The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-05-30


which have been fported 70 many udicrous and pue-
rifle IDEAS. nean a Bridge with Piers, (coucqueutly
with more than arch) built the ulaa, worthy
obe reprobnted form, parallel width from end to
end of horizontal frace, which for of 10 eiei-
,al quality IN the formation thereof as brace has
ever proved incompatible with the fundamental bull
marks or LAWS oil architecture, mean itresgth aud
TO which caue, i'll great :reaiure, may beFatribu-
ted the rum OF 10 many OF thefe hy formed itTuc-
| lures, many Of which doub, have been invented
| by mere ipeculative theOriGs III arohite Sure, who
never have catered into the aborious udes of that
inbme Art, but who notwithstanding rea-
dy OIL all locations when invention has iuceeeded
TO aicr:be themievss the aurels which alone be-
longed 20 the experimental ArtG from whom they
have tucked their information, and borrowed or TO-
len, their Mechanical Kill and who conceive the
right OF judgement wholly centering III th-mieves,
and not 70 much in the ilu and experimental ari6
who fees the end of all his inventions from their be-
ginning FAY ,hefe pericns often aiume this prero-
gat've though they have never applied the!elves TO
the arduous hudies Of the important r5jett, Except
perhaps over bottle Of wine, which. according to
the excellence OF the liquor, 10 has been the rength
OF their whimCral imagination, dilPiayed in the
unmatursd nveu;,on Of thoe things they little under
leOd) Hence fee Bridges of udicrous form erect
ed, which like unto the merning cloud and early dew
have quickly vani,hed away At the brit rolling ct u
few cakes of ice againG their piers, oruhes, and
as Shakeipear exPreaes it, has left the
| Unfk;lful inventor 20 behold his vaa created
colt
"A naked fubjea to the weeping Clouds,
And waite, FOR ehurlih Winters tyranny
! From circumstances that have come under my no.
| 'ice,l obierved it uncommon thing TO hear
men of all descriptions, from the highef TO the low
cit olais, aert their capability of erecting iu,able
edlces tor all kinds of ules Hence ariies the little
need OF the experimental artts Of the preient day.
But, alas We often wi'nefs the conlequences attend
| ing on iuch ielf taught builders But would fur
ther remark, that thofe acquainted with the mathe-
matick principles of architecture, many, and
yet fewer they who will upon any Jingle location
endure any laboious Hrstch of thought. But as my
intention Is not ouly point the ablurdity Of
plans, OF which Bridges have heretofore been erect
ed, but more particularly TO make known remedy
in every ienic Q! the word Iuitabie. hall pats on
to enquire hat the Leed!ul properties Bird ,e
ihoud poifes, render it cunlit-nt ftrueture
pable of reiilting I'll. attack of every foe oppofed
with certainty and iuocsis, and enu:e durability
TO this mott valuable of all Gructures; and in the
hrtt place would obiervs, that the hEa excellence
aured in bridge is Strength.
Item. For bridge which cannot hand, however
| beautiful, will boat It's beauty bat ihorr time
QueN. How is it to be obtained
AEs. BY ingenious formation of bridge with
Jingle arch, part of the grand model of which may
often be f=en in the heavens The fecond excellence
in bridge is Durability, by which the Ejaculation is
Item For however great the interet bridge
may at iirit pay Sach fhare, it will peedy feel a
comfortable deduction, ioon the nruSture has
need OF repairs.
Quea. How is this to be acquired?
AMI. BY good and we'll bounded foundation for
the butmente of confident hape ret upon; faith
full leleaion OF materials and kiliul ue of The fame
The third excellence in Bridge is i complete seeOm-
5rodli0n only FOR raengers its rrface, bur
ALTO ehae preervation of the navigation for ihip-
ping to fail under, wherever il is needed:
Item For however well bridge may aniwer
the end in all other refpec yet If this particular
the navigation be injured it will prove an svil that
will mar the whole, and merit the inventor the juit
Indignation and contempt his baneiui hEucture has
entitled him
Qusl How is this important circumstance to De
procured
"A. BY ereaing bridge with Jingle arch, as be-
fore obierved Of uiicent altitude, let the ipan OF
the river or lake he what it may, capable of admit
ting large veels the depth of water would al
low to fail UNDER the rife attention of road over
furIace be reduced eaiy aud Reasonable pitch
The fourth excellence needful in bridge is e6fapnj5,
in the betf ienfe of the word.
Item. This crcusllance with many perions has
been erroneouily underRood to be the lmalieR fun
bridge article of any kind may coli i'll the hrit in
itance, and would be the hrit queiton with them in
iteld of the fourth lar, namely, what Is the
CheaPet plan, price, and not what will be the
chelpet plan in the end, by It's excellence OF accom-
mediation and DURATION and afford the belt Ejaculation
at lal.
Q. How il thisaf crcu-l0ance to be accomplish
ed aml"er, By building bridge either of the beft
ieetled timber the State afford, or OF hone OF
-ah ircn, upon iuoh iEcontrovertible mathematical
principles OF luPport that the timber (which
has always been ulcd oreci arches upon and hch
has often cor half much the whole hructure,
I'll not be eeded and ALTO that thoie delulve and
expenve articles, called piers crutches may with
prOpriety be diipenied with and that will alto,
by its ingenious and confident formation, thlure
rengh and durability thar neither ice, any other
article, pCil!by throw down or demoliih and
that will aniwer all tie grand and important ends
br dyes originally were dtfgned 20 produce. This,
s this alone, is the kind OF bridge conceive worthy
she future attention Of the public to erect. But i:
may be aiised how is bridge poheing all thefs
y valuable oxee!leuces (you have recited) coll
Ileaively, be obtained aufwer, by building d
bridge wholly on my PATEEI Ian Of invention, with
ths 6ei mat sriLis, either u timber, one ca iron,
which will prove not only po!efs all and every the
cEcs!ienees above recited but aUo many truly
valuable combinations here enumerated, and
which from grand and confident mathematical for
NATION, VIII BIZ defiance every foe, and that no
thug but the hungary tech Of time deiroy
or brig TO ruin.
therefore take this opportunity mott respectfully
TO inform the public Of he United States that after
long rcrleveriug attention, and aiIduoLS Gudy
combined with the experience of many years in the
7 & L -