The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-06

~ S17 lQ5Iizzzan
burg, and they normally should remain
standing long after Brooklyn s1l3rldge anu
every towering skyscraper OF the metropo -
lis has disintcgrated. Even II Inc Atntrlii-
can republic should go the way OF other
civilizations, and the lion and the lizard
keep their waite where once the hurrying
millions traficked and worshipped. still
over the ruins OF the vast cathedral Will
tower these granite columns, more I'm
prcsslvc than the pillars Of Palmyra.
Engineering Feat.
That these columns are now standing
is TO be accounted one OF the wonders OF
modern engineering. One often specu-'
latcs ns to the methods by which the
Egyptians reared their obclisks; \ 1t Is
conceivable that postcrity will marvel
how these masses Of stone were placed in
position. Yet the work OF transporta-
ton and installation was going on but
yesterday in the busy metropolis and,
such are the present ways of doing things.
1t went forward with very little OF furore
and excitement. No celebration marked
the lifting of the last column upon its
base, though In the old days universal
jubilatlon throughout the city would
have attended the accomplishment OF such
a fent. The details OF the enterprise
were carefully worked out by practical
engineers. and the columns were trans
ported through the streets Of New York
almost without disturbance to the ordi-
nary activities ofi.the city.
1t Is doubtful II any OF the great mon
ollths used In European architecture
came from so great distance to their
final resting place The shafts Of stone,
each costing $4,000. were quarried among
the granite lodges OF VnAlhaven In Maine.
Tho original plan was that they should
be true monollths, each consisting Of
4 but a single piece OF stone. It was
discovered. however that In this planning
engineering ambition had somewhat over
reached itself and that the long blocks
cut from the prImcval ledge could not
support their own weight when placed
L in the turning fathers. Fractures un-
doing the work of months speedily warn
ed the contractors that they must pur-
sue safer II less spectacular. course
Accordingly each column was fashioned
In two parts. The larger section at the
bottom OF the columns as they now stand
In the rising cathedral Is SO, feet, SIX
inches In length by six feet In diameter
with a weight OF ninety tons. inc
smaller section, surrounding the other,
stand IS feet high, with a diameter OF
five feet at the lesser end and a weight
OF IS tons. The original blocks at INC
quarry from which these sections were
aha nod we're each about Go feet long.
with a cross section OF eight and one
half feet by seven feet After each
Iihad been hewn from the rock It was
roughly dressed by hand and then poll
ished by an immense lathe, specially
designed for this undertaking by Messrs.
| u. r. Cheney and II. A, Spiller, OF Boston.
Problem Of Transportation.
When these pillars. representing H inc
largest blocks OF New England granite
ever scent forth to tho upbuildinI of&the
metropolis, were ready for trnnsporta-
| ton the problem OF sending them with
| out scar or fracture became serious
one. The work OF. delivery had been
given over to the firm Of Jones Hrothers.
OF Boston, who straightway proceeded 10
accomplish one OF those engineering fcats
to which we OF this age have become SO
accustomed that 5-wo take them rs q
| ma tier OF course. From out the quar-
rles Mt vinalhaven the shafts were swung
with derrlcks upon the decks OF lighters
There appcared no need OF slowing away
\ thc larger sect Ions In the hold. as was
/ done when the famous ObellSlf In Gem
4 fra Park was brought to- this country.
! The smaller sections. however, were
| nlnced below for ballast. The journey
| over several hundred miles OF ocean was
| made without adventure and wien me
Fighters arrived In New York no difficulty
! was experienced In unloading tho COL
umns which were we'll protected by TIM
! her shcathing from tho possibility OF
| abrasion. TO got them out OF tho yes
sells tho old, familiar device of the tim.
/ her hitch" wns employed. That Is TO say.
unon each Of the sections of the column
n rome was roved md then unwollnd BY
the mid of powerful engine As me
! rome left tho column rotary motion
4 WIS irrarted to the stone which sent =
I IN the drection ofan truck that awaited
t its recertion,
I Then came the tedious hut interesting
/ tos,, Of ron,ovinr the big pillars to tho
4 cathedral I grounds two miles away,
/ After the nilnrs had been deposited
4 near tho cathedral, It wns still necessary
/ IL swing them nnon their bases which
\ already stood prepared, II feet in height
| and with nrm foundations. Again
specinl apparatus had heen devised by
| the contractors. huge gallows frame
was emnloyed, consisting or TWO LOGS or
mn sts each ~ feet lone md well gl,yed
from the ton. Across tho ton pieces were
tackle blocks which gave % "pnrts." or
| sepnrate strands. to the hosting cable
! If three-nuar ters-inch wire rope.
4 Through the blocks ran the cable and
its two free ends We're fastened to the
4 drums of a mir Of hoisiing eneints.
Graphing with tho big shafts was
easier with this apparatus than mlg'lt
bara henn supposed, Each one came
from tho quarry with n three-ineh nrn-
iectine ledge Mt the upper end, This
ledge gave purchase so that the wire
iust below. Other rnpes extended down.
, ,v.rd connectlne with another moose
Which encircled the pillar near the
lot i and a rppe running downward
4 assisted the men In steering tho stone
a, ~ oir q The whole process was very