The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-08-08
TRIUMPH OF GENIUS.

The remarkable inventive powers OF
REMINGTON have heretofore caused his
name 10 be extensively known, aud the
signuI practical triumph which has Just
crowned his ingenious efforts at the South
will secure for him world wide celebrity.
The incident to which VIC refer is thus mar.
rated in the Montgomery (Alabama)
Gazette Of the llth ult:
TnE REMINGTON BRIpGE-Irs TRruM.
PLANT SUCCESS. witnessed on Sa,ur-
day, in company with an immense con
course OF the citizens Of Montgomery, the
removal Of the frame work and supporters
upon which Mr.. Remington had construct
ed. at his own expense, one Of his cele5ra-
ted bridges. The city council had granted
him permission to build it across deep ra-
vine, intercepiing the thoroue hfare directly
between the city and its wharf, and lhe rail
road depo. and the ferry. Its span is, we
understand, four hundred and thirty sir
feet from abutment TO abutment, the longes,
moodcn span, perhaps, in the world =
Without pretending to give any thing like
description of this wonderful specimen
Of architectural invention aud skill, we
would simply remark, that the supporters
OF this immense structure, except at and
near the abm mmenis, are nothing more than
two layers Of inch or inch and n quar
ter ordinary pine plank, eight or ten inches
| wide, and eighteen or twenty feet long,
securely fastened together BY means Ola
certain glue (also the invention Of Mr..
Remington and sheet iron firmly nailed
on where the ex,remiies meet. These
pieces, thus fastened together, arc extended
longitudinally from ono abutment TO the
o,her, 10 each of which il is firmly and
securely attached by means Of large iron
'pol'e. Side by side are these long longitu-
dinal supporters Iaid, un,a ,hos g.. :
platform some eight or ten feet wide, across
which plank is to he laid for the floor way
upon which 10 travel. Tho abu,menis, Of
course, nre constructed Of the sioutest mn
,erial, skilifully put together The longi-
lndinnl supporters at the abu'men,s are
some four or five inches thick. gradually
diminishing in thickness until they reach
the distance oi some forty or fifty feet from
the nbu,men,s, where they assume the
thickness Of inch plank as before mentioned.
Such was the apparent frail structurc
that every one was anxious and curious to
see suspended 10 the air. without prop
or support to sustain it. Notice had been
given through the city papers, and great
crowd had gathered about ten O'Clock 10
witness the novel, un,ried, and ncredulous
experiment, rs We believe we may safely
call it up to the moment Of its iiaal triumph.
All were anxious-more than anxious. that
il should succeed but the great majority
moro than doubted; and numerous remarks
we're made eyincing total incredulity In
fact ridicule of the idea, that so slender a
structure, Of such unheard Of distance,
would support itself, much less tbe weight
Of a car, or wagon and horses. We doubt
] whether five men out Of the many hundreds
present, would have riskcd dime upon lis
success.
But there was ono whose confidence was
great and unshaken. After walking
through the crowd, and hearing these
numerous remarks, all casting doubt and
uncertainty upon tho enterprise. causing
us incauliousy, and even against our own
warm wishes, to partaks OF their own APP
prehensious incredibly, we voluntarily
placed ourselves by the side of the great
Inventor to watch his nervcand complexion
we noticed his face, his hands and hi
every finger; but no symptom Of fear o'
apprehension could be discovered-lhe
color was all there in the Gacc, the haat
was unshaken-even the finger was q:
steady as u dial, not nerve was uns'rnng
at least to all appearances. We remarked
to friend, that however others might doaot
tha. Remington at least was ccrtdin-.ha
no man, without the utmost faith, conlc
cyince such extraordinary GOODNESS, undc
such circumstances. Prop after prop wa'
cut and knocked away; and as the few las
were, enc by one being removed, the cagel
crowd gathered closer and closer around th'
bridge; the scene was intensely interesting
As the span gradually widened, dispaara
sing remarks ceased--the doubling beenf
to speak up MS if the thing would do; the
incredulous stood aghas,. Finally, the
last prop was cut from under, and with ;
long vibration it remained suspended il
The air. The unbeievers approached i
something nlier the manner OF the frogs il
the fable of"King Log" 1t holds its owr
weight, but will il admit Of any other? j
was soon tested one. and then another ane
another u quick succession followed, anc