Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1902 — Two Mighty Beams. [ARTICLE]

Two Mighty Beams.

The two heaviest single pieces of building “timbers” ever seen in Rensselaer, are now being placed in position at the new K. of P. building. They are two immense wrought steel “I” beams to support the third floor of the building above the “armory” hall in the second floor. Each beam is 51 feet 7 inches long, 3 feet and one inch high, and weigh five tons or 100,000 pounds each. They were bought in Chattanooga, Tenn., but are supposed to have been made at New Albany, this state. They are composed of steel plates about a half inch thick riveted together. They were loaded together on "a specially prepared oar, with another oar under the projecting ends. In hauling from the depot one beam is brought flown at a time, with a strong, specially prepared wagon at each end. As may be supposed it a slow and difficult operation, and one requiring a good deal of good engineering management, to get these beams up where they belong, and placed in position on the columns which will hold them up. Such extra size beams are also very expensive to buy, and these two alone cost-enough to build a good ordinary residence. • The two beams, delivered oh the cars heiW, cost right around $1,00(1