Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-09-20

tsXF r Correspondence of the Times.
Ccntiaaatien Of the History Of 3. Anthony
uC'A q ST. ANTHONY FALLS, Sept. 10, 1856. >
In addition to the improvements already spoken
of, there are in St. Anthony several edifcea
which call for u short notice. Some Of them in
deed, would be ornaments to any city. The Sqs-
pension Bridge will first claim our attention.
The legislature, in 1882, granted charter to
a company composed of the most prominent citi-
zens of St. Anthony and Minneapolis, fixing tho
capital at $25, 900, with power to increase the
same to $4,000. By tho oath Of October, 1853,
sufficient stock having been subscribed, the stock
holders held meeting at the Office of S. NJ.
Tracy, for the purpose Of organising. This was
duly done, John Rollins being chosen President,
and S. NJ. Tracy, Secretary and Treasurer. In
the spring of 1854, the work was commenced,
under the superintendent of Mr.. Thos. NJ. Grit
fifth, q young but accomplished engineer from
New York State. This splendid structure, the
boast of our citizens, was completed about the
LIST of July, 1856. 1t kas cost tho company $780,
600.
The bridge is 600 feet long, and the cables over
900 feet. The towers, which are part wood, and
part stone, exceedingly tasty structures. There
are two tracks, each soping slightly towards the
edge of the bridge. On the Island, at the end of
the bridge, is the Toll House.
Since its completion, the bridge has more than
equaled the expectations of the Company. We
believe the tolls for 1885 amounted to over
$1,000. The rates Of toll arc Is cents for every
buggy,wagon, cart carriage, and cts. each foot
passenger. Persons taking number Of tickets at
time have discount of 2per cent.
This bridge, as work of beauty, will compare
favorably with any, and at the same time, com.
bines strength and solidity with lightness and
gracefulness. Nature has done much to strengthen
it, by furnishing thick ledge of rock at each
end, for an anchorage for its massive cables.
Well may the Company be proud of its labors,
for this is the first suspension bridge to span the
Father of Waters, and the first ever built in a
Territory.
Praise is due to Franklin Steele, for the lber-
ality shown in the undertaking. He is the heavi-
est stakeholder in the Company, owning 10
shares of 800 each.
Mr.. Francis Morrison, the President, has also
done much toward the early completion of the
bridge, and comes in for due share of praise.
From the time of organizing, Mr.. Tracy has
continued to hold the important post of rea-
surer with honor to himself and the Company.
The other bridges already built, are the bridge
that connect Main street with Ncollet Island, and
the last, the Government bridge across the ravine
on Third street, lower town. There is now build
ing across the river, exactly one mile below the
Suspension Bridge, q splendid Pier bridge, by the
Minnesota Pier Bridge Company.
The site chosen Dy this Company is "a beautiful
one. The bank Of the river is almost perpendi-
cular till within foot or two of the high water
mark. Extending from the rock is a fat, which
extends full one-third across the river. The
main body of water is on the St. Anthony side.
The bank on this side, as on the west, is very
steer. The surface soil on both sides is composed
mostly Of a sandy loan, about two and a half to
three feet deep, below this is the limestone strata,
which varies in thickness from ten to twenty-five
feet. From this excellent building stoneis taken,
as may be seen by the many stone buildings in
course of erection in this town. Underneath this
ledge of rock is found hard clayey pan or soft
The bed of the river at this point is
entirely of small stones and fragments
Of rock. A little below this point, the river
makes bend to the west.
This is to be one of Houses Patent Trusses
The piers will be 40 feet long, (the greatest
length to be with the currently and IL feet wide;
the ends are to form right angled triangles.
The upper ends will have slant of four
inches to the foot, and the lower three-quar-
ters of an inch. These piers have foundation
Of timber SO as to make them perfect level and
rise to ten feet above the water mark. The
trussle bends will be forty feet high, and the
bridge truss l6 feet. There will be two wagon
tracks S3-4 feet in the clear, and one sidewalk
feet.
The contractors for the bridge are Messrs.
Stone, Bowman and Boynton, and the Superin-
PENDANT is Mr.. 6. W. Whitney. Mr. Hanson, of
Minneapolis, is the President of the Company,
and MIR. Cornell. Secretary and Treasurer. 1t is
that tho bridge will cost $4,000.
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