The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1894-08-17
FEATS OF ENGINEERING.
Wonderful Energy and Acuteness
OF tho Early Peruvians.
skin nnd Magnitude of stone Work on the
Eastern Continent outriynled- Some
thing In the Air OF Western HEINZ
sphcrc That Stimulates.

Not the least interesting group Of
facts in reference to the ascendancy
Of our western hemishere in engi-
neering has been developed by re-
cent Investigations and excavations
in Peru. These show conclnsiveiy
that on the western slope OF the
great Andes mountains dwelta COM
munity possessed Of wonderful skill
In engineering and the useful arts.
These arts were carried on to de-
gree of perfection which was really
remarkable, and, we may safely say,
was equal to II not beyond anything
that has been developed in the long
line of researches among the ruins
Of eastern antiquity. Canals, roads
and Notifications Of wonderful con-
struction, remains Of buildings and
fountain beds, concrete domes and
porphyry reservoirs. all Indicate the
high degree OF perfection in masonry
and stone work with which the In
cas- were surrounded. In moving
massive blocks of huge stone they
were wonderfully expert. Some of
their Notifications contain blocks OF
stone the individual weight OF which
runs as high as three hundred and
sixty-one tons. These were moved
great distances, over ravines and
instructions which were met with
in but exceptional instances, if at
all, in similar processes by the
ancient Egyptians and Persians. In
building walls their method of lay
ing and connecting stones, mortis-
ing each one into the next, hewing
and fitting mortises as we now hew
and fit wood, exceeds in workman
ship and magnitude anything that
can be found on the eastern CONT
nent.
The great question has arisen as
to what tools the ancient stone
workers used, both in the western
world and on the borders of the Med
iterrancan. Little doubt now ex-
lists that both used saws and drills,
and in fact core drills, with Jewels
set in their face which formed an al
most indestructible cutting edge, so
that as q matter Of fact our deep
well-boring diamond core drills of
the last decade are only revivals Of
tools known to the ancients.
Another method was the use of soft
bronze saws or drills with sand and
water. In many power stone yards
in our great cities this process can
be seen in operation to day, Of cut
ting flag stones, by gang saws con-
sisting simply of blades of soft iron
dragged back and forth over their
path, which is constantly being
worn away by sand aud water
poured freely into the slit. Many OF
the cavities and saw cuts wrought
by the ancient Egyptians and also
by our own Peruvians give evidence
OF excellent skill in these arts which
are supposed to be modern. AS to
this method Of drilling holes In
stone, it will be remembered that
the first waterworks in the city Of
Edinburgh were supplied with pipes
made of solid stone with holes bored
through them by rotating pipe
freely fed with sand and water, and
some of these old waterpipes are to
be found in place at the present day.
1t has been suggested that there
is something in the air of this west
ern hemisphere which certainly has
stimulated its children to wonderful
activity, and has urged on their eff
forts especially in the line of en-
cheering and industrial enterprises
to an extent and perfection that
commands growing admiration
and wonder the more it is investi.
gated and comprehended.- Chicago
Standard.