Page 117 - Demo

115A n d t h e n , t i m e s changed once again, with finance and commerce becoming the prevalent influence. As a result, since early in the twentieth century, the highest buildings constructed have been devoted to monetary gain. These days, Malaysia, China, the United States, as well as a number of other countries, compete to erect the world%u2019s tallest skyscrapers%u2014and virtually all are headquarters for international corporations and global banks. This is, indeed, the era of high finance, in every sense of the word. However, these monolithic representations of unparalleled power, pride, and plenty must now be protected from those bent on bringing down such potent symbols. This dark side of spectacular height emerged on September 11, 2001. Yet, despite real and potential tragedies, the race to achieve record-high buildings continues.Interestingly, in North America%u2019s agricultural grainproducing regions (Indiana included), grain elevators have been, and often continue to be, the tallest structures around. When originally built, they were, literally, lofty and ambitious symbols of advancing technology and expanding commercial promise.Now a days, the grain elevators of the heartland are no longer harbingers of a golden age of agricultural wealth. In fact, many are rundown or abandoned. Yet, their familiar profiles still rise above nearby buildings%u2014often towering over churches and courthouses. They soar above the Main Street stores of depopulated towns and look down on the fields of corn and soy just beyond the towns%u2019 limits. No matter what their ultimate fate, these %u201ccathedrals of the prairie%u201d will retain their elevated and central place in the history of this land. Shideler, Delaware Co. (655.06)Reagan, Clinton Co. (650.14)