The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-03-13
10 UNVEIL STATUE
BY ELECTRICITY
Washington Inventors De-
vice for Franklin Shaft.
PRESIDENT COULD ACT
By Pressing Button Roosevelt Would
Unloosen Drapings From Me
mortal in Paris.
PRESIDENT COULD ACT

Why not unveiI the statue of BENJAMIN
Franklin by electricity? That is the
question that is being asked by all who
have seen the device invented by J. $
Hin, an electrical engineer of the De
raTtment of the Interior. The statue
which is referred 10 ir the one beins
erected in Paris TO be unveiled i'm the
late spring
As Franklin was the father of cleo
tricity- the American people who have
seen the device think that the unwilling
would be perfect could it be executed
by the mysterious power which the
iilustrious American disco. cred The
invention is simple and could be oper-
ated by child. It has been suggested
that if the plan is adopted the Presi-
dent could unve1 the statue 10y pressing
button in the White House.
Advantages of Method.
The method suggested would do away
Win all of the Inconvenience occa-
stoned at nearly all uuvciliuEs It is
noted by the inventor that at tine uu-
yelling of the Sherman statue i'm this
city the ceremonies were stopped for
some time 20 give the man IN charge
time to explain the workings of the
ropes To a man who had been engaged
10 attend to a minor part of the Cere-
mOny. The electrical method would be-
instantaneous.
It is suggested that WashinEtoLiaus
could hold their ceremonies in Conven-
ton Hall ON the day of the unwilling
AT 8 o'clock i'm the afternoon, and the
lime i'm France would be 5 O'Clock in the
evening.
Nr Hin is something Of a philan-
thropist. He has not secured a patent
ON the device, and is willing to give It
To the French government
The parapEernalia can be erected I'm
any place and used under any cOndt-
tons. provided an electric current can
he secured. either dynamo, primary or
nets and switches. for the entire work
Plans for Unwilling,
A pole is erected ON each side at the
statue 20 be unveiled, and am iron cable
stretched tight over the top IF each
pole and carried down and secured 10 the
bottom IF same Two swivel pulleys
are hung on this trolley wire, and at
tached to the mderside of each is a
horizontal pole. to which is attached the
flags OFT other drapery 20 cover the
statue.
Carried over the top of each pole on a
~7lfta bile pulley is the insulated cable to
transmit the current 10 operate the mas
r.f-. and TO which is attached the
counter weights. which draw back the
f..- gft-. their release ON one edge
80 tau of each flag, is sewn a siT'k
suitable material ON Wmch SHldli
electro magnets are fastened every re"
inches ON the opposite edge OF tht
tlags are fastened I'm a slmlldf iiietIlti5i
small pieces OF soft IRON OF steel ttit1S-
i5rdiu- to the magnets
r4-4. al a
with each other on the edge OF each
Gag. and connected with heNlpie Wlie
Ia the cable attached to the s"lN 81
DuUevs- small switch IS locate
where desired i'm each circuit. $" Llat
The magnets pn the edge OF each Ma :
can be operated independently or tach
other. The operation is as follows.
Both Switches Closed.
The switches are both closed. send
ing the current through magnets on
the flags. which are then drawn to-
rether over the statue and adjusted 50
that the magnets and armatures come
I'm contact. and hold the flags securely
I'm place. and if they are properly adj
lusted the flags viii he securely held
even I'm a heavy wind.
When the signal is given for the un-
yelling. the switch controlling tho mag
nets on the front edge IF the flag is
opened. instantly releasing the front
edges of the flags, and allowing them
10 swing back, thus revealing the
statue The other switch is now opened
and the flags released entirely. rolling
back on the trolley wire TO the poles,
giving very dramatic effect by this
operation. The simplicity and mex
pensiVe construction OF this device
should make it popular