The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-22 00:00:00

SUSPENSION BRIDGE AT ST. CATHERINE'S,
NEAR THE TOWER.

Yesterday a very respectable Meeting of persons interested in the
above undertaking was held at the City of London 'Paters, pur-
suant to advertisement, for the purpose of receiving the subcrip-
dons of those who wished to promote the erection of this bridge.
Mr. CHISHOLM!: moved that the Earl of Morley should take
the Chair.

The Earl of MouLEY said, that he took the chair in compliance
with the wishes of the gentlemen assembled ; but he did not pre-
tend to he acquainted with the localities connected with the pro-
posed bri 13e; he had seen the Meeting advertised, and as it was
his intention to build a suspension bridge on his own estate, he had
attended to hear what might be said on the subject of them. 11e
bad seen the plans of the bridge, and he certainly thought them
replete with science and ingenuity.
I'he proceedings of the Meeting held on the 111th inst., and the
Report of the Committee appointed by that Meeting, were wen
read and approved.
Mr. ' Mlru was anxious that some further information should
be given to the gentlemen assembled, by the promoters of the
bridge, beyor.d what was contained in the Report just aod, as he
was of opinion that the measure was calculated to do a serious in-
jury to the trade of the port of London.
The CH AlitltAlf suggested that it would be as well to read poi,-
Rely the l'nspedus and the Report of Captain Brown, R.N.,
winch was acceded to, and from winch the following are extracts :
" The statements which have been already published of the
transit of carriages of all descriptions, of horses, cattle, and foot
passenger', over London-bridge, render the calculation of the re-
venue of the proposed bridge very simple. An account was taken
in July, 1811, with a view to forming some data for tits produce of
the Southwark midge, and it appeared that there were--
Number. Rate. Amount.
Foot passengers . . 83,810 . £373 10
Waggons - . . 769 - Is. - 38 19 0
Carts and drays - 2.021 - Dd. - 97 9 4
Coaches - . . 1,24) - la. - 63 I 0
_

Olp and taxed tarts - '483 - Gd. - 12 2 A
Home - - 711 - sd. - 1111 0

Per day - . - .003 11 10

Per year . . £216,660 19 2
....---,..—....,
" The population and bailie of tar 110101110118 and saburba bars'
very much increased since that time, sod continue to increase;
therefore, is computing the revenue of the M. Catherine's Bridge.
it will be perfectly sate, and perhaps 'greedy under-rated, to take
one-titth of the above amount as the datum; in which case it
would yield, after paying every expense of keeping it up, and for
annual disbursements, a return of upwards of Psi per cent., as
hereafter shewn. These calculations are made without reference to
the proposed tunnel below the London Docks, which, when corn.
pitted, according to the expectations of the projectors, will DO
doubt reduce the revenue of St. Cathtvine's Bridge. Ist it be
supposed that the tunnel will carry oo' 19,0001. per annum from
the revenue of the bridge ; or even, If it should produce the income
calculated in the prospectus, still there would be a return of up-
wards of seven and a Miff per cent. to the proprietors of St. Ca-
therine's Bridge, otter defraying all expenses of maintaining the
bridge, collecting the tolls, and reserving two per cent. for repairs.
" Thc estimates have been made by James Walker, Esq. Civil
Engineer, 1.19.5. E., and the calculations funned with the greatest
care and accuracy. They are comprised under the following head.:
Expense of purchasing property, and indemnifying the
owners or omupius oh land, will not exceed - .C 30,000
Coffer dams and piers in the river . - . 132,090
Land piers . - . - - 65.000
Abutments - - . . - 40,1100
Approach - - . - - - 11,900
Ironwork - - - - . 96,090
Platform . - - - - 11,000
I,aw expenses, surveys, and expenses of obtaining the
Act of Parliament - - - - 2,000
Superintendence of engineers and contingencies - 12,000

Total amount . . . 1"92,04)u

" Annual receipts, charges, and disbursements, may be classed
under the following loads:—
Estimated gross amount of the revenue . - . £43,000 0 0
Two per cent. on the gross amount to
be reserved for repairing and main-
taining the bridge . - £B6O 0 0
Cleaning and painting . - 301.1 0 0
Lighting and watching - - 250 0 0
Four toll-keepers - - - 320 0 0
Bridge-master, with power to regulate
the order of carriages - . 100 0 0
Secretary, clerk, and office - - 430 U 0
------ 2,2E0 0 0

