HIST 100: Engineering The Past

Use of Alternating Current Electricity

by 1 Comment

Kayla Pollard
Logan Tueller
Jonathan Shoemaker

What is the most commonly overlooked feature? Alternating current(AC), a form of electricity, was the feature that our group decided to analyze. Our definition of the term engineering means being reworked to meet new challenges or are “engineering” these feats for the future. With this in mind AC meets these requirements and is “engineered” to supply extremely large amounts of power faster and more cost effective than the common direct current. Most people saw this as the future of electricity, some did not.
In comparing The Book of the Fair by Bancroft to “War on Currents” as well as Larson’s point of view in Devil in the White City all believe that AC was scientific advancement. Another point they could all agree on was how economically efficient AC was over direct current (DC). However they did differ, Larson told a story of Tesla and Westinghouse being the underdogs that outbid the electricity expert of the time. Whereas Bancroft didn’t view Tesla or Westinghouse as the underdogs but simply the creators of the amazing discovery. Another contrast between the two currents according to The Book of the Fair, alternating current could transport 10,000 volts over 28 miles of copper lines, whereas direct current wouldn’t be able to transfer 10,000 volts over 20 miles. The Book of the Fair and Devil in the White City’s point of view were both positive as they were looking at the affects it would have on the future. Whereas the article “War on Currents” talks about Edison’s drive to disprove AC at the time.
Looking at why the authors have different views is also in part to the time in which they were written. The Book of the Fair was written around the time the fair was opened. Knowing this we can see that the author themselves where in amazement by new engineering feats. Larson on the other hand published Devil in the White City in 2003 where he has already seen what AC can do his whole life. Whereas the War on Currents simply looked at the historical facts objectively viewing only its effects on society.
Bancroft’s interpretation of electricity is a lot more passionate and persuasive compared to Larson’s. He describes a world without light and “Suddenly a beam of light shoots like a falling star from the lofty dome of the Administration building, and a moment later its symmetrical outlines stand out in tracery of fire” (Bancroft). Through his words the readers who were not there were able to feel the stark contrast between the world before and during the evolution and advancement of electricity. “General Electric rather miraculously came back with a bid of $554,000. But Westinghouse, whose AC system was inherently cheaper and more efficient, bid $399,000” (Larson), his words were drab and straight to the point. The World’s Fair was all about proving how spectacular and innovative the country was compared to everyone else. Electricity was not a completely new concept but it was America and Chicago’s job to display electricity on a more grand scale.
During this time it was important to not only be seen as relevant and flashy, all the work that was being done with electricity was going to be crucial to the development of this world. At the World’s Fair the Electrical department worked to show practical uses for the electricity that was being created. This invention could be used to power railways, mining, and metal work along with all of these artistic things astounding the fair goers. By showing electricity’s diversity it was able to show its importance, and not be dismissed as a fad.

Cited information

Bancroft, Hubert H. “Electricity.” The Book of the Fair. Chicago: Bancroft, 1893. 407-10. World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Web. 18 Apr. 2016. .

Larson, Erik. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. New York: Crown, 2003. Print.

“War of the Currents.” PBS. PBS. Web. 18 Apr. 2016. .

13.2 Group Post- Ferris Wheel (Jessica Fontenot, Kyle Mitsunaga, Kaleob Busmann, Karina Myles)

by Leave a Comment

Module 13.2: Ferris Wheel

Jessica Fontenot, Kyle Mitsunaga, Karina Myles, Kaleob Busmann

 

The feature that our group selected is the ferris wheel, one of the most popular attractions at the 1893 World’s Fair. Based on our own definition of engineering, the ferris wheel qualifies as an engineered structure in many ways. First: the ferris wheel was constructed of raw materials such as; steel, wood, and glass. Second: the time, calculation, and planning that had to go into building such a large and oddly shaped feature was enormous. Third: obstacles such as; the weather, union workers, and acquiring enough steel stood in the way of George Ferris and the progress of the wheel. A plan never goes directly from an idea on paper to a standing structure without issues. It was hard work, collaboration, and vision that led to the opening of the ferris wheel on Wednesday, June 21, 1893.

In an article by Patrick Meehan in 1964 (1), a secondary source, the ferris wheel is described in great detail. The author elaborates on the ferris wheel’s architect, George Ferris, and his background. The author then describes the ferris wheel itself and its massive size. This article goes into length about the difficulty it took to not only create this enormous structure, but all of the hardships faced during construction.

