Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-16
NIAGARA'S GIANT PALACE.
A STUPENDoUS STRUCTURE TO
SPAN THE MIGHTY CATAEACT.
The 100000, 900 Edifice VIII Be
Half n Mile Long, 1000 Feet Wide
and COG Feet High.

n T 1AGARA harnessed would, it
Is claimed, have the energy
to furnish the motive power
G for all the machinery in the
world. And Mr.. Leonard Henkle, of
Rochester, N. Y, has a project, says
the New York World, to utilize the
lO,OOO,O 900 horsepower that the
mighty falls generates every second
and, that too, without marring their
natural beauty, but even enhancing it
by wonderful structure that is to be
q work of art in itself.
His scheme also has the advantage
OF diverting no water from the river
and it is regarded as SO thoroughly
feasible that New York and Toronto
capitalists have guaranteed the inter-
est on $40, 900, 900 and the work will
begin in July next. Mr.. Henkie pro-
proses nothing less than the erection
of stupendous structure,to be called
"Ihe Great Dynamic Palace and In
ternational Hail." which will bridge
the great cataract.
This palace, located about fifty feet
above the brink of the Horseshoe
Falls, will be at least half q mile long,
and in width 1900 feet; the height
will be COG feet, the centre, however,
rising to about 1000 feet above the
river. The lower part of the building
will average forty-six stories, and in
the centre something more than fifty
stories. Tho structure will be sup
ported and anchored by two massive
stone towers, fixed with heavy steel
girders, each placed 900 feet from the
bank. These towers will be each forty
eight feet in thickness. 1000 feet wide,
42O feet high and will weigh nearly
600, 900 tons apiece.
The materials of construction pro-
vided in the specifications are stone,
granite, Mexican onyx, black and
white marble, aluminium, copper,
steel, iron and glass.
The structure will be divided into
three parts, the east and west wings
and the main building. The wings
will each be 902 feet in length and
the central portion S36 feet long.
The exterior will consi9t of block
stone, fretted and ornamented. The
building will be supported by forty
huge columns, which are to be pre-
sented by the Nations of the world.
Promises have already been obtained
from some of them that the columns
will be furnished. They will be rich
ly sculptured and the motto of the
Nation presenting each will be in
scribed at its base. They will also
| la-o fhn 9
gold, silver or aluminium letters at the
top. Eight hundred smaller columns,
composed of Mexican onyx and alu-
minum, will also be used.
At the American end of the building,
above the main entrance, will be in
scribed: Omitted States of America,
and at the Canadian entrance, "Onta-
rio, Dominion of Canada. Above the
central entrance will be the word
"Unitarius. Inside the building
steel girders will be used for the pur-
pose OF supports; iron columns will
also be placed between the floors
Forty-seven million, five hundred and
twenty thousand feet OF ire-proof
| flooring will be required, which, it is
estimated, will cost ut least $t75, 200.
The structure will have IL ,932 win
dows and a correspondence large
number OF doors.
The first ten stories will be used for
dynamos and other uppara US for gen.
Grating electricity.
At the extreme lower front of the
building proper there will be 552
twin turbine wheels, capable of devel-
oring about $500, 900 horse power u
minute, which will run over 1000 dy-
namos.
Immediately below the first story,
an immense arcade will furnish pas
sage from the United States to Canada
for the Grand Trunk, West Shore and
other railways. This will be lighted
with thousands of arc and incapdes-
cent lights.
Above the tenth story and up to tho
fortyfifth, the building will be used
for commercial purposes, among the
most important that of grinding the
Western wheat which comes down
from the lakes.
The interior Of the building will be
SHhthJ VI Ssi NSi uuu NiGAlCuu
onyx.
The forty-sixth story will be an
enormous hall, extending the length
of the building, with seating capa-
city OF 10000, who may be addressed
by one speaker by the use of electrical
intonators. This hall will be the most
beautiful in the world, and will be de-
voted exclusively to international re-
G3ious and social meetings and con-
ventions. 1t is expected that each of
the Nations of the world will furnish
a design for a window, aud it is esti-
mated that the furnishings of the hall
will cost $4,000, 1000.
Mr. Henkle, who is responsible for
this gigantic undertaking, was born in
Ohio, but spent his boyhood in Iowa,
whittier his family moved in 1910. His
playmates were little Indian boys,
and he still speaks their language
fuently. His days of schooling were