Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-12-22
Bridge oyer The 81. LAWRENCE

The Victoria Bridge over the St Lawrence
will certainly be the most remarkable work
Of the Kind IN tho Cauadl,, We might say in
the whole world. II remind. MS of some Of
tie old Roman works, such as the ancient
llu,lucis which span the valleys Of Italy, In
their grand and gigantic proportions, more
Than Of an ordinary bridge over river. We
know OF nothing on the cnailn.nt Of America
nothing on tho continent Of Europe, which
approaches this work 10 the grandeur and
greatness offs dc'Ign.
The success of the engineer (MrS Steven.
son) IN tie building Of the Bnanil Bridge
has fully justified hin in deciding upon the
adoption o( IIe same plan Tor the Victoria
Bridge, which will be constructed on twenty.
tour piers, with spans or spaces, or tic ma
ygal.on, exclusive Of tho two abuimenls from
whence the tubes spriu. on eillersiio. Tie
centre space or span will bc $50 feet wide,
and each of lhe other iweniy leur spans. will
he geo feet wide. The width Of the two piers
ncares, to each allotment will be fifteen feet,
and as tie Piers approach the center span, the
width and strength OF each WiI be increased
until they reach the two ceuire piers, when il
will amount to eighteen feet.
Tie abulmenIs r;om which Ihc tubes spring
will be eael. OF them 2ls fee; lcag, and %
feet wide, and from the north shore Of the St
Lawrence to the north abu,nen, there will be
q solid stone embaukmsnI of rough masonry,
200 icc, in length, raised like Al Artificial
rock TO resist the current. The stone en-.
blnkmcn, leading fiom hc south shore Of the
river tn the south lhulmsai viii be hllf this
length OF COO feet. The length Of tue bridge
Itself, from abuimenl 10 abu,mCni, aud its to-
tai length from river bank to river bank, will
DO lO,2si feet, or about 50 yards less than
two English milcs.
/ The summer average depth Of the 81 Law.
renee. varies from II feet uca 7 the centre, TO
. 1 feet near the banks, and the curren, runs
in this plr,a the rate from seven io ton miles
an hour. The clear distance between the un-
der surface Of the centre tube, Sni the aver
age summer level OF the liver is to be foil
sixty feet, and the height wall diminish to-
wards either side with grade q, the rate Of
/ / in 100 or lln feet IN tic mile, 50 that at
the outer OF river edge of each abumsn,, the
height will be 3G Zee, above the summer level.
/ Ga the 9Th Of July last the first stone IN
the bed Of the river was raised tor the con-
siruction Of the frs, pier OF the bridge and
now, on tie Ilih September, "Picr No. u
has arisen several Zee, above the level Of the
river, and the proccs, Of binding the blocks
may be seen and understood. Each stone Of
the structure !, clamped to lis fellow by bands
Of iron, and the inlerslices are filed With mol
ten lead aud the slrorges, Roman cement.
The resalt will be the construction OF masonry
as durable as that Of the Coliseum or the Ap-
plan Ways, which have withsiood the wear
and tear Of time aud Of traffic for more than
:, 900 years, ald which will continue to exist
as monuments Of the skill and industry OF
man.
Unless unforeseen difficulties arise the first
railway train will pass ovcr the bFoii 81.