Star.
London, England, 1831-05-03 00:00:00

SYENSIUN lIRLDU

PROPOSED TO RE EASCTED OVER THE AVON IMOD CLIFTON DOWN.
The first care of the committee was to obtain, from a se-
lect number of the most eminent engineers, suitable plans
for a bridge of such a character as would meet the views of
tie public, and at the same time should not, in regard to ex-
pence, exceed the limits which they might reasonably Imp
to be enabled to compass. From the best investigation they
were enabled to make, it did not appear to them that the
undertaking could be effected at a cost much below 50,0001.
upon nny plan in which due regard should be paid to the two
main objects in a work of this nature, namely, solidity and
strength of materials, and grandeur of design. The final
result was, the unanimous adoption of the design submitted
by Mr. Brunel, jun.
By this design, as pillars are not resorted to, the site of
the bridge will he varied n few yards from the spot originally
proposed ; but such variation though slight, will, in picturesque
effect, be productive of very great advantage. It adopts for
the base of the supporting Tower, on the Clifton side, the
boldest and most promineuily beautiful of the whole range
of St. Vincent's Cliffs. From a lofty mass of perpendicu-
lar rock, which rises to the height of 230 feet above high
water mark, projecting towards the edge of the river, and
offering a natural and substantial pier for the purpose,
the bridge will be carried to a pier or abutment, which is
proposed to be formed on the rock on the opposite side of

the river.
By means of this artificial abutment, the distance between
the two points of suspension will be reduced to six hundred
and thirty feet ; a span to which, as the trustees have fully
satisfied themselves, there is not, in the essential article of
strength and durability any manner of objection.
To this point they have felt it their duty to pay the most
setnpulous attention ; and from the reverts made to them
by Davies Gilbert, of the result of his calculations, it
appears that Mr. Brunel has adopted such a degree of
strength of materials as will greatly exceed the standard
fixed by Mr. D. Gilbert 'lts requisite for every purpose-ofd
security. it is also very far beyond the strength employed
in any other similar existing work.
In Mr. Davies Gill ert's Report it is recommended, that
he strain which will be thrown on the chains, at the points
el suspension, by the total eletolute weight, (compounded of
the weight of the bridge itself, and the utmost possible ad-
ventitious loading; which could be placed thereoe at any
.ne Fork(' of time,) should never exceed five and a half
tons for every square inch of sectional area of the chains :
arei it appears that, necording to Mr. Brunel's design, the
strain so calculated would be very considerably under that
standard, being no more than four tons me' 1-sth to
every square inch of sectional area. MI responsibiiity, there-
fore, on this head, is entirely removed, and the trustees feel
confident that a degree of strength and security will he at-
tained which will preclude all possibility of danger or accident.
An iron bridge suspended amongst such stupendous I
rocks, would in itself appear little wore than a Fairy web,
thrown across the gul ph : hut this effect Hill be relieved, and a
high degree of architectural beauty, as well as grandeur, im-
parted to the work, by giving to the towers for the sepportof
the chains at each end, the form and proportions of Egyptien
geteways, trken from the benutiful examples found in the
i uins of Tee,tyta. Of the various forms there presented, the
most elegant have been chosen as the model ; and that this
style of architecture, from its grandeur and simplicity, is pe-
culiarly suited to rocky situations, is proved by the effect of
the temple of the Island of Philee, which is a barren rock of
the must broken and romantic outline.
Mr. Brunel has been for a long time engaged in making
the most minute and accurate inquiries into the expellee of
the undertaking in all its details ; and from hisestimates, and
the investigations made by the trustees themselves, they are
satisfied that the whole cost of the undertaking, including the
al-poaches, the experse of surveys, plans, act of Parliament
engineers, clerks of the works, and every other incidental
charge, will be covered by the sum of 57,0001.
The advantages of the proposed work will be best ex-
plained hy the following recapitulation of the remarks in the
prospectus published by the former committee :
From the mouth of the Avon, to the Iron Bridge across the new
Course thereof at Bedminster, a distance of nearly nine miles, there is
at present (aide the exception of two ferries, not at all adapted for the
porpose,) no passage for carriages of any description.
The proposed bridge will be erected in a central spot between those
pouts, admirably situated for combining all the advantages, which such
a et!. nection of the two slimes mold
Ftom Clittnn, and the wtstern side of Bristol, in which direc-
tion the population has of late years, owing to various causes, been
gratitta!lv mcsing, and frtm the roads branching from thence to
Winters- 1. and moth %Tidos, a direct communication will be opened
with a vety extensive and popukusdis:rict of country on the Somerset.