New Britain herald., 1929-04-30
ElFfn TOWER 20
BU1LEADS field
STU TllaG i Void Anniyer.
arJ Exercises Planned

1etu. April ~ (UP)-The Ethel
Tower has reached middle age but
II stu holds itself proudly erect ~
the highest structure In the world
despite the ever-increasing height Of
sky-scrapers In America.
Parisians are planning to COM
memsrate its 10th anniversary this
year by placing memorial to
Alexandra Gustave Eiffel, its con-
structor. under the north side of
this straddlinE four.Iegsed colossus
OF steel. This memorial will be
: bust executed by the famous
French sculptor. Emile Antoine
Hourdelle, and will be unveiled In
ths course Of the year with impress
sivs ceremonies. the exact date not
yet having been fixed.
Eiffel built his imposing monu-
nent with its 100000 rivets hold.
ING together 100000 pieces of met
at IN IL months. driving home the
last rtvet seven days before the OPEN
.nx OF the Universal Exposition OF
1859. Despite the protests against
the construction OF what was then
termed by many writer's a useless
ltnd ugly metal tower. he started the
work In 1857 and finished on March
10, 1883. Two days later, in the pres
ence of several hundred French Of.
ficials and their wives. NJ. Eiffei
hoisted the French flag over his
newly completed masterpiece. 81
guns were fired ana fireworks were
get off from the top. y
Used for Brnadcastinx
In connection with the 10th ami
versary Of the Tour Eiffel, a. 1t 10
called In French. many engineer.
ing and architectural experts point
out that although this marked one
81 the first pioneer attempts in the
world to erect high structures and
evtsaEed the principle OF the steel
frame Of the sky-scraper. neverthe-
less the highest buildings In France
seldom exceed eight stories while in
America the principle OF the Eiffel
Tower has been contaminated in IL
Santic buildings with more than 50
stories.
The criticism that the Eiffel Tow
er would be useless has been con-
ciustvely refuted during the past few
years by making it the leading radio
proadcasting station Of the country.
This latest utility now forms a Stun
bling block 10 the ever-recurring cry
that the tower should be demolished.
1t is also utilized as an astronomical
observatory.
Another usage made OF the struc-
ture recently has been that Of illum-
mated advertising at night. From
practically all parts Of Paris. the
tallest electric advertising sign In the
world. can be seen every night
flashing forth in huge colored letters
the name Of French automo bile,
amidst an embroidery of intricate
lighting.
# Attracts Tourists
The tower continues to be one OF
the most interesting features Of
Paris and attracts American tour
lists BY the thousands every week
during the summer months. For
yuV ~ VI = Ic" lTAuC8 one OF tQe
most beautiful panorama Of Paris
can be seen from any OF its land
tngs.
Although the world knows Eiffel
by this work alone, 1t 10 not tho only
monument which he has left to his
memory. Born in Dillon In 1882. he
gained wide reputation A. the con-
structor Of metal bridges. He then
designed the immense sluice gates
for the Panama Canal while its con-
struction was under French SUPER
vision. He was also connected with
= large number OF engineering works
made in France during his life. He
died In 1923.
the Eiffel Tower IL 9s< feet In
height. exceeding the Woolworth
building by more than 234 feet. The
Washington Mopument is SIS feet
high, the Great Pyramid $50 feet
and st. Paul's Cathedral In London
366 feet One Of the interesting facts
about the tower Is that it has swing
Of five feet, bowling ever SO arrogant
" before 4 heavy wind.