The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-05-14
A GIGANTIC PALACE.
VAST PLAN TO SPAN THE MIGHTY
CATARACT OF NIAGARA.

Practicable and Assured-The Structure
tn Cost SAC, OOo, OoO-An Nations to Aid
In Building It-CoIonel Henk1e of Roch-
ester the Protector of the Enterprise.
Niagara harnessed would, it is claim
ed. have the energy to furnish the mo-
tive power for all the machinery IN the
world. And Mr. Leonard Henkle OF
Rochester has project to utilize the
10, 900, 900 horsepower that the mighty
falls generate every second and that,
too, without marring their natural
beauty, but even enhancing it by Won
derful structure that is to be a work OF
art in itself.
His scheme also has the advantage OF
diverting no water from the river and 1t
is regarded as so thoroughly feasible
that New York and Toronto capitalists
have guaranteed the interest on $4O,-
600, 900 and the work will begin in July
next. Mr.. Henkle proposes nothing less
than the erection Of stupendous struc-
ture, to be called '"The Great Dynamic
Palace and International Hall, " which
will bridge the great cataract.
This palace, located about 30 feet
above the brink Of the Horseshoe falls,
will be at least half mile long, and in
width 1000 feet; the height will be
COG feet, the center, however, rising to
about / 1000 feet above the river. The
lower part Of the building will average
46 stories, and in the center something
more than 80 stories. The structure will
be supported and anchored by two mas
siye stone towers, fixed with heavy steel
Orders, each placed 900 feet from the
bank. These towers will be each 48 feet
in thickness, 1000 feet wide, 42O feet
high and will weigh nearly 600, 900 tons
apiece.
The structure will be divided into
three parts, the east and west wings and
the main building. The wings will each
be 900 feet in length and the central
portion $50 feet long.
The exterior will consist of block
stone, fretted and ornamented. The
building will be supported by 40 huge
columns, which are to be presented by
the nations of the world. Promises have
already been obtained from some Of
them that the columns will be fur
nished They will be richly sculptured
and the motto of the nation presenting
each will be inscribed at it's base. They
will also have the name Of the nation
set in gold, silver or aluminium letters
at the top. Eight hundred smaller col
umns, composed of Mexican onyx and
aluminium, 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, "Ontario,
Dominion of Canada. F" Above the cen
trail entrance will be the word "Uni-
tarius." Inside the building steel grid
ers will be used for the purpose of sup
port. Iron columns will also be placed
between the floors. Forty seven million
five hundred and twenty thousand feet
of freproof flooring will be required,
which it is estimated will cost at least
$475, 200. The structure will have H.
932 windows and a correspondingly
large number of doors.
The first ten stories will be used for
dynamos and other apparatus for gener-
ating electricity.
At the extreme lower front of the
building proper there will be $50 twin
turbine wheels, capable of developing
about $780, 900 horsepower minute,
which will run over 1000 dynamos.
Immediately below the first story, an
immense arcade will furnish passage
from the United States to Canada for
the Grand Trunk, West Shore and other
railways This will be lighted with
thousands Of arc and incandescent lights.
Above the tenth story and up to the
forty fifth, 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
chiefly Of carved stone and Mexican
onyx.
The forty sixth story will be an enor-
nous hall, extending the length Of the
building, with a seating capacity Of TO-
900, who may be addressed by one
speaker by the use of electrical intona-
tors. This hall will be the most beauti-
full in the world and will be devoted ex-
clusively to international religious and
social meetings and conventions. 1t is
expected that each of the nations of the
world will furnish design for win
dow, and it is estimated that the fur
nishings Of the hall will cost So, 900, 900.
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 limited to
three months in all. He served in the
Union army, which he entered as pri-
vate and left at its close colonel.
Mr.. Henkle has invented, among 9th
er things, the tubular lanterns for street
illumination, time lock for safes, the
Rochester lamp, model buildings and an
improved oil heating and cooking stove.
He conceived his present design for the
palace as far back as 1881. With regard
to the practicability of his scheme, he
says:
after disposing of 100000 horse
power at the falls at $40 per horsepow
er per annum, per cent is assured on
$40, 900, 900, which leaves $1,000, 900
horsenOwar which at $40 nar horsa-