The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-09
ADRIATIC QUEEN SAFE
STILL SECURE ON HER FoUNDA.
TONS, STONES OF VENICE"
demonstrating History From Ruins
of the Campanile-Historic In
terest and Value Of Ma
terials of Tower.

London Globe.
A vast number of sensational state
ments are appearing in all the papers
aud, 1 suppose. in all countries-certain-
''the foundations of all Venice giving way
and the like, and all are, am happy to
say. equally false. 1 say this with conf
dence, as l. do so on the highest author
ity-that Of Commentators Boni, who. as
is known, Is in charge here of all public
The campanile fell because 1t was too old
and neglected to stand the surgical oper-
alton performed on 1t. But its founda-
lions are, Commentators Bont says, I'M
less something extraordinary has hap
pened during the last eight years, as firm
and strong as ever. He Is in position to
know this. Cor he himself IN 1884, or
whereabouts, examined hem thoroughly
at the expense of a generous American.
Indeed, he says that when it comes to the
time for rebuilding the campanile he feels
sure that ne wilrNha to replace no part
of the present foundations, but only to
extend them. AT present they cover 200
square meters of ground and he will prob
ably increase this to 400 That Is to say
that whereas now they are only about
a yard wider each way than the base of
the campanile, they will then be about
three.
When he examined them he found the
niles, which are of white poplar. as sound
as the day they were driven in. On these
niles there are two platforms of sound
massive oak, placed transversely, and on
these rise seven course of splendid stones
Of porphyric composition and of lstrian
marbles. Five of these are below the
ground and two form the base OF the
tower above the pavement. What l say
of the campanile holds coed, am glad
10 say, of all the other buildings in
Venice. Through age and ignorant neg
lect many of them are in bad order, but
the foundations Of all stand firm. The
presence of Commentators Boni is being
utilized to obtain advice that can be de-
pended upon, and he and the architectural
government commission are gradually in
specting every tower and building of i'm
portance in the city.
Some Companies Need Attention.
Some of the campaniles, such as those
of San Stefano and San Barnaba, are pro-
nounced in a dangerous condition; indeed,
,he inhabitants of the houses under San
Stefano's tower have b0an turned out
to seek safer homes, not SSsNise pre-
caution, seeing that its summit overhangs
its base by yard and three-quarters.
The authorities have resolved TO behead
il down to the level of the older part OF
in height. The ''spies," bits of glass
fastened across the cracks to detect any
movement, have already fallen away,
fact that shows the damage continues.
In the case of the Proeuratie Vsschie
the commission finds that general
oyerhaulirC is necessary. The great
sn1are pilasterS were calculated 70 ber
thirty kilograms TO the cubic centimeter,
intarnal dividing walls, the adding of
stair cases the raising of extra floors
and the heaping up of heavy goods, no
tahIv of glass as, for instance, IN the
ta@ntv show-roOms of Testolini in the
s~eat halls once inhabited by the noble
65rocurators of st. Mark, but now reduced
T. Offices ctoreruoms and shops, are
Staining too much tho bearing power of
9iiasters and foundations The commits
ssion- therefore. recommends the tighten
ing of the bull 1ings and their return to
tbeir primitive use as dwelling-houses.
The clearing away of the debris of the
.oasr continues to be carried with the
utmost care and circumspectian under
a. direction of Lieutenant FinZi of the
sno5neers and of Ensign Fusco of the
EiSbteenth foot The energy and zeal
~ oficers and men are admirable. Not
% inch ~ bronze decoration Or of marble
Ssa-,.ine escapes their vigilant eyes, and
ehav work heartily all day under the
sJs2ine sun The municipality has voted
Sxtra bay of half franc day to the