In the article by Patrick Meehan, the author holds more of an objective view about the ferris wheel. The article goes into detail about the facts and materials needed to complete the wheel, as well as explaining the difficulty it took to build this structure. Erik Larson and Patrick Meehan both really enjoyed the story of the ferris wheel. Both discuss the struggle it took to complete this section of the exposition and, we believe, they would not have done this if they did not find the construction of the ferris wheel compelling. There are many reasons as to why their views could be interpreted differently. Larson, the author of Devil in the White City, is telling a story and using the detail explained to give further insight into the plot and character analysis. Patrick Meehan is giving us the details and facts as it happened in history, while Larson is describing the details of the ferris wheel in the time period of 1893.

We find the article by Patrick Meehan to be the most persuasive interpretation. The information is concise and to the point. It focuses on the before, during, and after of the events surrounding the World’s Fair and the Ferris Wheel. We think this article does a better job of explaining how hard it was in the beginning for Ferris to be taken seriously and all of the obstacles he faced. The impossible deadline he was given, how he was taken advantage of, and the fact that nothing like this had ever been built before makes for a interesting view of George Ferris. Most of the articles and books that we read had similar information and they all describe the Ferris Wheel as a main attraction, running smooth and quiet, and offering great views.

The Ferris Wheel was built to rival the Eiffel Tower. Burnham wanted the World Fair to have a distinct feature that was,”novel, original, daring, and unique” (1) and was designed and built by an American. This was to show the world that America was the leader when it came to architecture and engineering innovation.

Money and ability play a major role in these types of innovative ideas. It was a very hard sell and took a lot of time, dedication, and calculations to get the approval of the committee. Armed with the needed financing and plans, that had been reviewed and approved by other notable engineers and architects for accuracy, Ferris was able after several attempts to get the approval he needed. Even with the approval he was not given a spot on the main grounds and had to agree to give a substantial amount of the proceeds to the Exposition. Without dedication and hard working American’s like Ferris, we would have never built something that was one of the architectural monuments of the World’s Columbian Exposition.

 

  1. http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/2015/04/27/ferris-wheel-in-the-1893-chicago-worlds-fair/
  2. http://www.jstor.org.libproxy.boisestate.edu/stable/pdf/29774913.pdf

Two Perfect Pages

by Leave a Comment

The timing rooms within the Hagia Sophia were prepared for the intent of keeping the time in order to instruct those within of when to pray within their walls. Prayer was integral to the Islamic traditions, which made the muvakkithane (timing room), extremely important to those inhabiting the Hagia Sophia. In part because the Islamic religion centered around praying five times a day, and with the help of time rooms keeping the time, they were able to stay on schedule and pray all five times at the correct times. In all, there are 38 timing rooms held within the Hagia Sophia complex and all were utilized for telling time and most were also used for praying due to the time being kept for that particular reason. Within a muvakkithane (timing room), can be found  muvakkit, also known as a teller of time. These were specially trained individuals whose sole purpose was to stay within the time room and keep the time for everyone else. They were well trained in the science of telling time using cues such as the sun.

As technology has progressed, the muvakkithane (timing rooms), have become less integral a part of buildings due to the invention of clocks and no need to measure the sun to keep the time. Because of this, many of the time rooms have now been utilized for different purposes, some even sold to create cafes or other public meeting places. Many of these timing rooms were the most beautiful parts of the Hagia Sophia.The timing rooms within the Hagia Sophia were prepared for the intent of keeping the time in order to instruct those within of when to pray within their walls. Prayer was integral to the Islamic traditions, which made the muvakkithane (timing room), extremely important to those inhabiting the Hagia Sophia. In part because the Islamic religion centered around praying five times a day, and with the help of time rooms keeping the time, they were able to stay on schedule and pray all five times at the correct times.

The muvakkithane were typically in the court yards of the larger Hagia Sophia. This gives them the sunlight that is needed for the telling of time during the day and night. There is also the moonlight that is let in through the windows as well that helps tell time and keep track during the night as well as the day. Interestingly enough, some of the muvakkithane doubled as observatories during the night. Depending on the level of intelligence of the time keeper, they could observe the stars at night. But if the intellect was not high enough, it was only used as a prayer room.