St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-26
THE PROPOSED AosIM1LE GLOBE.

dred-thousandth as large as the earth
The equatorial diameter would be about
41S feet and the circumference 1872
feet 1t would consist Of an outer shell
laid over a lightly made framework of
iron. The surface would be Of plaster
of Paris, nodded and celored so as to
indicate elevations ana depressions,
plains, Valleys, mountain ranges,
oceans, islands, lakes, rivers, etc.
The outer shell would. be put on in
80, 104 panels, each of which could be
removed at will. The spheroid would
be made to srevolve on it's axis by
clock work machinery at the exact rate
which the earth revolves once in "a
hours. The effects of light and shadow
might be shown by the use of electric
light
Another feature of, the scheme is to
1nclose the mimic earth in an outer ell
Velope or shell of spheroidal form on
Which could be painted another repre-
sentat1on of the surface of the globe.
The space between the globe and its
covering would te utilized for a series
of spiral galleries., which would be
reached by elevators. The coils of this
great spiral would be "a in number and
would be about 20 feet apart. These
galleries would be used by students and
spectators, and complete collection Of
books, maps and scientific instruments
could be kept there to, facilitate the
minute study Of the wonderful globe
The total height Of the structure would
be 636 feet, the width of he space be-
tween the globe and the envelope 81
feet. The total weight Of the globe and
the envelope, it is estimated. would be
2',O0O tons, and it would have to be
supported on foundation 81 masonry.
The cost OF the whole structure would
be about S4,000,000. 1t is M. Reclus'
idea to have this sum appropriated hy
three or four governments in the inter
ests of science, and the location of the
globe would probably depend on the
Willingness or generosity Of the various
contributors. If New Yoe or Chicago
wanted this structure a big sum would
have to be subscribed.
Ih1s scheme is not the product Of an
eIratic brain, but the conception of
distinguished scientist whose mental
achievements have been more than once
recognized by the world. Elisee Keclus
seems to be sort Of Jekyll- Hyde char
acter. In 1894 heoiwas awarded the
grand gold medal by the London Geo
graphical society as mark OF their ap-
probation for his books; on geography.
The same year he was ioutlawed from
IhS i1lio VI Ills DlTtIf WITH IOuf GCnor an
archists. all Of whom were in sympathy
with the Infamous Ravachol, the Pari-
sian bomb thrower.. S
His first literary achievement was
work which is still used as a text
book by French scholars. His first Of
Tense against the French government
was in 1S48, when ehe. headed a revolt
and had to flee the country. He was
allowed to return a few yeas later He
ought to have a warm place in the
heart Of every American, for it was
largely due to his writings during the
civil war that Napoleon III. was in
duced to forego his intention Of recog-
nlzing the Confederacy. He refused a
purse Of money rendered by our min
lister to France for this service, al
though at the time he was in direst
poverty.
He accepted the chair Of geography
In the university Of Brussels, but was
removed for his anarchistic expressions
He took part in the commune in 1870,
and was sentenced to life imprison-
ment by the Theirs government, but
this was changed to Punishment after
an intepession in his behalf by all
the great scientists in Europe. He
took part in the Lyons riots in 1882,
but escaped to Switzerland. Later he
returned to Paris and kept quiet for a
time, but was again compelled to leave
the country. He has three brothers
living, all Of whom are more or less
celebrated.