Net proceeds

- - .C 40.720 U U

" The designs are projected by James Walker, Esq. I.R.S.E.
Civil Engineer, and Captain Brown.
" There are three spans of 000 feet each, and two side spans,
supported by the back stay bars, of 300 feet each. The total ex.
tent of the suspended bridge, including the width of tlx towers, is
2,4414!..f.ert•

'"
The embanked approaches, which form an Integral part of tho
plan, ate together 9U feet, the whole extent being 3,300 feet, or
little more than half a tnile.

" The road on the north side takes its rise on Little Tower-bill,
near the bottom of the Minories that on the south side: near Dock-
head, in Bermondsey, which Minus a central point to the streets
leading to the g►eat is nut and Siserey nuitals.
" The rise, from its etimusenecnient on each side, 4 formed by
an easy acclivity of I font perpendicular in 21$ feet horizontal.
" The carriage-mad of the bridge will be 21 feet wide, the foot-
paths on each ode it feet wide.
" The bridges will he constructed of strong beams of Baltic
timber, covered with 3-inch plank. The centre, or carriage-mad,
will be defended with wrought-iron bars of different thickne *sea
laid across, forming ribs, which will afford a mecum foothold for
bums.

I" The height of the bridge, as shewn in the design, above high.
water mark, is 70 feet in the front of the towers,. rising gradually
to 74 feet in the centre. 7be height will allow ships of tons to
i prix under without striking their top-gallant-masts, awed ships of
300 or 400 tons to pass with inaintothgallant masts down.
" The least fort e that would break down the whole of the main
suspending chains in any one span, is 3,901 tons; and the least
fume that would strain them to stretching is 2,1711t0n5.
" The weight of the bridge, the main sesta-Wing chains, and
every thing w ithin the points of suspension, will be 750 tons.
" 'With respect to the probable durability of the brie! c, Ido
, consider that. with the exception of die timber, it may be deemed
an imperishable structure.'
These documents having been read,
Mr. Sao Tit stated, that he questioned very much the correct.
ness of the estimates, though he did not mean to say that Limy
were formed with any view of dceeivi ig thosewho wished to become
subscribers ; yet he was ronvinccd that the sum for the purchasing
of property and intleninifying the occupiers of land on em-n side of
the river, set down at 311,110111., would be found to be tot.lly Made.
quote to those purposes, and that it was more probalik that ti would
out them 101.1,4001. Ile also wished for information un ar.nther
point, on which all the reports that had been read were exceedingly
barren, viz., as to the tnanner in which the concern was to be ma-
naged. The Act for the (orating of the new (tucks stipulated, that
there should be seirrineen Directors, but nothing was said as to this'
point in any of the proceedings that be had seen cmmeeted with this
subject, and he bad watched them pretty closely. It was not to he
supposed that gentlemen would devote their time gratuitously for
the Intern" of this society; he therefore witihed that the report lied
been more candid and explicit on this head. But his most foetid- I
dable objection was yet to come : Captain Brown's report state.!,
that the height of the bridge above high-water-mark would be
feet in the centre, and which would allow ships of 21110 tons to I)C,is
under without striking their top-gallant masts, and ships ef . or
WO tons to pass with main-rorcgallant masts down. Tar the: run-
clusMns his experience enabled him to give it most decided e.mtra-
diction ; as, from the time when this tremor was first urk!‘:

tation, he had made it his business to Ascertain the Various
of ships oftliflerent burdens, and he kariesaly asserted (au=
lensed nay one to contradict him) that, generally speakiog, vessels
of 200 tons would requite • bright of 00 feet, while vessels OS or
400 tons wuu!d require from 120 to 160 feet in height. The
gendeman here adduced several instances in corroboration of bis
statements, menintiiiig, among others, the Prince Regent, Pro-
serpine, bl.ria, Pembroke' and Matchless ; and observing that
these vessels, at the rate of 100 per week, now coming above the
site of the propescrt bridge. and which would not be able to pass
under it. After hat ing said tints much in opposition to the bridge,
be did not think it fair to disguise that he was a whartinger of the
legal quays, whose interests wuMil be materially affected by the
erection of such a bridge, yet, as he was convinced that it would
cause a great deviation of tratte, and produce • considerable de.
'traction of property in the port of London, he had thought it
right to express his seatimints on the subject, and to put the meet.
ing in full possinision of the knowledge he had on the subject, and
which was founded on truth and cnptniertre.

