The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-24
IN AN ORGANS HEART.
a ''JournaI'' Reporter Climbs Into
the Methodist Organ
AMONG TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED PIPES

Organist Rochr Acts as Guide Up the
Three Flights OF Ladders-An Atch-
tsOn Man Here Copying the Organ.
Mr. o. Marshall, organ builder, of
Moline. ILL.,, was in Topeka last evening
taking the pattern and dimensions of the
big pipe organ in the First Methodist
church. with the purpose of putting
similar case upon an organ he is build
ing in a church at Atchison.
Mr.. Marshall told both Prof. Lieb
and W F. Roehr, the organist. that
he was particularly well pleased with the
style of the Methodist organ and the
Atchison organ will be built on the same
general plan, save that where the Topeka
organ has three manuals, great swell
and choir organ, the Atchison will be
composed of two manuals, emitting the
choir organ.
The history and composition of the
First Methodist church organ is inter
esting.
A reporter examined the whole affair
with the organist Mr.. W. F. Roehr last
night just behind the altar there is a
trap door which leads down to the base
ment by a crazy ladder which weaves
about in scary fashion and is minus the
lower round.
In the basement the electric motor is
located which furnishes the "wind' for
the big organ.
For three years after the organ was
built a water motor was used, but it ac
cumulated dampness around the reeds,
often froze at critical periods and caused
uneven pressure.
"The former organisf' said Mr.. Roehr,
concluded that an electric motor would
be better if it could be adjusted or gov
erned so as to furnish the proper amount
of speed to the bellows.
"For long time he worked at the mo-
tor and then l became organist and the
mantle fell upon my shoulders.
"But we have gotten it in fine order
now; see how it works, while 1 rush up
and play"
The governing was self adjusting and
perfect. When Mr.. Roehr played fast
| the motor fairly buzzed around and
! sparks snapped from the dynamo. AS
the tones of the organ died away into
softer notes the motor went slower, and
slower, its motion hardly being visible
until it ceased entirely with the tones of
the organ.
Coming down again Mr. Roehr said:
81 will now act the part of guide, but
you must tread softly and carefully, as
all the little reeds you see are as delicate
as hair ferns and will not stand bruis-
ing"
The dust lay thick on the second lad
der, as we climbed up into the very heart
of the great organ, which is directly
back and about on level with the head
of DR.. Embree when he stands in his pull
pit.
s'The reason the dust lies here is be-
cause we dare not sweep for fear of clog
ging up the pipes and reeds" said the
guide, as we swung right in the middle
of hundreds of pipes, which run il
series of sixteen, eight. four and two fee
down to tiny ones of One-half inch IL
length.
''The curious thing about the pipes,
said the organist, sis that thirty-twC
foot tone can be gotten from sixteen
foot pipe By corking it at the end, which
is hollow. This gives a tone which /:
deeper with nineteen vibrations per sec
ond.
1.-THE mechanism is very susceptible tC
heat, cold and dampness, but that is being
overcome by a generous coat of shella'
! varnish."
Now we climb aoother ladder
up higher and higher while thu
light throws strange, fantastic
shadows, and it is not grea
stretch of imagination to fancy ones sci
pipes, with their little crowns and gap
ing mouths, as petrifed corpses. This
is the choir organ" the guide says
s'while directly back is the swell organ
which opens and closes when the beau
tiful diminuendo and crescendo effect il
obtained.
you see lots of pipes again, but ther
you know there are $500 in the organ
and fifty stops.
''The tones on all these little reeds ar
perfect" aad the organist illustrated by
picking up a small pipe from its posi-
ton and playing like shepherd on
flute.
This staging is twenty five feet from
the floor of the church and well VI
towards the roof.
As we climbed down the three fight
and up in the church again Mr.. Roeh
explained that the organ cost original,
$4,000 and was built for another church
but the plans were not as agreed upOl
and the original owner sold it to the To
peka church for $1,000. 1t is the larges
organ in the state, the second one being
, in the Catholic cathedral at Leaven
worth.
The organ was rebuilt six years ag
and was the third in the United States t.
be supplied with electric motor power
One in New York city and one in Chi
cagO preceding it.
The casing is of black walnut beauti
fully stained and the pipes reach thirt
feet from the floor.
Few people who listen to its music oil
Sundays realize what delicate veins AM
nerves it is composed of.
SANTA TT SHIFTS