The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-07


to all concerned by the eight largest
columns in America, which are des-
tined to form the choir of the Cattle
dral of st. John the Divine, New
York the largest religious edifice to be
started since the Middle Ages, when
thousands of jealous worked their lives
away rearing Europe's famous cathe-
drals.
The period of trouble and anxiety
stretches over six years, from the time
these enormous blocks began to be
quarried down Maine way to the pres
ent day. when they are being set on
foundations in every way worthy of
them. These foundations, of granite,
are eight feet square, stand 26 feet
above the surface and go down 20 feet
to rock ledge. 1t may be truthfully
said of the columns that they have the
eternal rock itself for foundation
Anything short of such a foundation
would scarcely do. The lower half
of each column, placed in front of the
average three-story suburban house,
would overtop it; it is SO feet long and
its weight is the staggering one of $780,
600 pounds, or 80 tons. In addition six
of them are capped by an extension 16
feet long, with a weight of 40 tons,
while two support stones 2 feet longer
and weighing tons more. These caps,
which are extremely "hefty' in them
selves were quarried as parts of the
bases, for it was the original intention
to have monoliths instead of columns.
But it was found impossible to turn
so big a block in the great lathe, which
was especially constructed for the work
of polishing the monoliths and repre-
sents the last step in such machinery.
The MOnOIiths Broke.
Three of the monoliths while in the
lathe broke from the twisting strain
due to the turning, despite all that hui
man agency could do. Then the con-
tractors and the cathedral authorities,
surrendering to the inevitable and
sinking their disappointment, cut all
the monoliths in two where the three
had broken off while being turned. OF
course, the monoliths could have been
saved If they had been polished by
hand, but that would have taken years,
and the cost would have been some
thing enormous So the monoliths were
out of the question.
This was just one of the troubles in
cident to the securing of the great coll
umns, each of which weighs 1870 tons
or 100000 pounds. Placed side by side
along the curb of a New York street,
they would completely hide from
view two four-story houses. for each
column is fifty-four feet long and six
feet in diameter.
Setting the Columns.
Yet these mammoth columns are be-
ing set with an ease that is astounding
to the layman. The big half of the
first column to be set was lowered into
position in an hour and forty minutes,
while the cap was raised and set in a
few minutes, and only six men, under
W. +. Rowland the veteran stone set
ter who is known all over the coun-
try by men similarly engaged, are en-
ployed on the work.
The setting of these stones and the
preparatory work are by no means the
least interesting features in the history
of the columns.
While very little time is consumed
in the actual work of setting column
the preparatory work seemingly
stretches out interminably. Six weeks
were spent in preparation for hosting
the first column to be set, and the
men worked steadily every work day.
In view of this circumstance. Mr..
Rowland thinks he will be lucky If he
finishes the job before cold weather
sets in.
So far no untoward event has inter-
fered with the setting. but when Mr..
Rowland hauled the columns TO the
Cathedral grounds he had trouble
enough.
They were brought from the quar-
ries to within two miles of their desti-
nation by water; no railroad could have
carried them AS Mr.. Rowland naive
ly puts il, they'd have demoralized
the road-bed" The machinery was
ripped out of a ferryboat, two Of the
small stones were placed in the hold
for ballast, two large ones were rolled
from the waterfront on to the deck
and shored up. and so they were tow
ed TO New York.
Carried on "A Huge Wagon.
Here they we're rolled out upon the
pier, which had been strengthened.
and. then Mr. Rowland undertook to
transport them to their destination up
on a wagon specially built for the pur-
pose. IL weights 1875 tons. It's hind
and front aXlcs arc and 6 inches
in diameter, respectively. The steel
tires are 20 inches wide and are Of two
thicknesses. The wheels are of blocks
OF wood with the end grain on the
axle. to get the greatest strength. The
length is 40 feet. and four months and
about 5000 We're required TO build ~
But while the agon eventually got
the stones TO the Cathedral grounds,
a $50 horse power engine hauling it
by means of purchase blocks there
were times when & looked as n they
would prove too much for their con-
vevance.
once one wheel was sunk b, the
great weight two feet below TIE street
level. and a half day was suent I'm
jacking IL up. The steel tires were