The sun., 1912-07-14

TO CELEBRATE a victory a Rho
dian sculptor created a statue
los feet high. which the ancients
called the Colossus of Rhodes
and considered one OF the seven wonders
Of the world. To celebrate and commem-
orate business success a New York mer-
chant is building an edifice $50 feet high
which will be as much of a wonder-until
some one puts up taller structure-as
was the Colossus of Rhodes in ancient
times. Its erection is the elimination
Of the romance of the nickel. 1t proclaims
the triumph of the idea Frank W WOOL
worth conceived some thirty years ago.
From the top of the worlds tallest
skyscraper the Woolworth Building on
the west side OF Broadway between Park
place and Barclay street. the City Hall
looks like a toy house with which a very
young child plays. and the fountain in the
park appears like a little girls teacup.
Across Broadway the Post Office seems
a. big. or as small as a Swiss chalet,
while the professions Of New Workers
UP and down Broadway. along Park row
and through the park look like an army
VI ants just emerged from their hill and
scurrying to do the bidding Of their task
masters.
A few days ago at midday the last steel
Erder at the top of this structure was
Nreted into place. and to announce .the
event an American flag was flung to the
breeze on the pinnacle OF the highest
building on earth.
As noon approached the ten foot girder
Lid int p1orso xxith a VN-boa ya--hn
Dare Devil Harvey who was bossing the
Job. reached for his comb-belly rivet
bucket and Thomas HALEY. his assistant,
flung in four white hot rivets. A compress
sion hammer on the end of one or two
dozen snakelike lines Of compressed air hose
was capped over the bolts and the job
Was finished in trice. Then the flag pole
was adjusted and Old Glory fiuttered
between the red girders at its base.
Every one watched the time ball. One
minute TO ~, thirty seconds. and then down
fell the ball. while forty EIGHT stars and
thirteen red and white stripes went creep
inc up the black staff II was noon.
Tn" iron workers raised shout. and
'h"n from far down below there came
li't" answering cry from the ants on the
pavement, On both the North and the
tas' River little white puffs OF steam
49," from the big liners. the tramp ships
and TIA" ,ugboats. A few seconds later
N" eroans and means OF the saluting
WASTES came floating up on the breeze
:" 10" l'''l" ihrong clinging to the plank
mr. on IN" topmost tier OF the building.
among the spectators Of the ceremony
Wa" ~" man who was most deeply inter-
eN'"d II, it Frank W. Woolworth for
whom tn" hnildng Ia being erected. No
story Of husiness success in America II
NOR" i"narkable than that OF Mr.. WOOL
""''' =, who from profits on nickel and
am" purchases in his stores 10 erecting
IN" "prldr tallest building at . cost OF
over sl3uoiuo
VI N"olworth was born at Rodman.
y ' on Auril I3. 1852. When still hoy
oh ~" 'Hrm h" had an ambition to be
H''' '''' II" was ever buying and sell
''p i'ngs 'or his mother when child
AZ %" wi,- delighted on the days when
we i'i."fe wagon arrived.
n" ftTv-odd years ago the unidenti-
"'I 7A."~'lusr Of New York house was
''I '"' Pc" b" started on Western trip
ru "ishcd him to dispose OF "a
' small articles in it's stock
' 'ui proved at all profitable
90 'Ir"i tn accept almost any
NrIli get the goods ont of
.' was unabl" Ia dispos" of |
I, L." reached "A siiiaii ,'~n /
','r" ih.r. WAS a store whose |
.. ms friend IA we'll W. Gus |
.." hor"l h" found u letter |
- .'' r'nluding him NJ the hig /
'' ~ t-ch tao trm wanted moved.