The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-20
.GRAYDON'S BIG WHEEL
A Former indianapolis Man in
London with a Scheme.
Ferris's Chicago Attraction to Be Out
done Three Hundred Feet in
Height-At Earfs Court.

Lieut.. James Wier Graydon, formerly OF
this city and quite well known, has doomed
up in London as a principal promoter in a
big enterprise, for which, it seems. he has
valuable patent papers. He made quite a
reputation in this country as an inventor of
an explosive greater in death-dealing power
than dynamite. The Gigantic Wheel and
Recreation Towers Company, Limited, is
the name of the corporation which GraydOn
is interested in. The corporation was organ
lied in London, England, and it's purpose
is to construct a gigantic wheel. after the
plan of the Ferris wheel, which is to be
operated at the Earrs Court Exhibitions,
continuing from 1894 to 1898. The Ferris
wheel was $50 feet high and carried 1,4OO
passengers in thirty-six carriages. The
Graydon wheel will carry 1000 passengers
three hundred feet high in forty carriages.
The patent for the wheel rs held by Gray
don, so the prospectus would Indicate.
About 1900 tons of steel will be used in
the construction Of the wheel. 1t will re-
volve upon two towers, each 175 feet high.
Each of these towers will have on its top
large saloons with surrounding balconies.
and under the saloons will be three floors
which will be occupied as restau-
rants, buffets, promenades. concert rooms
and other recreation purposes. Provision
will be made for fireworks stations, search
light stations and other novelties. Electric
lighting stations will be so arranged as 10
permit the lighting of the entire wheel by
electricity. The axle upon which the wheel
revolves will be arranged to form a passage
way between the two large saloons at the
top and elevators Will carry passengers TO
and from the ground TO the saloons at the
top of the towers. The carriages will be
ten feet high and will be arranged chleny
for observation purposes. They will how
ever, be furnished as drawing and dining
rooms. Special carriages will also be ar
ranged for afternoon, tea parties In mid
air. The capital stock of the company is
$1,000 sterling, or $STG,oo' n ana 5he e 1ir e p
chairman, Gate chairman of the royal naval
exhibition; Lord Henry Thyme, Muntham
Court Worthing; Col. +. e. savage Gurtls.
OF Messrs. Maudslay, Sons 81 Field, lmited.l
The stock is divided into 10000 shares Of
by Walter Bassett, one Of the managing
directors of Messrs. Maudslay: Sons q
Field, engineers. of Westminster Btlugs
with Mr.. Graydon TO pay to nm to ster-
ling each week while. the wheel Is open
and 25 per cent. on the cost OF co9struco
wheel within the district OF the Lond0n
County Council. The prospectus of the
| probable earnings of the wheel.
-l"Under contract intended to be entered
INTO with the MelTOpOlldu PlSbiSb N"HN"s
Company the company will be entitled,
on keeping their wheel open to the public
concurrently with an exhibition at the
Earl's Court Grounds, to the whole profits
of the wheel up TO $4,000, receivable as
| follows, viz: f35, 900 in the first year and to-
go in each of the four succeeding years,
provided that if the cost. of the wheel,
| plus f5, 200, shall amount to less than f55,OV0,
| the ompany shall receive only the sum 1t
has actually cost them, plus 5000,
and after the whole profits have
been received by the company in any
year, up to the sum specified as hereinbe-
fore mentioned, the gross profits shall be
divided as follows, viz: the wheel company
shall receive 52lA per cent. thereof, and
| the balance of 4712 per cent. shall be pay
able to the Metropolitan District Railway
Company by way of rent; Other arranse-
ments are made under the same contract
with the Metropolitan District Railway
Company as TO the division OF the profits
| arising from side shows and refreshment
contracts, and as to minimum rent, etc,
and il is provided that in case OF there be
in ! any year no exhibition in the Earfs
&C Grounds this company is to have
the right to work the wheel: and the COM
pany undertakes to keep the wheel erected
and working at the EarPs Court exhibitions
i for five years"