Butte record., 1857-01-03
Wire Suspension Bridge A. n,,.x.u-

Col. Rust, editor of the Marysville En-.
press made trip to Bidwell recently, for
the purpose of inspecting the new wire sus-
pesslon bridge just completed by the Bidwell
Bridge Company. We make the following
extract from his account of the trip. It will
De seen that the Colonel grows eloquent over
cur mountain scenery and owing to the
grand sublimity of our snow-capped hills,
could not be confnei to his carriage,
We arrived at our place Of destination
at ABOUT o'clock, NJ, and Immediately
walked out to survey the new and IMPOSING
structure, which seemed so independently
to span the Feather River On examination
and enquiry, we aseertained that it had four
cables, each containing 300 strands of No.
III bridge wire, making the cable as large as
the largest ship cable These cables are
serred the same as the standing rigging of
ship, the whole done in the neatest manner.
and then painted, SO as to preserve it from
the rust. The length of the cables from one
anchorage to the other, is 407 feet inches
The anchorage is solid rock. at both ends of
the bridge, and is imbedded five feet and
covered and sustained by the most substan.
tial masonry.
There are two piers of masonry, very mas
sive, one on either side of the river, at dis
tance from centre to centre of 246 feet in :.
upon which stand towers. each composed
of tubular columns of cast iron, measuring
10 inches at the base and 10 at the top
These were cast at Troy, New York. and are
very beautiful castings Between these tow
ers is the longest span in the bridge-the
distance is given above
The roadway is made of two myers of two
inch plank, laid down diagonally and strong
~ spiked. The approaches to the bridge, at
either end. will be easy and will be compile
ted in a few days, and the whole presents.
at once, most elegant and substantial ap-
pearance.
The cost eff this structure is between $40
900 and $45 900, and from the large and in
creasing travel ON the road, we have no
doubt 1t will prove a most excellent invest
ment
For our very agreeable trip we were in
debted to the politeness of Capt. Murray,
and for our excellent accommodations for the
night, the Shade Hotel is entitled to the
credit. We were fed most bountifully and
bedded sumptuously, thanks TO the polite
ness and attention of the host, Mr. Servis
During the night it commenced raining,
and the fall continued very heavy until
morning, but on looking out at the hills i'm
mediately in the rear of the town, our sur
prise may be ina gned on seeing them half
covered with snow. At the summit, judging
from appearances, it must have been several
inches deep. This contrastei strangely with
the superabundance of mud in the streets.
and is sight which for beauty and grand
eur, can better be imagined than described
A. about 10 A. NJ. we started for Oroville,
our party being increased by Mr. IRE adwell,
and as the road leading out through the can
on, was very heavy, owing to the fall of rain
before mentioned, we decided to walk. This
was not the most pleasant mode of convey.
ance imaginable, but decidedly the most con-
yenient, under the circumstances, but by the
time we had ascended the hill, the view
which met our gaze, on every hand, was so
magnihciently beautiful that we determined
not giin to shut ourselves up in the car
riage, but continued our walk most of the
way to Oroville. For one, we were so agree
ably entertained by the conversation of our
companions and delighted with the almost
unrivaled scenery. that before we were
aware of it we found ourselves approaching
the famous town of 0rovilie, famous alike
tor the richness of its mines, its rapid growth
and the singular energy and enterprise of it's
inhabitants"
Capt. Murray, the contractor, has un-
doubtedly made an excellent piece of work,
and we trust that his satisfactory compile
tion of it, may secure him the contract of
erecting wire suspension bridge at Oro-
vile, and also at the Junction, as soon as
necessary license can be obtained from the
county