Tour en fer de 300 mètres de hauteur : destinée à l'exposition de 1889 by Eiffel et al.
Tour en fer de 300 mètres de hauteur by Eiffel, Koechlin, Nouguier, and Sauvestre is a technical engineering proposal written in the late 19th century. It outlines a monumental iron tower conceived for a Paris exposition, presenting its purpose, structural principles, construction methods, and public and scientific value. The text explains a new structural idea: four curved corner uprights of a pyramid-like frame channel wind forces internally, avoiding heavy lattice bracing. It
describes the tower’s form and program—a vast entry arch; a first platform with large gallery spaces for dining and gatherings; and a glazed summit platform for panoramic views, scientific observations, and an electric beacon. Engineering calculations cover wind loading, overturning and stability, material stresses, foundations, and predicted deflections, showing the design can stand without guy wires, with added security from anchoring. It details elevators, lighting, erection within roughly a year, and a full cost estimate, plus scaled alternatives. Arguing that iron or steel is the only practical material at such height, it contrasts this with masonry’s limits and cites the Washington obelisk as a cautionary example. The proposal closes by emphasizing public appeal, a rich program of scientific experiments (astronomy, meteorology, physics, telegraphy), and the ambition to symbolize modern engineering, industry, and the spirit of progress. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Eiffel, Gustave, 1832-1923 |
|---|---|
| Author | Koechlin, Maurice, 1856-1946 |
| Author | Nouguier, É. (Émile), 1840-1897 |
| Author | Sauvestre, Stephen, 1847-1919 |
| Title | Tour en fer de 300 mètres de hauteur : destinée à l'exposition de 1889 |
| Original Publication | Paris: E. Capiomont & V. Renault, 1885. |
| Credits | Claudine Corbasson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica)) |
| Language | French |
| LoC Class | TH: Technology: Building construction |
| Subject | Tour Eiffel (Paris, France) |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 77865 |
| Release Date | Feb 5, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 236 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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