The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-05
RAINBOw-TINTED WATERS.
BRooKJYN ELECTRIC FOUNTAIN a
MARHEL IN EFFECTS.

Permit or an Unobstructedt view by 70, 900
Pernons-The Mechanism OF the Fountain
and 1s Dancing Jets Fully Described.
Mayor wurster and q number Of the other
Brooklyn city officials will visit tho Prospect
Park plaza this evching and have a private view
OF tho new electric fountain which is nearing
completion there. The electric fountain was
conceived originally in the prolific mind Of the
theatrical manager. 1t served q good purpose
in a crude form upon the stage. and since then
1t has been developed by artists and
mechanics until its marvel OF effects dehcs
comparison. II oil tho brilliant effects
of lighting the moving waters with
rainbow tints were left out of consideration,
the forms OF Jets, sprays, geysers, and cascades
of water which have been developed in tho
construction Of these fountains would be
enough to entitle them to high praise for
beauty OF effects. But with the lights added,
with the colors dancing and changing at the
touch Of skilful operators, and tho waters them.
selves altering their forms in response to tho
same skilful hands until there would seem TO
be a hundred fountain sources hidden in tho
one lake, the effect Is beyond the conception Of
one who has not seen 1t.
Years ago New Workers had a chance to SEQ
one of the earliest examples Of these fountains
at Staten Island. 1t was one OF the series Of
shows which Erastus Wiman promoted at
places along the line OF the Staten Island Rapid
Transit Railroad to build up the receipts.
That fountain was such q success that
G. T. Yerkes, the Chicago street railroad
magnate, bought 1t and presented It to the city
Of Chicago. 1t was set up In a park at the ter
minus OF one OF Mr.. Yerkes's railroads, and 1t is
said that Mr.. Yerkcs got back the cost of the
fountain out OF the increased receipts Of his road
in the first three or four weeks after It was
set up.
A t the Columbian Exposition in Chicago there
were two electric fountains, one on each side OF
the Macmonnies fountain, and they were fea-
lures never to be forgotten in the great nightly
show. The Prospect Park fountain Is said to be
the largest and finest Of its kind ever built. 1t
stands in the centre OF the plaza which Freder.
lex Law Olmsted designed for the Pros.
pect Park entrance, and its Jets rise at
the point where the centre lines meet
of the two great converging avenues which lead
to that part Of the park. At this same SPOT
there stood for thirty years or SO a fountain
built by C. c. Martin, the present Chief Engineer
of the Brooklyn Bridge. but that fountain was
one of the high cascade style and obscured a
view of the big white arch and decorative col
umns which now mark this entrance to the
park. All of tho old fountain has been removed
and the pool for the new fountain now lies al
most level with the curb. No part of it interferes
~ IL Z no oHO nbpAoANbC5 ~ pluLa
either from Flatbush avenue or Vanderbilt av.
enue. The arch and the columns back of IL can
be seen for half u mile down these avenues. and
when the new fountain plays its waters will be
seen with these noble features for II background.
Simple gruss plots will border the new fountain.
and all around on three sides the ground rises
from II. so that tens Of thousands of persons
will be able 10 view it rs in an amphitheatre.
The outward features of the new fountain arc
very simple. Its pool lies within "A broad side
walk and about its immediate edge there is
nothing but an ogee moulding OF granite which
| rtaas 1asa thar 3 NAn faaf uhnya thn 1nN,1 NJ tho
walk. The basin is a perfect circle. 100 feet in
diameter. Within the walls drop straight down
slopes away gradually. leaving the waters
so shallow at the edges as not to be dan;
gerous for even n small child. IL one should fail
in the pool. When the waters are At their full
height only a few fountain pipes will rise above
fountain at such a time would be unable to con.
ceive how the moro wonderful! fountain effects
were produced.
At the side OF the basin nearest to the avenues
this a part Of the waters are let out when the
the waters are lowered six inches or. SO
a remarkable complication of pipes and jets
ar are 'i nineseen gl hns mped f 'snrsfsS which i 'n Tise
even with the surrounding waters: II
n is 'h broisa,cs IAf tSro 1 i the Ihs f feiGred w iiEeEs
from " working chamber below. These tunnels
are arranged in two concentr!c circles. with one
funnel In the exact centre of the fountain. In
the first circle arc six tunnels and in the
second are twelve, From the centre Of
a IL inch nozzle which projects a cen:
,Eal EeyseE jt high in the air; Aroqnd
jets. In straight lines one on each. side
OF this funnel are Jets which throw up fans OF
within and the other just outside the first circle
OF tunnels, are many Jets; which nroje, : circular
walls Of spray over hat line IN. Of tunnels Each
centre jet. throwing An inch stream. and each OF
these tunnels has also two lines Of small Jets
surrounding il. Between these tunnels are
straight lines OF small jets. raycd out from the
centre of the Fountain forming a six.pointed
Twenty OF these throw their streams TO the
right and twenty. TO the left, bringing their
tunnels OF the outer row has n fringe
OF .eventyifo ~, jSts, i,h5G mi form n sh c;rc;o OF Of
fancy streams OF four different kinds arranged
form umbrellas of water. three throw M
fountains of rose spray. three are whirlinE Jets,
s~lobular showers OF water. Twelve moro noz.
Zlcs. each three.fourths OF an Inch In diameter.
throw up solid streams, which lean inward
toward the center geyscr. Outside OF these. and
forming the extreme circle of Jets, are twelve
throws up sixteen streams Of water in straight
ribbons. These ribbons also lean inward, so as
TO bring their waters over the tunnels OF light.
S central T ssgser .n "ad c @SS IS 'i illnmsina aqsrf in d dre
pole with its CAV ribbons. Altogether there are
nearly 1000 Jets in the fountain. and when al
OF them are In use II is estimated that 1t will
take 100. 600 gallons OF water an hour to operate
them. \ row OF white clectic lights around the
inside wall OF the basin will illuminate the
waters at ordinary times.
The general public may we'll be satisfied by
seeing the display which the fountain will make.
but they will not fail to wonder how the effects
are produced. Could they delve down under tho
great basin and under the grass plot between it
and the arch they would find where the secret
lies, and they would also lind n most complicated
and interesting lot Of electrical and other appli.
Rnccs. An Investigator who looks into the basin
at that side will sec u dozen pipes leading from
there to the fountain work in the centre.
Two Of these pipes are only two inches in diam.
eter. but the other ten are each six inches in
diameter. The central display is divided into
twelve distinct parts. and each OF these is sup.
piled with water from one Of these pipes. and
the water for each is controlled by IL valve In
the operating chamber. In the side of the
basin next the arch are three glass windows.
The operator who controls the jets and the
colored lights stands underground In front of
those windows and plays the fountain AS q
musician plays an organ. The operating cham:
The basin. 1t is octagon in shape and
Is forty.hvc feet across. Its roof is up.
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