Basil Lumber News

Back to Home

      

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

"Uh oh, the center piece doesn't fit!"

  The Gateway Arch, is the iconic image of St. Louis, Missouri, nicknamed the 'Gateway to the West' commemorating the city's role in the westward expansion of the United States. It was designed by Eero Saarinen and  Hannskarl Bandel in 1947. It stands 630 feet tall, and is also 630 feet wide at its base from leg to leg, making it the tallest man-made monument in the United States. It is also the largest architectural structure designed as a weighted or flattened catenary arch.

Construction of the arch started on February 12, 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965. The monument opened to the public on July 24, 1967. The cross-sections of its legs are equilateral triangles, narrowing from 54 feet per side at the base to 17 feet at the top. Each wall consists of a stainless steel skin covering carbon steel walls, re-bar, and reinforced concrete. The interior of the Arch contains a unique tram system providing passage to an observation deck at the top. There are two emergency stairwells each containing 1076 steps each, in the event the tram system fails.

During construction, both legs were built at the same time. The base of each leg had an engineering tolerance of one sixty-fourth of an inch or the two legs would not meet precisely at the top. Tolerances were kept throughout the construction of the legs yet when it came time to connect both together at the center; the legs did not align properly. The south facing leg, exposed more to the sun, was warmer than the north facing leg, causing thermal expansion of the south leg and the difference in the alignment. The St. Louis fire department was called in to cool down the south leg by spraying it with cold water until the two legs aligned.

A time capsule containing the signatures of 762,000 St. Louis area students was welded into the final center piece before it was set in place.

Eleven light aircraft have illegally but successfully flown beneath the arch.

In 1980 Kenneth Swyers parachuted onto the top of the Arch. His intention was to then jump off the top with another chute and land safely on the ground. However, the wind caught his first shoot before he could discard it, throwing him off balance. He slid down the north leg to his death.

At 7:15 am on October 29, 1983, David Adcock began to scale the arch by means of suction cups on his hands and feet but he was talked out of continuing after having climbed only 20 feet. The next day he successfully scaled and rappelled the nearby 21-story Equitable Building in downtown St. Louis.

The Gateway Arch, part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

On September 14, 1992 it was rumored that John Vincent successfully scaled the outside of the Arch with suction cups during the night, and performed a BASE jump from the top with a parachute at 7 am. No evidence surfaced to support his claim, and it was speculated by park rangers that Vincent was lowered from a helicopter onto the top of the Arch, from which he parachuted. He was jailed three months for the stunt.

 

Please enjoy our latest link and as always thanks for visiting!    

 

http://www.woodsmith.com/

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

                                      The Great Seal of the United States of America

 

                                           

 

   On July 4, 1776, the same day that the Continental Congress of the thirteen United States of America declared independence from Great Britain, Congress named the first committee to design a Great Seal, or national emblem, for the country. The United States of America needed an official symbol of sovereignty to formalize and seal international treaties and transactions with other countries of the world. It took six years and three committees consisting of the works of 14 individuals before Congress finally accepted a design on June 20, 1782.

   On this day, Charles Thomson, the head of the third and final committee commented on the symbolism of the design. It is the only official explanation offered about the meaning of the Great Seal.  He said: “The Shield is composed of thirteen stripes that represent the several states joined into one solid compact, supporting the chief which unites the whole and represents Congress. The stripes are kept closely united by the chief and the chief depends upon that union and the strength resulting from it”.

   He continued: “The motto “E Pluribus Unum” alludes to this union. The shield is born on the breast of an American Eagle, without any other supporters, to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own virtue.  The Olive Branch and Arrows denote the power of peace and war which is exclusively vested in Congress. The Constellation of thirteen stars denotes a new state taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers. The Pyramid signifies strength and duration. The Eye over it and the motto Annuit Coeptis allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favor of the American cause. The date 1776 underneath is that of the Declaration of Independence and the words Novus Ordo Seclorum under it signify the beginning of the new American Era, which commences from that date.”

   There are several conspiracy theories as to the hidden meanings of the  “Great Seal”. The following gives an accurate, unbiased, and more detail explanation of the seal and its phrases as they were intended to be represented by the authors.

   The American Bald Eagle:  The Bald Eagle was chosen as the emblem of the United States of America because of its long life, great strength, and majestic looks.  It is holding in his right talon an Olive Branch, and in its left a Bundle of Thirteen Arrows.  This depicts the notion that the United States is a country born of peace but is prepared for war to maintain that peace.  Charles Thomson specified a bundle of arrows, and in his preliminary sketch showed the thirteen arrows tightly aligned – a symbol of "strength in unity" that's found in the traditional cultures everywhere, from the Romans to the Iroquois:  Sticks alone can be broken by a child, but sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.

   E Pluribus Unum:  This is written on the scroll carried in the beak of the American Bald Eagle.  The general meaning of each Latin word is clear: Pluribus is related to the English word: "Plural." “Unum” is related to the English word: "Unit." “E Pluribus Unum” describes an action, “Many Uniting into One”. An accurate translation of the motto is "Out of Many, One" - a phrase that captures the symbolism of the shield.

