Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-26
PISA TOWER MENACE
Commission Report Shows
Situation Is Grave.
PENDENCE Is INCREASED
Crack in the Walls Is Located Near
Foundation.
VERDI WILL BE HONORED
Centenary Will Be Observed by
Italians in Solemn
Manner.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
ROME. May Is 1912.
So much alarm has been caused both
| abroad and in Italy. by the reports that
the Campanile of Pisa is threatening to
fall that the report of the commission
appointed to look into the matter will
come as a relief. although it is not alto
gether favorable
The report dwells lengthily on the in
clination of the tower. comparing the re-
suits of the present investigation with
| those conducted by two Englishmen,
Cresy and Taylor, in 1917 There is, I'M
fortunately no doubt that the pendence
has increased about a fourth of an inch
in every three feet during that period.
The greatest pressure is on the foundations
when a strong north wind is blowing.
and is calculated to be about twenty
one pounds to every four square inches
This, of course, is enormous. and would
have been impossible had there not been
a gradual hardening of the foundations.
The report says: The situation is very
grave. but not without precedent. Other
examples still existing show the
same conditions SUCH for instance as
the Ghirlandina of Modena. where the
pressure must be even greater
Condition of Tower.
1t has been found that the walls of
the hollow inside the tower show no
serious deterioration. except near the
ground. where there Is an almost verti-
cal crack, caused probably by lightning
Outside the ornamentation constructed
| in 1888 is intact. but the original archi-
| traVes OF the doors and windows show
cracks
The steps are very much broken while
the states, though less broken have al
lowed the infiltration of water and dust
which in their turn have hardened into a
| Kind of solder The supports are also
somewhat broken, all of which saws the
commission. needs assiduous vigilance and
quick restora ton to obviate new and
| more serious mischief However. as a
whole it may be said that the state of
preservation of the campanile is good.
The report ends: I'VE declare that
the tower. while not showing any immi-
nent danger signs. is in a condition
| which makes it advisable not to retard
| too long the work for its preservation"
Centenary of Verdi.
As the centenary of the birth of Gu
seppe Verdi is not far off. 1t has been
proposed to commemorate 1t in SOL
emn manner. The musical Academy of
santa Cecilia is to be allowed to lead
| IN the matter. and has decided on a great
artistic program. The academy on the
death of the great composer opened a
subscription list for the purpose of erect
| ing monument to his memory, and
about $500 was gathered Monteverde
the greatest Italian living sculptor spon-
taneousy offered to design the monu-
ment, and there the matter has rested
| ever since for reasons quite outside the
jurisdiction of the academy. This prof.
ect Will now be carried into execution
at least bust of Verdi will be executed
and. If possible. placed in the capitol
among those of the other great men of
modern Italy.
Besides, the academy will give a mag
nificent rendering of Verdi's Requiem
Mass" at the Augusteum inviting must
clans of world wide fame to take part
| Also there will be a series of concerts
| at which will be successfully executed
| all the symphonies of the operas of
Verdi. even those less known, the or
| chestral execution being alternated with
| vocal selections sung by great artists.
| 1t has also been mooted to organize a
| monster open-air musical festival for
the people. giving the masters most cele-
brated choruses. sung by an imposing
number of musicians.