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On January 28, 1887, work began on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. From the article:
"The construction of the tower (1887-1889)
Foundations and bases
The construction of the tower lasted a little more than 26 months and three days. The first strike took place on January 28, 1887, the inaugural flag was planted at the summit on March 31, 1889. The first work concerned of course the foundations of the 4 pillars to support the metal piles. Their digging and casting lasted five months, all the work being carried out by men. The excavations were evacuated by carriages drawn sometimes by horses, sometimes by steam locomotives. If there were no difficulties for the construction of pillars 2 and 3 on the Champ de Mars side, it was not the same on the Seine. Pillars 1 and 4 required foundations made with compressed air using sheet metal boxes driven 5 m under water. The foundations are large concrete blocks not falling more than 15 m below ground level, they are called crossbowmen, they are the base of the tower. The advantage of these pillars is to minimize the forces projected on the ground compared to what it would be if the pile were directly placed on the foundations.
The metal structure
It was on July 1, 1887 that the construction of the metal part began. At the beginning the assemblage was simple: The workers recovered the pre-painted parts manufactured in the factory and assembled them from the ground, low scaffolding and cranes. But from 30m high it was no longer possible to do so, it was necessary to build 12 special wooden scaffolds, then, from 45m, other scaffolding, but those more solid, able to receive the beams of 70 tons of the first floor. It was thanks to them that the workers were able to assemble the parts forming the first platform, at a height of 57m, a junction terminated on the 7th of December, 1887, in the middle of winter. From there the scaffolds were mounted on the first floor to continue the construction up to 115 m high where the 2nd junction took place, completed on August 14, 1888. The rest was done thus to the top, knowing that 'from the second floor the four stacks made only one, the work became easier.
The pieces of the tower were made in the Eiffel workshops, in Levallois-Perret. Most were assembled in the workshop, held together by temporary bolts. Thus the workers who climbed the tower on the construction site (they were called voltigeurs) had less work, it had just to position the elements and replace the bolts by definitive rivets.
The construction of the tower did not pose any particular problem, the site, although well overdue, was completed before the deadline. It should be noted that the strike of the workers, as the winter of 1888 approached, demanded better working hours and a risk premium given the height at which they worked. Gustave Eiffel ceded the premium he increased, although he noted that the workers were better paid on this site than on another, but refused to index the premium on the working height, as the risk was, according to it is the same regardless of the working height.
The construction site employed a maximum of 250 people, which was already quite good, and in spite of the risks no deaths were to be deplored. Let us mention, nevertheless, the anecdote of this workman who came up with his fiancée on the tower on a Sunday, a day chomé, and which fell as a result of a loss of balance. This death, however frightful it may be, can not be attributed to the construction site itself.
At the end of the construction, in March 1889, the tower had a height of 300m, but its size increased to 324m when installing the radio antennas a few years later. It was the tallest structure ever constructed by the man. It kept this record for a long time before being beaten in 1930 by the Chrysler building in New York. The initial weight of the tower was around 10,100 tons.
The initial concession (1889-1909)
Inauguration
The inauguration of the Eiffel Tower took place on March 31, 1889. It took place inside the west pillar as far as the speeches were concerned, but at the top of the tower for the symbol. This day began around noon. In the western pillar were assembled 200 workers, Mr Eiffel, and representatives of the Paris Council. After a short snack the officials left the workers and climbed the 1710 steps to reach the 3rd platform, then they went up to the pole. There Gustave Eiffel hoisted a tricolor flag, then everyone went down again to find the workmen. A ceremony took place, with speeches borrowed from the honor of France, with pride and thanks. The workers received a bonus, and Eiffel learned that he had been proposed for the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor. Minister Tirard arrived as well as Mr. Alphand, curator of the Universal Exhibition of 1889, participated in the speeches. Then another collation was served, and it was the end of the inauguration.
But it was not that the tower was open to the public. In fact, it was not until May 15, 1889, that the first visitors could ascend the monument.
Popular success
And wait was the word since at the time it had a very popular success, and this despite the campaign of denigration it was the object before its construction. The effect of the universal exhibition was significant: Of the 32 million visitors, 1 in 16 climbed the tower, or 2 million people, until the exhibition closed on October 31, 1889. But this attendance is exceptional because in the following years the number of visitors fell, with a major start in 1900, the year of the new universal exhibition in Paris, but even during this period there were proportionally fewer visitors than expected.
So that in 1909, at the time of the definitive cession of the Eiffel tower to the city of Paris and the end of the exploitation by Gustave Eiffel its tower did not really have the coast and it was considered more and more seriously to disassemble it.
Scientific interests of the tower
It is his scientific interest that will save the Eiffel Tower. Originally conceived as a source of experimentation, Gustave Eiffel multiplied the authorizations for the use of the tower for scientific purposes, for to him if the popular success weakens (and it weakens), his tower can survive only by his interest scientist. Thus the tower becomes a support for:
A meteorological station (1889, Éleuthère Mascart)
An antenna of herzienne (1898, Eugène Ducretet realizes a telephone communication between the tower and the Pantheon)
A telegraph antenna (1903, Gustave Ferrié establishes wireless telegraphic communication)
An aerodynamics laboratory (1909, Gustave Eiffel carries out tests of aerodynamic structures)
Wind tunnel of Gustave Eiffel
Wind tunnel of Gustave Eiffel
And it works because in 1909 the army began to take an interest in wireless transmission technology and pressured the minister to retain this gigantic pylon that might have an interest in this field. At that time the tests were not yet convincing, but between the demands of the army and other civilian applications the authorities understood that it was not necessary to dismantle the tower and in 1910 extended its concession for the 70 years to follow, concession which remains in favor of Eiffel."
