THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA

Evening Star, Issue 20570, 23 August 1930, Page 4

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA

SLANT TO BE ARRESTED PISA, July 2. _ All who know Pisa and its beautiful Leaning Tower will be glad to hear that it is to be consolidated at last, and that there is every reason to believe the dangerous slant will bo arrested. As far back as December, 1927, Signor Mussolini appointed a Commission to examine its condition. They have -off presented their report. First, <-Tev have discovered that the increase n the tilt of the Tower which was 10 millimetres between 1918 and 1929, has brought the total tilt up to 4 285 metres. But they hasten to add that tho deviation would probably have to increase by another 30 centimetres before there is danger of collapse. Ims opinion, of course, does not take earthquake shocks or landslides into account, and tho Commission, while saying there is no immediate danger of a catastrophe, strongly recommend that steps be taken as soon as possible to cement tho subsoil by injecting a prcpaiavion of cement. .. Tho Francois system, an English patent, will probably be used, but certain changes will be made, owing to tho nature of the ground, which is chieflv niade up of clay and sand. Iho Commission experimented, choosing two areas about 150 ft away from the Tower. They injected solutions of sul phate of aluminium and silicate of sodium iu one area, placing pillars weighted with iron bars on both areas. The injected soil gave way for 3 millimetres under each pillar, while the area which were nob treated gave way o*. centimetres per pillar. The Commission has exploded the tradition that Bonanno Pisano and William of Innsbruck, who started the Tower, meant it to bo crooked because William was a hunchback. Iheir examination, they say, proves that the building was planned to bo straight, and started as planned. But the sou was waterv, and tho pumping which had to bo rosortecl to from tho first made holes in the gravel and marl strata. tlio foundations were sunk only nino loct and failed to reach firm soil. the Tower began to tilt when the second story was up, and so frightened were the builders that they left it for many years.