The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-23

1bhuo nave Detn mtuc aIu iiilht1tIdi bhti.-
ing procured for one OF the most striking
features yet proposed for the Worlds Fair.
the Mann Observation Tower. a colossal
structure. for which concessions within the
grounds will be asked by the proprietors as
soon a. tho Fair site IL chosen.
The tower ~ designed as the leading fea-
turo of the Exposition. and as an observa-
ton point from which q bird s-eye view OF
the surrounding country can be obtained.
1t will be the tallest structure of the sort
In the world, being SIS feet from the base
to the summit Of Its DOME.
Alexander 8. Mann of this city Is the de-
signer of the tower. and Paul Winton. a
lawyer and capitalist. with offices in room
sos Wainwright building. Is enc of the lead
ing spirits in the movement to build the
structure. The estimated cost of the tower
will be $1.000.O0.
Mr.. winton. packed by tne Nichols Rit-
ter Realty and Financial Company. has al
ready procured pledges for more than suf-
ficient capital for the undertaking. The
leaders In the movement state that tho
tower will surely be built II n concession
can be obtained from the Fair directors.
In connection with the COVER is an aerial
electric railway to reach its summit. This
railway ascends the tower in spirals. af-
fording q constantly changing point OF
view AZ the car ascends.
The immense. size of the structure may
be imagined from the dimensions. The full
height of the tower. from ground floor to
top Of the flag stan. will be al feet. or
more than three times the height Of the
Union Trust building. The upper station
reached by the electric cars. will be SIS
feet above the level Of the ground. TIL
diameter Of the structure near the base viii
be more than 90 feet. the rotunda. which Is
designed for the base. being 26 feet square
The diameter Of the lower. outside which
the cars viii run. will be $50 feet. while the
outside diameter OF the railroad tracks will
be LIS feet from outside edge to outside
edge.
The interior Of the tower will consist Of
an immense steel framework. running up
So feet above the ground to where the Ian
tern or dome floor commences. This frame
work will be braced and strengthened with
in with steel girders. but will be left open.
so that there will be little resistance to the
wind. Around tho outside Of the tower will
run the spiral electric railway tracks. with
q grade Of 2-a2 OF an inch In every foot.
These tracks will wind about like the lines
on q barber's pole. one set Of tracks Tor
the ascending cars and an alternate set
for the downcoming cars. The tracks. with
q sidewalk which will run alongside. Will
be l2l1 feet wide.
At the upper station. 6S feet In the air.
will be q platform capable OF accommo-
dating several thousand persons. Above
the upper station will rise the lantern or
dome floor. from which a staircase will
lead down to the station or pavilion floor
The base Of the tower will be of stan and
will contain an arcade ~ feet wide and %
feet high. Four large spaces in the corners
of the base viii be devoted to music. the
atrical amusement and cafe purposes. A
rotunda 0s feet square. containing ticket
ofices. telegraph and telephone stations.
viii occupy the main portion Of the base.
Cam will start from the lower station at
one side, twenty-five feet above the ground.
Forty electric cars. with the latest equip
ment, will run over the tracks. the p.o-
moters intending to have a car start every
minute.
feet above the ground. Just above a ruof
garden which It is proposed to place there.
The domes at each corner Of the base will
be gilded and the roof of tho rotunda will
be Of glass.
Tho promoters believe they will secure a
concession for the structure within the
grounds. Plans have been drawn up for
the tower By J. L. Howard. the architect.
and the feasibility Of the scheme has been
carefully considered.
Tho idea is practicable" said A. 8.
Mann, the inventor. There Ii no reason
Why buildings should be limited In height.
with the improved process Of steel construc-
ton. and there need be no doubt as 10 the
possibility of building such u structure.
The diameter Of the tower II 30 great and
the tracks ascend In such q gradual spiral
that the cars can readily make the ascent
even with the heaviest loads> The rise Of
the tracks II so feet to the mile. and this
Il far less than the grade which Is now
seen at Olive and Eighteenth streets. We
believe hat IL will take about twenty min
utes to make the ascent and about the
same time to descend. the cars being timed
% a. to start ut Intervals OF one minute.
II Will be one Of the largest solid structures
In the world, the Einei Tower. while tall
or. being merely an open framework. which
has no spectacular feature about II COM
pared to this." |
John L. Howard, the architect. stated that ,
the plan was feasible.
The structure can readily be built" he |
said, 'as all steel used in Its construction
will be Of standard size. There will be |
comparatively little wind resistance. 80 the
will be small. even with the
cars running up and DOWN. The system Of |
buttresses within the tower will keep the
from being apparent The out 1
side columns Of the structure will be OF
heavy z bar columns. while behind these |
Will be . second row. braced diagonaliy |
against the outer row.. The car tracks Will
be backed against beth inner and outer |
columns and made safe. |
The base Of the columns viii rest upon |
footings of muitoid or stone. 1O feet |
square for each. There will be twenty-forr |
main columna. 90 the amount Of material |
In these bases can be estimated The SC l
ond row Of columns will Also be placed upon
9ooungs Of the same material -Four Or dve