Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-22
TRIUMPH OF GENIUS.

The remarkable inventive powers of REMINGTON
have heretofore caused his name to be extensively
known, and the signal practical triumph which has
just crowned his ingenious efforts at the South will
secure for him a worldwide celebrity. The>inci-
dent to which refer is thus narrated in the Mont
gomery (Alabama) Gazette of the 18th instant:
The Remington Bridge-Hs Triumphant Successive
witnessed Saturday, in company with immense con-
Of the citizens Of Montgomery, the removal of the
frame work and supporters upon which Mr. Remington had
constructed his expense of his celebrated bridges
The city council had granted him permission build across
deep ravne ntecepng the horoughfare directly between
the city and its wharf, and the railroad depot and the ferry
Its span is understand, four hundred and thirty feet
from abument abutmen the longest ,oooden spa perhaps
in the world. Without pretending to give any thing like
description Of this wonderful specimen Of architectural nven-
ton and skill, would simply remark, that the supporters
OF this immense structure except at and the abumen
nothing than layers of inch inch and quar-
ter ordinary pine plank eight ten inches wde and egh
twenty feet long, securely fastened together by
Of certain glue (also the invention Of Mr.. Remngon)
and sheet iron firmly nailed where the extremes
These pieces thus fastened together extended longitude
naly from sbument the other, to each Of which it is
firmly and securely attached by Of large iron bolts
Side by side these long longitudinal supporters laid until
they form apaform eight or ten feet wde which
plank is to be laid for the doorway upon which travel
The abutment Of course constructed of the souest
MATERIAL sklfuy put together The longitudinal supporters
at the abutmens four FIVE inches thick gradually
diminishing in thickness until they reach the distance of
forty fifty feet from the abuments, where they assume the
| thickness OF inch plank, as aforementioned.
Such was the apparent fa structure that every
anxious and curious suspended in the air without
prop or support sustain it Notice had been given through
the city papers, and great crowd had gathered about
to witness the novel, uned and ncreduous expert
ment as we believe may safely call it up to the
OF its final triumph. All anxous-ore than anxious
that il should succeed; but the great majority than
doubted; and numefous remarks made evincng total
l,t,t
ure Of such unheard Of distance would support itself
much less the weight Of cart wagon and horses. We
doubt whether five men out Of the many hundreds present.
would have risked dime upon its success.
But there was whose confidence great and unsha
KEN After walking through the crowd and hearing these
numerous remarks all casting doubt and uncertainty upon the
enterprise, causing US ncauousy and against
warm Wishes partake of their apprehensous ncredu-
M we voluntarily placed ourselves by the side of the great
inventor to watch his and compexonwe noticed bis
tace his hands and his every finger but no symptom of
apprehension could be dscoyeredhe color was all there
IN the face, the hand unshakeneven the finger
seady as da not nerve was unstung, least to all APP
peaances We remarked friend that however others might
DOUBT that Remington least was ceytnin-tbat no man.
without the utmost faith, could such extraordinary cool
ness under such circumstances Prop after prop
and knocked away and as the few last were by one,
being removed the crowd gathered closer and closer
around the bridge; the intensely interesting
AS the span gradually wdened disparagng remarks
ed-he doubling began to speak up the thing would do
ne increauious stood aghas Finally the last prop was Gu
from UNDER and with long vibration it remained suspended
in the air. The unbeevers approached il something ae
the manner OF the frogs in the fable Of king Log" Il hold
its own weight, but will it admit Of any other II was soor
tested and then another and another in quick
followed and soon the whole crowd passing
fro; giving perhaps as severe test in the way of weight
it will be subjected to. 10 few moments horse wa
it, and Mr. Calvin Sayre the fearless rider who frs
crossed the Remington Bridge on horseback Il was really
daring fea for the bridge is not than eight or fee
xidP nfnIeh a.
yawnng chasm beneath made the head dizzy to behold Tn
young gentleman subsequently drove across horse am
buggy Tie show wound up with three hearty cheers 70
Remington, and all retired amazed aud grati6ed.