The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-13
Magic Tower.
a. Really Marvellous Structure Proposed for
~ the Paris Exposition of 1900.

There are some startling ideas, some
of which have already been accepted,
for making the Paris Exposition OF
1900 the most marvellous aggregation
OF scientific wonders the world has
ever seen. AL France is mad on the
subject, and many of the propositions
Guido the Widest fmaginings of the
wonder tellers of the Arabian Nights"
The very latest is here Illustrated 1t
is a revolving palace of tremendous
height, which. if built, will doubtless
rival the Eiffel tower, the Ferris wheel
and all other mechanical wonders tina.
have gone before, for beside being the
most marvellous structure in the world
from a mechanical point of view. 1t
is also designed to exhibit the highest
and latest development Of electrical
science. Aladdin's palace never APP
preached this conception.
This scheme is now under considera-
tion by the men in charge of the prep
Rrations for the exposition, and it is be-
]ieved thai it will be accepted as the
great wonder Of the big Partisan show.
1t is the suggestion of M. Charles De-
Vic.
course, Of steel. 1t will reach a height
of lis meters, or 1862 feet. The designer
thought, when he fixed this height,
that he was planning a taller structure
than any in the United States. Per
haps he was when he projected it, but
already New York is putting up an
office building twenty feet higher. AS
projected, the exposition structure will
have twentyfour stories. The new st.
Paul building, on Nthe old Herald site.
has just that many, and the building
referred to above will have thirty when
completed. But the Parisians will
doubtless meet the American competi-
tion by the addition of half a dozen
or more stories.
As planned, the revolving tower will
be divided tTansversely into four grand
divisions. The two lower will have five
floors each, the third six floors and tbs
fourth eight floors. All, with the ex-
ception of the five upper galleries, will
he opened to the public, each with
gorgeous, almost magical display of
the grandest and most striking ac-
ccmplishments of electrical science ap-
piled to pleasure.
THE GREAT FEATURE
The great feature. however, will be
the revolution of the whole fairy-like
structure. 1t is to be pivoted upon a
central column and driven slowly
draulic engine. The visitor, therefore,
when wearied with the glittering scenes
within, has only to seat himself on the
balconies and enjoy the lovely panora-
ma of the exposition, the city and the
surrounding country. The plan is to
slowly rotate the building once every
hour, bringing every portion Of the
lovely panoramic view successfully be-
fore the eyes Of the observer.
Beside the electrical wonders in pro-
fusion in every corner of this magical
lower, there will be, restaurants, cafes,
dancing pavilions, theaters, concert
halls and shows Of every description 1t
is planned that the visitor will be able
to find therein means to crafty every
human desire for rational and permiSSi-
bic pleasure.
The whole will be placed in a marvel
lous setting. All the columns, capt.
tails, statues and ornaments of every
description are to be of colored glass,
the various pieces held together by a
delicatee iron framework. This will
make a surprisingly beautiful setting
by day, while at night the effect will be
dazzling beyond description, as elect
Tic lights hidden in profusion behind the
colored glass adornments and even
clustered within the translucent pillars
will transform the scene into one of
startling brilliance.
So much for the palace of science
and pleasure to the visitor within it.
But that is not half of it's utility as a
practical wonder. It will be a source
of unending sensation to the whole ex-
position and to a large neighboTing
part of Paris as we'll It's vast and
fantastic proportions will divide hon
ors with the Eiffel tower by day, while
at night it will be thing Of startling
and widespread beauty. ~
This is to be brought about by a
colossal system of electric lighting in
colors, that has not an equal in the
world. The entire building, in all its
fantastic outlines, will be set against
the dark sky in lines Of fire. 1nnumer-
able incandescent lamps will be requir-
ed for the display, and 1900 arc lamps
of great power will be used to accent
nate the points and corners of the fiery
construction.
At the striking of the hour, by
chime Of sixty-four bells, accompanied
by a huge steam organ, PROCESSION
of titantic figures will move from
door in the clock tower and encircle th'
aerial balcony. The figures will allie
g0rically represent Ballooning, Steam
Railways, Telegraphy and Photogra
phy At night they will be rendered
anagnificent by electric illumination.
And high above all, on the extreme
summit of the building, COCK VII
crow at each hour. And such bird
He is to be sixteen feet high and OF al
the cOlors of the rainbow. He will clal
his wings wildly as he screams nj
sbriu ioy in tones of steam that cal
he heard for miles, and at night he VII