Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-03-13
VULCAN no STAND
7o-FooT TOY TO REAR his HEAD
OVER RED MOUNTAIN.
The Huge Fifty-Two Ton Statue That
Attracted Attention at st.
Louis Fair to Have
New Future.

vulcan the namesake Of mythology
ical character who is supposed to have
forged tho ihunderbolts for Jove. is
the largest cast-iron statue IN the
world. standing 10 feet high in his iron
tootgear. aud tipping The scales at ~
900 pounds He began his career at
the st. Louis fair as a striking ex-
hibit from the Red mountain district
Of Alabama. IMPLYING as he did he
wealth, the resources aud the possibil-
tiles OF the section OF the south from
which he sprang. He attracted much
admiration as the king OF the Alabama
exhibit. but Notwithstanding his popu-
lartty. or perhaps because of his pupu-
larity, he left the fair hopelessly in
debt and was dumped quite in dis
grace upon his native heath
But new day has dawned for him.
The future is rosy with hope for he
is to rise IRON his humiliating and
neglected state and once more rear his
head towards the stars and silently,
but majestically look out upon the
world from the lofty top of Red noun
tain. That is. unless he Commercial
club of Birmingham. which has paid
Vulcans debts of something over 5000.
does not decide to place him on a
pedestal in Capitol park in Birming-
ham. instead of upon the high bluffs
overlooking the city.
The history of Vulcan is an exciting
one Conceived in moment of am
bilious enthusiasm. the possibility of
his birth was regarded as a preposterous
thing Yet from the eventful night
when the birmingham Commercial
club laughed at his promoter for orig
mating the plan Vucans ultimate
birth was assured. AT the next meet
ing the matter was introduced again,
and promoted to such an extent that
the necessary steps were taken for his
existence.
An italian sculptor. G Moretti, was
engaged. and to him the promoter. J.
A. MacKnight, unfolded his plan.
"A statue OF iron. 100 feet high" he
stated. cXpanatorily
1T will cost fortune" answered the
possible to mold Where can we cast
it? Where can design it? There
has never before been made a cast
iron statue of such dimensions
While Vulcan was not nodded 100
feet. as originally intended he was
designed aud cast. nevertheless. to
measure 20 feet from base to the tip
OF his uplifted hand. The sculptor
engaged a church Ia Passaic. N. j..
where rs assistant workers helped him
carry out the design. the statue being
OF such huge proportions it was neces-
sary 10 have a building OF generous
dimensions tor the work.
The cast was. when completed.
brought back to Birmingham. where
the statue OF iron was nodded by !. r.
McWaue
la spite OF the fact that the foundry
was one Of the largest in the Rirming-
ham district. special rigging" was re-
quired in making the various parts
The plates" binders" etc, of this
rigging weighed more than 100 tons
Mr.. McWane who holds a certificate
attesting his skill in the making Of
this huge statue, expended $1,000 in
the casting Part Of this sum he con
tributed AS his share toward advertis-
ing the district.
The weight of Vulcans head is
10 ono pounds. and his shell-like ear
is 26 inches long. His foot is seven
feet long and the circumference of his
ankle six feet. while the calf OF his
leg is nine aud one-half feet His
waist measurement is Is feet. while
the noble proportion Of his chest is
a small matter OF % feet He has a
long reach. for his arm is Is feet
in length and the circumference of
his wrist is four and one-half feet His
massive head measures Is feet
The statue proper is made in seven
sections. and the total weight is 103.-
500 pounds The lower sections are
much heavier metal thus enabling
them to easily carry the weight above.
The lower legs and feet weigh 10000
pounds. The foundry work required
three months time. and four workmen
labored for three weeks on the head
alone