"The construction of the tower (1887-1889)
Foundations and bases
The construction of the tower lasted a little more than 26 months and three days. The first strike took place on January 28, 1887, the inaugural flag was planted at the summit on March 31, 1889. The first work concerned of course the foundations of the 4 pillars to support the metal piles. Their digging and casting lasted five months, all the work being carried out by men. The excavations were evacuated by carriages drawn sometimes by horses, sometimes by steam locomotives. If there were no difficulties for the construction of pillars 2 and 3 on the Champ de Mars side, it was not the same on the Seine. Pillars 1 and 4 required foundations made with compressed air using sheet metal boxes driven 5 m under water. The foundations are large concrete blocks not falling more than 15 m below ground level, they are called crossbowmen, they are the base of the tower. The advantage of these pillars is to minimize the forces projected on the ground compared to what it would be if the pile were directly placed on the foundations.
The metal structure
It was on July 1, 1887 that the construction of the metal part began. At the beginning the assemblage was simple: The workers recovered the pre-painted parts manufactured in the factory and assembled them from the ground, low scaffolding and cranes. But from 30m high it was no longer possible to do so, it was necessary to build 12 special wooden scaffolds, then, from 45m, other scaffolding, but those more solid, able to receive the beams of 70 tons of the first floor. It was thanks to them that the workers were able to assemble the parts forming the first platform, at a height of 57m, a junction terminated on the 7th of December, 1887, in the middle of winter. From there the scaffolds were mounted on the first floor to continue the construction up to 115 m high where the 2nd junction took place, completed on August 14, 1888. The rest was done thus to the top, knowing that 'from the second floor the four stacks made only one, the work became easier.
The pieces of the tower were made in the Eiffel workshops, in Levallois-Perret. Most were assembled in the workshop, held together by temporary bolts. Thus the workers who climbed the tower on the construction site (they were called voltigeurs) had less work, it had just to position the elements and replace the bolts by definitive rivets.
The construction of the tower did not pose any particular problem, the site, although well overdue, was completed before the deadline. It should be noted that the strike of the workers, as the winter of 1888 approached, demanded better working hours and a risk premium given the height at which they worked. Gustave Eiffel ceded the premium he increased, although he noted that the workers were better paid on this site than on another, but refused to index the premium on the working height, as the risk was, according to it is the same regardless of the working height.
The construction site employed a maximum of 250 people, which was already quite good, and in spite of the risks no deaths were to be deplored. Let us mention, nevertheless, the anecdote of this workman who came up with his fiancée on the tower on a Sunday, a day chomé, and which fell as a result of a loss of balance. This death, however frightful it may be, can not be attributed to the construction site itself.
At the end of the construction, in March 1889, the tower had a height of 300m, but its size increased to 324m when installing the radio antennas a few years later. It was the tallest structure ever constructed by the man. It kept this record for a long time before being beaten in 1930 by the Chrysler building in New York. The initial weight of the tower was around 10,100 tons.
The initial concession (1889-1909)
Inauguration
The inauguration of the Eiffel Tower took place on March 31, 1889. It took place inside the west pillar as far as the speeches were concerned, but at the top of the tower for the symbol. This day began around noon. In the western pillar were assembled 200 workers, Mr Eiffel, and representatives of the Paris Council. After a short snack the officials left the workers and climbed the 1710 steps to reach the 3rd platform, then they went up to the pole. There Gustave Eiffel hoisted a tricolor flag, then everyone went down again to find the workmen. A ceremony took place, with speeches borrowed from the honor of France, with pride and thanks. The workers received a bonus, and Eiffel learned that he had been proposed for the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor. Minister Tirard arrived as well as Mr. Alphand, curator of the Universal Exhibition of 1889, participated in the speeches. Then another collation was served, and it was the end of the inauguration.
But it was not that the tower was open to the public. In fact, it was not until May 15, 1889, that the first visitors could ascend the monument.
Popular success
And wait was the word since at the time it had a very popular success, and this despite the campaign of denigration it was the object before its construction. The effect of the universal exhibition was significant: Of the 32 million visitors, 1 in 16 climbed the tower, or 2 million people, until the exhibition closed on October 31, 1889. But this attendance is exceptional because in the following years the number of visitors fell, with a major start in 1900, the year of the new universal exhibition in Paris, but even during this period there were proportionally fewer visitors than expected.
So that in 1909, at the time of the definitive cession of the Eiffel tower to the city of Paris and the end of the exploitation by Gustave Eiffel its tower did not really have the coast and it was considered more and more seriously to disassemble it.
Scientific interests of the tower
It is his scientific interest that will save the Eiffel Tower. Originally conceived as a source of experimentation, Gustave Eiffel multiplied the authorizations for the use of the tower for scientific purposes, for to him if the popular success weakens (and it weakens), his tower can survive only by his interest scientist. Thus the tower becomes a support for:
A meteorological station (1889, Éleuthère Mascart)
An antenna of herzienne (1898, Eugène Ducretet realizes a telephone communication between the tower and the Pantheon)
A telegraph antenna (1903, Gustave Ferrié establishes wireless telegraphic communication)
An aerodynamics laboratory (1909, Gustave Eiffel carries out tests of aerodynamic structures)
Wind tunnel of Gustave Eiffel
Wind tunnel of Gustave Eiffel
And it works because in 1909 the army began to take an interest in wireless transmission technology and pressured the minister to retain this gigantic pylon that might have an interest in this field. At that time the tests were not yet convincing, but between the demands of the army and other civilian applications the authorities understood that it was not necessary to dismantle the tower and in 1910 extended its concession for the 70 years to follow, concession which remains in favor of Eiffel."
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