Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-04-03

When the Eiffel Tower was built at
Paris its sole mission in life was the
affording of sensation-loving people
the opportunity of attaining a giddy
height and looking down upon the
earth as it lay stretched out below.
Its daring protector had no other
thought than that of supplying new
amusement feature for the Paris ex-
position about to open, and up to the
present time it has found no prac-
teal use save that of aiding
meteorologists in studying weather
conditions from it's thousand foot al
titude. But with the development of
wireless telegraphy has come a new
and important field of service which
at once gives the French nation
command over it's army and navy and
the country round which it had not
dreamed of a few years ago.
Eiffel Tower is to become nothing
less than the gigantic war eye OF the
nation that will sweep the whole of
France-her frontiers, her chains of
fortresses and her seaboard-for 1t
has been made the central point OF
the great wireless signal system OF
the French army and navy.
From the top of the tower, which Is
984 feet from the ground, officials OF
the army may direct military opera
tons in any part of the republic, and
even for considerable distances over
the frontier in adjoining counties. Its
naval fleets in, the Mediterranean, the
Bay of Biscay, the English channel,
the North sea or the Baltic will be in
constant touch with the directing
authorities in Paris.
Should France and England be-
come allies in some future conflict,
direct communication with London
can be maintained from the Eiffe]
tower. Southwark from 1t waves OF
warning and command will float into
Algeria and Tunis. From this remark
able tower may issue orders that viii
change the map of Europe.
During the army maneuvers last
fall the various corps were directed
from the new station. Later, fleet
movements in the English channe
and the Mediterranean were ordered
without "A hitch in the same way.
Quite recently the scope of com
munication from the tower has beer
extended, so that now messages are
exchanged with London and Berlin
on the one side, and with Tunis ant
Algiers, on the African coast, on thu
other.
The work of equippfng it for sigma
purposes is now going on, and it !!
expected to install there the most com
plete system of wireless telegraph!
in the world.
The French are pleased with thu
idea of retaining the architecture
curiosity, and their vanity is ticklee
by the plan to make it the most won
derful war eye on the globe.
Indeed, the enthusiastic. people con
fidently expect, in a short time, tt
see airships arriving at and departin,
from this great steel stem-an airshil
station nearly 1000 feet above earth.
From the top of the Eiffel towe
ON a clear day one can see about g.
miles. At night a searchlight from
| this eminence stabs the surroundin.
darkness.
At its base this wonderful towe
covers nearly two and a half acre
| of ground. It's lower section consist
of four built-up iron columns, each o
which consists of four smaller col
umns, resting on masonry piers.
I Springing gracefully upward, tn
| four main columns curve toward eacl
other until, $40 feet above the SUI
face, they join in single column
Above this the longer needle of tn
tower rises 1854 feet higher. :
I At 1879 feet, at $50 feet and again
at 906 feet there are platforms whicl
! are reached by elevators, as well a
| by stairs. .,~~~. r. -,
From the highest platform wind