The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-13
BIGGEST GLOBE IN THE WORLD.
Work of a German University Student to
Be Exhibited at the Paris Exposition.

(From the Chicago Times Herald
George G. Schneider of Lincoln, ILL.,, Is
now completing what he says is the
largest geographical globe in the world.
Graduated from German universities,
Mr.. Schrieber is not only an expert map
maker, but is an authority on geography.
Being of a mechanical turn Of mind,
Schneider prepared his plans for the mon
ster sphere with care, and has systemati
cally put them into operation. The first
step was to build the frame of the globe.
This consisted of skeleton of cast iron
rods radiating from steel pipe which
was perforated and the rods were received
into it, being carefully graduated in
length.
Then common telegraph wire was used,
a network being woven over the ends of
the rods. A rigid and fairly smooth sur
face having been thus formed, he covered
the wire network with several layers of
stout building paper, glueing each sheet
smoothly to the surface.
Not much time was required to lay on
the integument of the great mass. The
preparation used is of Mr.. Schreiber's de-
vising. He has used wood pulp and
papier-mache, but neither was satisfactory.
After years of experimenting he invented
a composition which serves the purpose
better than anything yet discovered.
Sawdust sifted in through cheese cloth
until it is as fine as -four is mixed with
the cheapest grade of varnish known to
the trade, and the outer covering is ready.
Schneider covered the big sphere with a
layer a quarter of an inch deep of this
material.
Two or three weeks time was required
to dry the surface thoroughly, and then
the real work commenced. First he
marked off the degrees of latitude and
longitude with mathematical accuracy,
then laid off the entire surface of the
globe in half inch squares. half an inch
on the globe being equivalent to degree
| Systematically, and for the past three
years he has spent eight hours daily pre-
pairing the map of the world.
The maps are in relief, every ocean,
| lake, and rivers being carved out of the
surface. All lines or names are engraved
on the surface with sharp pointed tools
and then filled with paint, which imparts
a pleasing effect and also allows more deli
cate minuteness of detail than if the
names were put on with pen and ink.
The route of every railroad and canal in
the world is accurately represented, as
well as the various steamship routes.
Not content with making his globe the
largest of its kind in existence, Mr.
Schneider claims he has prepared the
most accurate maps extant. His collec-
ton of maps is immense, and not map
of any Importance is published that he
does not procure immediately. This one
item of expense has cost him hundreds of
dollars.
His map of the United States is said to
be absolutely accurate and more complete
than any yet published. Of foreign
countries his representations are far in
advance of any maps. In India alone his
globe gives 40U more towns than the latest
publication. By careful study of his i'm
mense collection of maps and with the
aid of industrious correspondence he has
made his globe nearly perfect.
Some of the names of towns and rivers
cannot be read with the naked eye, such
is the minuteness of the work, but exami-
nation with a magnifying glass shows
every letter to be formed with the most
delicate care. The drawing and lettering
throughout is that of a skilled engraver
From the mechanical point of view the
globe is a work of art. All distances are
measured with mathematical nicely, and
are said to be absolutely accurate.
One feature of the big globe is in the
designation Of the gradually lessening
widths of the degrees of latitude from the
equator to the poles. On Mr.. Schreiber's
globe these widths are carefully marked,
while they are thus given on no other
map. He intends to exhibit the globe at
the Paris Exposition.