues a winding course
through the park and onward till it Joins
the water from the Welsh Harp, Hendon.
afterward falling into the Thames at
Brentford.
A sufficient quantity of water is forced
up hill from the lake by powerful ram
to form reservoir, which supplies a
very large ornamental fountain, similar
to that at the Crystal Palace. The foun-
tain has been completed. Close by it is a
cricket ground CT seven acres. The whole
area has been leveled, well turfed and eff
ficiently drained. On higher ground
workmen are now laying out winter gar
dens, in the large pavilion of which en-
tertalnments are to be given. a band
stand is also to be provided.
The whole l20 acres will be opened to
the public early next spring, although
the tower will not be completed until
ten or twelve months later.-New York
Sun.