Capt. Pinow x defended his report, though he admitted that his
calculations were made on a height of 1 feet. which had been al.
tered in the report to 7:i feet, and he contended that lib feet was sin.
height to 'Mow any vessel of :htll tons to pass under, striking
their main.top.gillant masts. and though there might be one or
two instances eit vessels, particularly rigged, where this could not
be effected, yet he did net think those esocptions of atacient Inca
portance to petle the continuance of so grand a work. Mr. Tel.
ford had sinew ye as ago projected a similar undertaking, and he
had calculated that a !might c.f f. i feet would be sufficient.
Mr. IVALE. Ell. who, in ainjutiction with Captain brown, had
designed the Midge, was not aware that he was called on to say any
thing on the objectiois that had been taken, excepting to what re.
kneel to thee-stun:de of 39,000 i. ; and there he could state, that, in
his opinion, it had been considerably overrated, as there was
very little to pureio.ac, and even that the proprietors might sell
an.
Mr. Btxsox concurred with Mr. Walker in thinking that
30,taatl. would be found amid:: for all the purposes of indemnifi-
cation. _

Mr.J. W. Hatt. g:1;d, that in the course or the tar there were
aomou vessels that Loaded and unloaded between St. Catherine's and
Loodon.bi Wire, not one of which would be able to pass under the
bridge on the proposed plan ; that this place included a property of
wharfs and quays, amounting to a rental of 7d,0011. per annum. ;
The whale Gl this property would by the erection of the bridge be I
annihilated, and be wished to know what compensation It was pro-
posed to give for this.
Mr. Hall, in the progress of his observalons, was iaternipted by
Dr. Sr I. ES, who spoke to order, observing that those discus-
alone were fitted for the Committee of the House of Commons, to
whom the Bill would be referred. He thought the time of the
meeting ha. been irrelevantly occupied in ;Arming to the topics
that had been urged, as they consisted only of abetrtioo against
assertion, and they had no meant of eatablishirg who was in the
right. According to the advertisement the meeting was specially
convened, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions, and he though:
that it was irregular to agitate any other 'natter.

After some iigther :I iieussion the atirrrtismient was referrtd to,
from which it appeared that Dr. S.yles's position was ill-founded.
The to:km-log resulutio:.• was then put and carried, with some few
dissentient roiccs

That this uleeting fully concur in the opinion expressed by the
meeting held on the I.ith instant, as to the practicability of erect-
ing the bridge accordi.ig to the proposed plain, as well as in the
utility and benefit which the pubhe must derive therefrom ; and it
further appears to this meeting, from a consideration of the in-
tended site, with the very great population of the immediate
neighbourhood un each side of the River, the numerous roads that
diverge from the approaches., and the great business and traffic of
the whole district, that the prolitsnf the measure will give to the
subscribers an adequate compensation for the money advanced.
That the Committee he authorised to proceed with the applica-
tion to Parliament, sind to adopt such measures towards the further-
ance Maud us they may think proper.
That a sum nut exceeding 400,000 L be raised in shares at 1001
each.

That subscription papers remain open at the banking-houses of
dean. Spooner ant Co.; Messrs. Smith, Payne. and Co. ;
.Reston. Willis and Co. ; and at Messrs. Brown's, Ililliter-square
and that an instalment of 5 per cent. be paid on the amount of each
subscription, within ten days after the stcond reading of the Bill,
of which public notice shall be given.
The tl.anks of the meeting were then voted to the Earl of I
Morley, as Chairman, and niany present proreeded to set their
names down as subscribers ; after which themccting adjourned.