Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-09-13


are OF the same character ds that employed at The
new Houses Of Parliament. The scafiolding of
the tower IS very lofty, and the weight it has 10
support is 1900 tors. The framing round the
Britannia tower rises to the vast height of nearly
$50 feet. The entire scaffolding is capable og
sustaining 1000 tons. There are IN it $4,000
cubic feet Of timber, and 25 tons OF iron bolts.
The chief centre of attraction, however was
the interior and exterior of the novel and gigantic
tubes; the one f1oated on the pontoons, and the
others, as they lay upon the platforms, presenting
the appearance of stupendous iron tunnels. AS
these were the lions of the day. and as one of the
largest was safely floated to its final resting place
much interest will attach to its description, and
description of the one in question, will be de.
scripiion of them all. The length of the grea,
tube transported yesterday is exactly 47O feet be-
ing IL feet longer than the clear span between the
towers, and the greatest span as yet a,tempted--
This additional length is intended to afford a tenn
porary bearing of 6 feet at each end, after they
are raised into their places until there is time 60
form the connection between them acrcss the tow
ers Their greatest height is in the centre so feet,
and diminishing towards the end to % feet
Each tube consists of sides, top, and bottom, all
formed of long, narrow wrought iron plates. vatv-
ing in length from IL feet downward The ,Ii
recton in which these plates are laid and riyetted
together is governed by the direction Of the strains
on different parts of the tube. They are of the
same manufacture as those for making boilers
varying IN thickness, from three-eighths to three
fourths Of an inch. Some of them weigh nearly
cwt., and are among the largest il is possible q:
roll with any existing machinery. In the sides
the plates are and feet long, and half an inch
thick, but the largest plates are in the bottom be-
ing 10 feet long, by 2 feet inches wide. are in
double layers. AT The top they are 6 feet in
length and foot inches in breadth The con-
nectlon between top, bottom and sides is made
much more substantial by triangular pieces of
thick plate, rivetted IN across the corners, to en-
able the tube to resist the Gloss or twisting strain
to which it will be exposed from the heavy and
long continued gales of wind that, sweeping uu
the channel, will assail it in its lofty and unpr0
tected position The rivets, Of which there are
100000, each tube containing 327, 900, are more
than an inch in diameter. They are placed in
rows, and were put in the holes red hot, and bea-
ten with heavy hammers. In cooling they con-
tracted strongly, and drew the plates together SO
powerfully that it required force of from four to
six tons to each rivet to cause the plates to slide
over each other. The total weight of wrought
iron In the tube f1oated yesterday, is 1900 tons.
1t has been constructed by Messrs. Garforth of
Dunkinfeld, Manchester, and the others by Mr..
G. Mare, of Blackwell. The trains will pass
through them over the straits at 100 feet above
high water. The names of the gentlemen who
have been continuously engaged on this great
work since l847, are Captain MoOrsom. the resi-
dent director; Mr.. Frank Foster, resident englne
Ger; Messrs. E. and l.. Clark. and Wild, assist
ant engineers; Messrs. NOVEL;, Hemingay, and
Pearson, contractors for the masonry; Messrs.
Mare, of Blackwall, and Messrs. Garforth, Dnn-
zen6eld, contractors for the iron tubes; Mr. J
Ireaves, general manager of the masonry; Messrs.
!. and A. Greayes, contractors for the scafolding
md stage; Mr.. Campbell, engineer OF the tube
work, and Messrs. ]. Morris and H. Hodgkinson,
managers of it, all ofwhom were present yester-
lay. =.
abric, the arrangements for raising which were
n every point complete. At o'clock, the spec
ators, by tens of thousands had taken their place
pon the piers, the tubes, and shores on either
ide, and the straits for mile in length presented
vast amphitheatre of human beings. The pilots
the extent of 200 or 300 took their stand on the
ontoons TO ply the gigantic tackle; as many more
TODD ready for action at the caps.ans; the cables
x inches in thickness, and of league long were
ttached to the steamers that were to have the
wing of the tremendous freight. Muliitudes of
achts, small boats, and other crafts, filed and
ally decorated, passed up and down the stream,
nd all eyes were fixed with mingled confidence
nd fear on the gigantic fabric, upon which stood
r. Stephenson and Captain Claxton. Soon af-
r the utmost excitement ensued, on the first sig
Al, that of the sudden springing up on the Angle
"a side OF the nrst slgnaI nag and snrlll strain
ON the trumpet of Capt Claxton on the top of
g tube, to the pilots, to take the tide and pipe
hands for the exploit This was responded to
loud burst Of enthusiasm from the seamen,
hose efforts, united to those of the steam tugs,
ID upon the screws and tackles and upon the
lherto motionless monster, which then glided
ry slowly and amid intervals of unceasing cheers
d salutations without injury or jar, and with
ajesty that could only be compared to that of
,untan moving on the waters to the site of its
al resting place"
One of our back. woods noets describes kls.-