The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-09
THE LARGEST OF TOPS.
To Be 400 Feet High and to be Spun
 at the St. Louis Exposition.

St. LOUIS CIODe-DemOCraL.
 A novelty in the way of worlds fair concessions is in course of presentation to the Concessions Committee of the Louis iana Purchase Exposition-one promising to surpass in novelty and interest the great Ferris Wheel at the Columbian Ex- position at Chicago in 1s9S In fact, as an4 engineering problem 1t presents fea- lures which. like those of the Ferris wheel have never before been attempted, but which, passed upon by the same en- gineers who said the Ferris wheel could be built, even though the American So- ciety of Engineers declared against 1t, promises to be equally feasible and more novel. The proposal Is nothing more than the construction out of steel of an imense 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 furniture
 This immense top is to be some four hundred or more feet high. The centre is to be an immense hollow steel shaft, thoroughly anchored, within which some twelve elevators are to be run to carry passengers up and down. Around this is to be built the top proper. in perfect sim ilarity to the boyhood's 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, stationary, and commanding a view of the entire fair grounds and more. Just below the plug will come the curved section, which like a huge umbrella will serve as a roof, pro- tecting the lower portions. Below this umbrella" will be built the remainder of the top in decreasing diameter and cut in lateral sections into circular floors, upon which will be rented concession space for various attractions, such as candy booths, restaurant, summer gar den, with beer accompaniment, etc. The main floor it is proposed to reserve for a concession to an immense theatrical pre- sentation, something on the order Of "1492," presented at the Columbia Expo sition with a wealth of scenic investiture which made 1t 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 1t Is pro- posed 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 to that next to 1t, providing change )f scene for those on all of the floors and bringing the various parts of the whole exposition into view in the course of the revolution. The entire top will be built of steel on the cantilever plan, and will be open to the air on all sides, but it will also be arranged to in- close it during indictment weather with Venetian blinds so that those who may wish to patronize the exposition on its bad days shall not pc deprived of this feature. which It IS helleved will prove to be a greater attraction than the Ferris wheel at Chicago. It is understood that the interests behind the enterprise are such as to put it in the same class as the Ferris wheel. so far as support goes.
 Among the minor features of the con- s.ruction will be the painting of each lateral section with a contrasting color and the illumination of each of these sec tions with different colored lights by night. presenting something in addition to the immensity of the scheme to attract the eye On the observatory it is also proposed to place features which will add to the novelty 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 100, 900 will go to sub-consessionaries.