The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
THE LARGEST OF TOPS.
To Be 400 Feet High and to BE Spun
at the ST. Louis Exposition.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.

St Louis Globe-DemOcrat.
A novelty in the way of worlds fair con-
cessionS is in course of presentation to the
concessions committee of the Louisiana
Purchase EXposition-one promising TO sur
pass in novelty and interest the great Fer
riS wheel at the Columbian Exposition a
Chicago in 1898. In fact, as an engineering
problem it presents features which, like
those of the Ferris wheel, have never be
fore been attempted, but which, passed up
on by the same engineers who said the Fer
riS wheel could be built, even though the
American Society of Engineers declared
against it. promises to be equally feasible
and more novel. The proposal is nothing
more than the construction out of steel of
an immense peg top" the same old shape
familiar TO every youngster in the land,
even to the plug on top, which every young
American thinks he must cut off before he
has a satisfactory article of top furniture.
This immense top is to be some four hum
dred or more feet high The center is to be
an immense hollow steel shaft, thoroughly
anchored within which some twelve ele-
VatorS are to run TO carry passengers UP
and down. Around this is to be built the
top proper, in perfect similarity to the boy
hoods plaything. The plug at the top, of
course, will be the upper end of the huge
core referred to, and in the extreme of this
plug Will be an open observatory, station
airy, and commanding a view of the entire
fair grounds and more. Just below the
plug will come the curved upper section,
which. like a huge umbrella, will serve as
a roof, protecting the lower portions Be
low this umbrella" will be built the re-
mainder of the top in decreasing diameter
and cut in lateral sections into circular
floors, upon which will be rented conces-
sion space for various attractions. such as
candy booths, restaurant, summer garden,
with beer accompaniment etc. The main
floor 1t is proposed 10 reserve for a con-
cession to immense thea tricai presenta-
ton, something on the order of 1892, pre-
scented at the Columbia Exposition with a
wealth of scenic investiture which made il
one of the most profitable of the individual
attractions at the fair.
Probably the most novel feature of the
whole scheme is the fact that il is proposed
TO build each floor independent of the one
above and below, and to arrange for the
revolving of each floor about the huge axis
in which the elevators are to run. Running
these floors independently. it is planned TO
cause each to revolve In opposite direction
10 that next 10 ii. providing a change of
scene for those on all Of the floors and
bringing the various parts of the whole ex-
position into view in the course of the revo-
luton. The entire top will be built of steel
the cantileVer plan, and will be open to
the air on all sides but il will also be ar
weather with Venetian blinds, so that those
who may wish 10 patronize the exposition
on its bad days shall not be deprived of this
feature. which ii is believed will prove TO
be greater attraction than the Ferris
wheel at Chicago. 1t is understood that
the interests behind the enterprise are such
az to put II in the same class as the Ferris
wheel. so far as support goes
Among the minor features of the con-
struction will be the painting of each lat
eral section with a contrasting color and
with different colored lights by night pre-
senting something in addition to the i'm
mensity Of the scheme TO attract the eye.
On the observatory * is also proposed TO
place features which will add TO the nov
city OF the attraction by night as well as by
day. The total floor space, according to
the figures. will be about 10000 SQUARE
feet of which 10000 will go TO subconces-
sionaries.