Description: Attached document reads: "This celebrated marble bell tower in the Italian City of Pisa is worthy of rank among the seven wonders of the modern world. Begun in 1174 and completed in 1350, the structure commended to dip after the first three galleries had been constructed, The slant of the tower which is about four- teen feet from the perpendicular increased an additional foot in the last century. Toward the end of 1928 the Italian government began work which will ultimately give to this notable example of Romanesque architecture abroad secure footing. The tower is not to be straightened. For centuries, the "falling tower" as engineers have called it has been slowly sinking verti -cally into the soft river valley sediment on which it rests. The plan is to inject cement in liquid form through pipes inserted under the tower. After the completion of preliminary experiments, on spots near enough to the tower without involving direct risks, the soil directly under the structure itself is to be treated, in the light of the experiences gained from these test experiments. Constructed entirely of white marble the tower rises to a height of 179 feet, having the beels in its uppermost eighth story. The walls are thir- teen feet thick at the base and between six and seven feet thick at the top. Semicircular arches supported by fifteen columns around the lowest portion. Above these rise six spreads each with 30 columns. The top section has 12 columns. An inner staircase of nearly 300 steps (294) leads to the top from which a fine view of the picturesque city of Pisa and the Mediter- ranean beyond is obtained. The tower was intended as a bell tower for the nearby cathedral, which is of equal fame as is also the bapistry in the same square. Galileo, a native Pissa, used the leaning tower in his experiments to determine the velocity of falling bodies. ---THE WORLD BOOK--- There is no reason to suppose that the architects intended that the campanile or leaning tower should be built in an oblique position. It would appear to have assured it while the work was still progress. The founda- tions are not more than 10 feet deep and their circumference only that the tower. ---ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANICA--- In the eigth story, which is the belfry, we find seven bells. Op- posite to the side that overhangs its base by thirteen feet and seven inches, is carefully places the heaviest and larges bell. If all the bells are ringing at one time, and we place our hands on the platform railing, the vibrations from the booming and caroling bells are so repeated by the whole structure that the thing rail under your fingers quicers like a violin string. Slowly climbing the two hundred and ninety-four stairs that land to the summit, no pass at the top of each story a door leading to the external aroade. ---"ON FAMOUS BUILDINGS--- Charles L. Baraton" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F03_22_001
Subjects: Leaning Tower (Pisa, Italy); Models
Places: Ohio