The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-20
LONDON's TAIL TOWER.
When Completed 1t WIN Re Much Higher
Than That OF Paris.

When Completed 1t Wul Re Much Higher
Than That OF Paris.
The public now has the privilege of
looking round upon a charming pan
Drama of English landscape from the
elevation of the first completed stage
of the great tower in Wem5ley park.
In the good time that it is hoped viii
not be long in coming the structure
Will be reared some 300 feet nearer the
sky as a second stage, and when it is
wholly finished the topmost point viii
he LOO feet above ground, thus put
ting the Eiffel tower into the shade.
But capital must be first attracted. and
meanwhile the scheme is to be carried
out in installments.
At present it stops at the first plat
form, now open for public resort. 1t
is 100 feet from the ground, 400 feet
above sea level, and it viii not be sur
Prising If the novelty at once begins
to assist the fortunes Of Wembley park
and its promoters. The visitor is taken
smoothly from earth in roomy lift,
and landed upon a solid concrete level
an acre in area.
The scene commanded from this
breezy eminence is true country, save
near glimpses Of the railway and the
masses Of bricks and mortar in the dis
tant London suburbs. The shining
bosom Of Kingsbury reservoir is under
meath, with the northern heights of
the metropolis wooded and beautiful
beyond. HarrOw-on-the-Hi11, with its
landmark spire, and the verdant slopes
Of Neasden, have, as a far-of buck
ground, the hills of Hertfordshire.
Windsor castle has been seen on ex-
ceptionally fine days, and the great
wheel, at Earl's court, from its ''end-
on" position, looks like a tall. slender
spire. Sweet fields, swelling slopes and
Astounding woods are all around this
lofty standpoint, and the eye rests and
fingers upon many a mansion, village
and cottage home.
The country IS at present white with
May, and the fields, in spite of pro
longed drought, are following with
buttercups. Of a wide variety of lovely
pictures, there is perhaps none more
viDsonle than the farm which is
mapped out just beyond to the park
boundary as now eyed from the east
ern parapet of the tower platform. The
dark red tiles of the roof. the ivy cling
ing to the walls, the greenery which
partly hides the house, the great rick
yard with its large stacks and barns,
and the outbuildings and cottages. are
most typical Of the old English home
stead which artists love to paint. The
park also is really beautiful, with its
perfectly rural character, it's grand
howery chestnuts, fine oaks. now in
LEAKAGE of the tenderest green, orna-
mental lake, rhododendron and Der
beris strawberries; and the groves,
Tickets, howerbeds and other features
Of its hundred acres of pIeasance.
As to the tower, its base occupies
more space than that taken up by St.
PauTs cathedral; it's four built-up legs
Of steel are $50 feet apart at the base,
2O4 nj the platform; the royal exchange
could be accommodated upon the con
crete door above. Just now it has 81
kiosk at each corner, and rows Of gar
den seats along each parapet overlook
jig the outspread miles and miles Of
country. The part completed is mat
ter Of 2,70O tons of steel, and when the
rest is built the tonnage viii be 1000.
Two passenger lifts carry 60 persons i
each journey; they work by steam, and
the steel cables could bear 90 times the
strain that will be demanded from
them The ascent is mace IN 80 seconds. /
and there is an elaborate system Of
automatic brakes to each car. For
those VINO prefer walking up some SOC /
steps there is four-foot wide zig-zag
staircase.
The tower, It may be added, viii cost
100000 to complete, and the outlay
upon the grounds to date may be put
down at E O,OOO.-London News.