The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-10 00:00:00

THE TUBULAR

BRIDGE OVER

THE CONWAY.

It is already well known to our readers, that pre-
parations have been making for some weeks past for
floating the first of the two large wrought-iron tubes,
intended to form the railway bridge over the Conway,
from the place of construction to that in which the
bridge is to be erected, and for raising it into its
proper position. The floating was originally intended
to have taken place about ten days ago ; but the pre-
parations were found to be not quite complete; and
the attempt was postponed until the next spring tides,
which it was known would serve on Saturday and
Monday last. The former day was, in the first in-
stance, fixed upon ; but, from some cause with which
we are not acquainted, it was postponed to Monday,
when the weather and tide proved perfectly favour-
able, and the enormous mass wag successfully floated
to its intended position. Before describing the re•
moval of the tube from the platform where it was con-
structed, it may be desirable to advert to the mecha-
nical contrivances by which this process was effected.
We have already stated that the tube is 412 feet
long, 25 feet 6 inches deep, 15 feet wide, and weigh-
ing about 1,300 tons. It was constructed on a
wooden platform resting on piles, along the bank of
the river, between high and low water; and, after
having been suspended by the two ends, and tested
by the application of weights, as we mentioned a few
weeks ago, the necessary preparations were made to
remove it from the platform to the towers or abut-
ments on which it is intended ultimately to rest,
which stand about 400 yards distant. These towers
are composed of solid masonry, overhanging at the
top, and each having below a shelf, six feet broad, and
about four feet above high water mark, intended tc,
receive and support the ends of the tube.
For the purpose of removing the tube from the
place of construction, a portion of the ground under
the tube, about forty feet from each end, was entirely
cleared, and in each were placed three pontoons,
ninety-three feet long, twenty-five wide, and eight
feet deep. These were floated under the tube ; and
each having four strong longitudinal frames upon it,
the whole were packed up so as to bear equally upon
the tube, when floated by the tide. In each of the
pontoons nearest to the two ends of the tube were four
powerful windlasses, with ropes and hooks, to lay hold
of heavy mooring chains, extending across the river,
above and below the place where the tube was to be
finally erected, for the purpose of making the pontoons
fast in their proper positions. Two large capstans,
with strong cables, were also placed on each hank of
the river, for the purpose of regulating the direction,
and accelerating or retarding the motion of the tube
when floated by the tide.
Everything being in perfect readiness, at an early
hour on Monday morning a very large assemblage of
people, many from distant places, was collected in the
neighbourhood, including a number of engineers and
professional men, who had been attracted by the no •
velty of the proceeding. Amongst the parties present
were Mr. Robert Stephenson, the engineer of the
railway, Mr. Brunel, Mr. Rennie, Capt. Moorsom,
Captain Claxton, Mr. Eaton Hodgkinson, Mr. Ro-
berts (of Manchester), Mr. More (of London), and
many others. So great was the crowd assembled,
that every spot which commanded a view of the tube
was crowded to excess.

The time of high water being about twelve minutes
after eleven, the tube was first borne up from its
supports by the pontoons, at five minutes past ten.
At half-past ten, the process of hauling it to its place
commenced; and, at twenty-fire minutes past eleven
the end nearest the town of Conway was deposited in
its place. The other end, however, did not then reach its
destination; one of the pontoons on the Conway side
of the river having come in contact with a rock,
and thereby bearing the tube against the opposite
pier, so as to prevent it from going home by some
ten or twelve feet. The tube was therefore packed
up at both ends, to give an opportunity for shifting
the pontoons a little, and putting the tube in its
place, which would, no doubt, be completed yesterday.
—Manchester Guardian.

SPIRITS.—The accounts which the House of Com-
mons has just ordered to be forthwith prepared (on mo-
tion of Mr. Moffatt), will be so arranged as to show the
total numbers of gallons of proof spirits distilled in
England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, distin-
guishing the quantities produced from malt, and from a
mixture of malt and unmalted grain, or from sugar;
showing, also, the total quantity of each sort in the
United Kingdom, for the year ending the sth day of
January, 1848; also, the number of gallons of proof
spirits (distinguishing the sorts), on which duty was
dpauitd7;foarishoo,mtheeconsumption inoef gallons and duty in theach of the three king
dome, with the rate per gallon, and the amount of such
United Kingdom, for the same year. Likewise showing,
under separate heads, the number of gallons of proof
spirits (distinguishing the materials from which made),
duty
after w s s
theirimported into each kingdom from each of the others
respectively; stating also the rate per gallon, and the
total amount thereof in each case, and what portion of
such
paidoanrrrievl removal of
place of destination,f the spirits from bond,
and what
for the same year. Also of the number of gallons of
proof spirits permitted out of distillers' stocks in Eng-
land, and the total number of proof gallons of British
brandy and spirit of wine permitted out of rectifiers'
stocks in England; also, the total quantity of propf gal-
lons of proof rum received into rectifiers' stocks in
England, lor the same year (in continuation of Parlia-
mentary paper, No. 217, of session 1847). Lastly, show-
ing the total number of gallons distilled in Scotland and
Ireland, distinguishing the quantity in each country de-
livered duty paid direct from distillers' stocks. from the
quantities put into the bonded warehouses, for the same
year.
GREAT FALL IN LANDED PROPERTY.—It will no
doubt be recollected that a terrific fall of land was an-
nounced as inevitably to follow the repeal of the corn-
laws, more especially in the newly reclaimed and less
illustration
how districts of the country. As an
how speedily the truth of the prophecy was realised,
take the following fact, which occurred last Wednesday
at the sale of a few acres of exhausted common, situated
a thousand feet above the level of the sea, the net rental
whereof is 51. 10s. sterling. Well, this piece of Broad-
moss so 'yclept, was exposed by
my Lord Kinnoull, at
Blairgowrie, at 2001. sterling (no mean price for the
same), and after the keenest competition was knocked
down to Robert Clark Rattray, Esq.,
of Craighall, for
1,001/. sterling, being only a, shade short of two hundred
years' purchase.-{Scotsman.