   The Shield:  The shield is composed of the blue Chief (top horizontal bar) and the red and white Pales (thirteen vertical stripes) which represent the several states all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief which unites the whole and represents Congress. The motto “E Pluribus Unum”, as explained before, alludes to this union.  The stripes are kept closely united by the Chief, and the Chief depends upon the union, and the strength resulting from it, for its support to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America and the preservation of their union through Congress.  There is nothing special meant by the shape of the stars or the shape they all make in the Constellation.  Stars have been depicted as having five points or six points at the artist's discretion.  The American Flag has stars as five points which were made the same for the seal's constellation.  The thirteen Stars represent the thirteen original states and to keep everything uniform the thirteen stars form a six point star which symbolizes the unity of the constellation.

   Annuit Coeptis:  This is found on the reverse side of the seal over the Triangle containing the Eye.  The following is the translation of each Latin word.  Annuit means to nod assent, to favor, to smile upon.  Coeptis means undertakings, endeavors, beginnings.  Annuit Coeptis means "favors (lit., gives the nod to) undertakings." The subject must be supplied. Who favors? The Eye (Providence) does.  The verb Anuit can be either present tense or perfect tense, therefore an accurate translation of the motto is: "Providence favors our undertakings" or "Providence has favored our undertakings." (The word "our" is supplied.) It has also been translated as: "He favors our undertakings"

   The Eye of Providence:  "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." – Closing sentence of the Declaration of Independence.  The eye was originally suggested by Pierre Du Simitière, the consultant and artist on the first Great Seal committee appointed July 4, 1776. He specified: "The Eye of Providence in a radiant Triangle whose Glory extends over the Shield and beyond the Figures."

MDCCLXXVI: Found on the base of the pyramid are the Roman Numerals for 1776 the year the Declaration of Independence was signed and the birth of the Nation. 1776 was so iconic, that even though there were 14 States by the time the Great Seal was adopted in 1782, the number of stripes, stars, and arrows was set at 13, the number of States in 1776.

   Novus Ordo Seclorum:  This is displayed underneath the pyramid.  Although Thomson did not provide an exact translation of the motto, he explained its meaning in conjunction with the date 1776. He said  "The date underneath is that of the Declaration of Independence and the words under it signify the beginning of the new American Era, which commences from that date."   Translated, “Novus” means new, young, novel, or renewed.  “Ordo” means order, row, or series.  “Seclorum” means ages, generations, or centuries; so an accurate translation of “Novus Ordo Seclorum” is "A New Order of the Ages,"  There is a conspiracy theory that “Novus Ordo Seclorum” translated means "New World Order", but the following explanation should help put that to rest. 

   “Novus Ordo Seclorum” is an 18th-century Latin phrase is derived from a 1st-century B.C. phrase depicting a new beginning of the ages or the 1st-century; “Novus” or “New”, “Ordo” or “Order”, and “Seclorum” or “Ages”.  If you notice, the Latin word “Seclorum” is a plural word and this changes the phrase to a plural form.  Again, if translated word for word “Novus Ordo Seclorum” reads “New Order Ages” hence the translated phrase “A New Order of the Ages” not “New Order of the World(s)” or “New World(s) Order”.  Remember Charles Thomson specifically said the motto refers to the “New American Era” commencing in 1776.

   Whatever the meanings the forefathers had in mine, the “Great Seal of the United States of America” is dramatically impressive and is recognized the world over, as a show of strength, unity, and dignity, which holds true to the people of its country, of which it represents.

 

Please enjoy our latest link and as always thanks for visiting!    

 

http://www.hammerzone.com/

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

The First Transcontinental Railroad was not “Transcontinental”!

 

 

 

 

   On May 10, 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory, Leland Stanford, the head of The Pacific Union Express, drove a "Golden Spike” into a pre-drilled polished California Laurel tie as the ceremonial final spike to join the rails of the First Transcontinental Railroad (also known as the “Overland Route”) across the United States connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific.  David Hewes, who was a good friend of Leland, donated the 18 carat gold spike.  The railroad was considered by some to be the greatest technological feat of the 19th century. 

   In anticipation of the ceremony, Union Pacific No. 119 and Central Pacific No. 60 (better known as the Jupiter) locomotives were drawn up face-to-face on Promontory Summit, separated only by the width of a single tie.  The locomotives were drawn so close together that the crowd of more than 3000 pressed in tight to witness the event. 

   The accuracy of the account from that point forward is uncertain but it is known that the golden spike and the laurel tie were removed and replaced with a regular iron spike and normal tie. At 12:47 p.m., Stanford and Hewes drove the last iron spike finally completing the line. Supposedly they both missed the spike allowing some levity with the crowd which included a majority of spike drivers, but the single word "done" was nevertheless flashed by telegraph around the country. 

   In the United States, the event has come to be considered one of the first nationwide media events.  The country erupted in celebration upon receipt of the message. Complete travel from coast to coast would be just one week or less instead of six months or more.  This however publicized, was not really a complete Transcontinental Railroad, not until 1873 as passengers and freight trains had to be ferried across the Missouri River prior to then. On March 25, 1873 the Union Pacific Missouri River Bridge opened and directly connected the East Coast to the West Coast making it then an official Transcontinental Railroad, almost four years after the “Golden Spike” had been driven.

   On June 4, 1876 an express train named the Transcontinental Express arrived in San Francisco via the Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after it left from New York City.

 

Click on this article's link and enjoy the following website; and as always "Thank You for Visiting"!

 

http://www.homeimprovementplusperks.com/

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

(Scroll down each article for the valuable links to handy websites)