The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-27
TOWER TOO FEET
London Man Proposes One to Be
Erected in Kansas.
Wants It in Middle of the United
States.
IN HONOR OF PEACE.
Would Call Structure Inter-
national Peace Tower.
Central Figure of a Perpetual
Peace Exposition.

Governor Hoch has received from
James Weir Graydon, of London,
England. the plans and specifications
for a tower 1900 feet high, to be
erected at the middle of the United
States, and to form the nucleus of a
gigantic International exposition, to be
open to the public forever. The
tower is designed and patented by Mr..
Graydon, who is an engineer and in
ventor, and he proposes to call it
1.-The Roosevelt Peace Tower"
Annapolis, Kas., in Ellsworth coun-
ty, claims the honor of being the
center of the United States, though
Junction City disputes the claim, but
at any rate it is somewhere in Kansas.
Mr.. Graydon invites Governor Hoch
to appoint a representative to CO.
operate with similar representatives
from all the other states in the union
to erect this 1900 foot tower.
If it wasn't for the fact that Mr..
James Weir Craydon's letter bears SO
many indications that it is written by
a gentleman with an aviary Of bats
in his battlements, the governor might
consider the proposition. As it is,
nothing will be done.
But here's a queer thing about Mr..
James Weir GraydOn: he refers to the
| book who's Who in America" for in
formation about himself, and sure
enough, in this standard reference
work is found this paragraph, on
page 592:
"Graydon, James engineer.
inventor; born in United States of
American parents, January Is, 1913;
graduated U. S. naval academy, served
in volunteer army in civil war under
Grant and Sherman; appointed mid
shipman in 1865; served on various
stations and became lieutenant U. S.
N; resigned. Inventor OF Graydon
! dynamite gun, Graydon gigantic
wheels exhibited at Paris, Vienna,
Madrid, Rome, BlackpOol, England,
etc., Graydon aerial torpedo, Gray
don cable system of tOrpecoes, Cray
don carriage heater, Graydon high
/ velocity prOiectileS GraydOn COM
pound rotary turbine engine. Address
care Jensen & Son, n Chancery Lane,
1 W. c., England
| Mr.. Graydon sends to Governor
Hoeh a picture of his tower, and the
| following letter. to which cold type
can not do justice, for it is embellished
with all sorts of fancy penmanship:
] No. 131 London Road, StOckWell, S W,
London, Eng. Oct. -, 1905.
To His Excelleney the Governor of KAN
sas, U. S. A.
| Tower of Peace (lithograph sent yau).
have the honor to inform YOU Of the
following which is sure to bring millions
| and millions OF wealth to your great
I state of Kansas. MY proposal to the
/ people and governors of each state is to
unite and organize for the erection Of
"A National Permanent Exhibition"
! (open always in the center of the Unit
ed States, having the mighty steel struc-
/ ture 1.-The Roosevelt Tower oe Peace"
as the pioneer and main central feature
and memorial to orr brave and deter
mined president.
Surrounding this mightiest structure of
steel the world viii ever see win be the
great permanent exhibition buildings
necessary fer the Worlds Mightiest ex-
hibition erected, owned and operated by
/ the people Of every state and territory
in our great union. Permanency in con-
/ struction to last for centuries. Inc site
3 being central between Atlantic and Pa