The Giant Ferris Wheel
September 5, 1897
Since July the Giant Ferris Wheel in Prater is in operation.  The English Marine Lieutenant and engineer Walter B. Basset has constructed it with his co-worker engineer Harry Hitchins.  The English contractor Basset, was also the owner of an English boiler factory, that also supplied the Austrian k.u.k Navy in Triest, Pola and Fiume. 

The highest point on the Giant Ferris Wheel is 212 feet from the ground.  The diameter of the wheel is 200 feet, the outer diameter of the wheel construction is 183 feet, and the inner part of the wheel, is 163 feet. 

On the 21^st of June 1897, the construction of the Giant Ferris Wheel was completed after eight months of work.  The citizens of Vienna are very excited about the Giant Ferris Wheel.

Link to Wiener Leisure Time For more info on Das Riesenrad

The Gasometer
July 18, 1899
Yesterday the first four Gas tanks in Simmering were completed.  They are ideal for storage and when needed, to supply the network   The designers strove to create an architecturally interesting factory with simple means.  The gas tanks, at 70 meters high, are visible from afar and capable of holding a capacity of  90,000 cubic meters.  Naturally the factory will need lots of employees.

The Electrification of the Trams
December 4, 1903
One of  Lueger’s political campaign points has been fulfilled: the electrification of the city trams in Vienna has been completed.  As Lueger, became the mayor of Vienna in 1897, the tramway was still being operated by nearly 3000 horses and a few steam engines.  Private businesses were either not able or willing to take upon the large costs associated with the electrification.  Already in 1897, the second district of Vienna had one stretch of its tramway operating on electricity.   The electrification network has now extended from 83 to 125 kilometers.

Mountain Spring Waterlines
December 4, 1910
The rapid increase in the population of the citizens of Vienna since 1890, has made it essential to develop the new water reserves.  In 1900 the Viennese Local Council ruled to erect a second spring water pipeline. 

The engineer Dr. Karl Kinzer found the source of the water on the north side of the Hochschwab, which was in the possession of the Admont monastery.  The city of Vienna then acquired the location from Dr. Kinzer.  On the 11^th of August 1900, the cornerstone for the second site was set. 

Over 100 Aqueducts and 19 gas tunnel conduits with up to  2.5 kilometers in length have to be constructed to cross rivers and valleys. During the construction there were up to 10,000 workers at hand working on the project. On December 2, 1910 the second waterway went into operation.  Vienna can  now say that it has the best tap water of all of the large cities in the world.

Last but not least, the construction will have a great influence on the health of the people of the city.  With the assurance of a fresh water supply, showers and public bathes can be erected in all the districts of Vienna.