The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-02
SEE-SAWING zoo FEET HIGH.
A Childrsn's Game Centuries Old As
sumes Proportions That Are Gigantic.
ITS FIRST TRIAL In TENNESSEE.
This Grown Up Chiid's Play IL for Young
and oId-Two Cars Attached, Each
ofwbioh VIII Contain Fifty
Passengers.

NASHVILLE. TENN, May 1.-Work is
being pushed as rapidly as men and time
will permit upon the greatest sco-saw
Of which any one ever heard. 1t Is a
nightly enlarged affair that is exactly
similar in principle 10 the sport almost
every child has enjoyed which Is known
as lettering" IL is the nineteenth cen
fury evolution of the pine board and
tho rail fence 10 the mighty steel col
umns that support two huge cars each of
which will accommodate nifty persons.
The soo-saw, as the accompanying illu-
STATIONS shows. is composed Of a central
Tower and a bull steel beam. This steel
tower IS thirty feet square at the base
and seventy-five feet high 10 the upper
pin. on this pin the beam which is Of
steel swings vertically. IL Is rectangular
In sections is thoroughly braced and
.sO feet long. IL is swung on its axis by
means of two steel segments, which are
affairs resembling huge croquet wickets
The ends Of which fasten into the beam
ana the rounded center slides over a
portion Of the tower which is prepared TO
receive such action. Technically speak
ing. pinions driven by the operating ma
chine engage the two segments.
To the ends Of the big steel beam cars
800
car is capable Of holding fifty persons and
can be lifted alternately 10 a point 20
feet above the ground. This is the maxi
mum height The length of the steel
beam is also 200 feet. The cars used are
similar TO those attached to the Ferris
Wheel IN Chicago. AS the Illustration
given herewith shows when one car is
at its maximum height. the other rests
upon the earth. The beams Will move
very slowly, the time necessary for the
ascent and decent from the ground
10 the maximum height and vice versa
being about five minutes.
SO slowly will the beam move that the
sense OF motion TO then occupants Of the
cars viii be almost entirely lost. This
is so arranged in order that very many
persons whom journey into the air Of
this sort would be apt 10 annoy with
nausea, may be free from any such in
ternal disturbance. The view 20 be OBJ
tained from these cars will be Of extra
ordinary beauty. The scene Of the bat
jleheld OF Nashville is visible 10 the pas
sengers as is the Hermitage" the former
home OF Andrew Jackson. Belle Meade,
the famous stock farm of Tennessee, and
many other points Of interest.
The machinery that will move the huge
see-saw is located AT the bottom of the
~ =
II is very simple for while the tower
and the huge truss beam are monsters
OF their sort. so delicate will be the adj
lustment that the task Of the machinery
in moving them will be comparatively
easy. Every one who has ever teetCred.
and that means almost all the peisOns
who will read this article understands
how necessary it was that the board used
should be nicely balanced upon the fence.
or upon whatever object was It's central
point of support. This is the idea which
has been observed in the construction Of
the giant see-saw.
IL seems wonderful when one thinks OF
IL that so great an affair as this could
be adjusted with such mechanical nice
~. Yet Mr.. c. II. Devallos of Nash
vile, whose idea it is. says that were it
not for that same delicate adjustment.
the see-saw would be an utter failure
The question naturally arises. IS it posi-
bic for the steel beam TO slip and thus
destroy this balance and get beyond the
Control Of the machinery. The inventor
says. however. that owing TO the tren en-
dOus prehenslle strength of the sr.ucture
at the points where any strain
may possibly develop. that an accident
OF the sort suggested is absolutely i'm
possible.
At the time Of the Worlds Columbian
Exposition in Chicago, or rather some
months previous thereto. an idea some
thing like that which has resulted i'm
the construction OF tire see-saw. was
preached. The builders and mechanical
experts who were asked TO pass upon
the idea laughed at the plan and said
that even in this era of wonderful crea-
tions. the successful carrying out of such
"A project was entirely out of the ques-
ton. IL simply could not be done. Mr..
Devallos has however, shown that the
seeming impossible IS clearly practicable
and his see-saw promises TO be one OF
the greatest if not the greatest attrac-
ton at the Tennessee Centennial.