New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02

what at Chicago was termed the Midway Plaisance.
The seesaw Is easily the greatest attraction on
Vanity Fair.
The foundation is placed a terrace IS feet
high The main support Of the structure Is a tower
100 feet in height, built entirely OF steel. Across
the top of this tower there Is swung rectangular
steel beam 200 feet in length. On either end OF this
beam is suspended car capable OF holding about
forty persons
When one end Of the beam is depressed and tho
other raised it's greatest limit the total height
will be comewhat under the height Of the sup
porting tower. This will make the greatest height
of the structure something less than 200 feet. To
this must be added the height OF the terrace,
namely. % feet. A person, therefore, who takes
a ride in this will be gently lifted from
the earth to an elevation OF nearly 225 feet.
These figures do not convey a vivid idea OF the
exact state OF affairs, and it will be convenient 10
compare this elevation with the height OF several
pell-known buildings in New-York.
The Hotel Netherland, seventeen stories meas.
ures 800 feet from the ground TO the top Of its
mansard roof that the seesaw will lift one
higher than this structure. The Postal Telegraph
Company's building, at Broadway and Murray-st..
is thirteen stories and measures l79 feet TO the top
of its roof. The Corn Exchange Bank. at William
and Beaver SITS, is ljS feet high. The Mutual Re-
serve Life Insurance Building at Broadway and
Duane-st, fourteen stories. Is lsi feet In height.
The Downing Building in Fulton-st., with fifteen
stories is l79 feet high The Manhattan Life In
surance Building IN lower Broadway. where the
local weather forecaster Mr.. Dunn has his office.
measures 2f6 feet 10 the top OF the roof, which Is
few feet higher than the seesaw VIII reach.
The Queens Insurance Building, at William
and Cedar SITS. Is l95 feet high. The Waldorf Hotel
is lS2 feet from ground 10 roof. The American
Surety Company's building. which Is AT present
the highest in New-York City. not counting towers
and fagpoles. measures 300 feet. The giant seesaw
will reach nearly up to its top story windows.
The view obtained from the top OF the seesaw is
interest 10 veterans OF the late war one of the
sights will be the old forts and the batefeids OF
Nashville, tho scene OF great activity during the
opening years OF the war There will also be vis-
bic the Belle Meade stock farm. the most famous
IN the West ana when the weather is clear there
can be had n view of the Hermitage. the cele
brated ma nsion home of Andrew Jackson
The steel construction IS in charge OF the Schultz
Bridge and Iron Company. OF Pittsburg. This COM
pany has had charge of some OF the finest work
turned out in this country In the line OF steel con-
sruction. Their work Is almost finished.
The motor and machinery are built especially Tor
the seesaw. and, rather curousy. are located In
the top of the tower fact which Will enable the
engineer who the motor TO assert that he Is
the highest I'm the world. The machinery will
drive the beam by means OF cog gearing operating
OIL two large 25-foot arcs.
At the base of the supporting tower there will be
pavilion where a band OF music will be stationed,
and doubt OF the curious sensations OF
ride the machine will be 10 hear the gradual
dying away OF the sound OF the music - the car
rises from the earth.