The Davenport daily gazette., 1857-05-01

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Yesterday we published short article
aiyiae the news Of the destruction Of the
Suspeasion Bridge At Rochester, known as
We Gsasses Suspension Bridge. Since
thea ve have received tArosgh the Roch-
ss,er Union full details relative to the con-
ssrsction sf this bridge, and the causes OF
is fall. The easiasers undH whose super.
vision il was built sers AeIsrs Kaufman
and 1isssl This Mr.. Bissell has already
been introduced TO the readers ., the Ga
setss. He has been the leader, or the
priacipal tool. in the attacks OF 81. Louis
upon osr Rock Island Bridge. Mr.. B. w.s
the engineer Who made special examiOa.
tioa and report in conaecaion with this
SsiAgs u The instigasion Of the 81. Louis
Dssrna. He made precisely the report
required u bis hands 10 further The objects
ei that meeting. Several of his more
prominent statements were entirely ialse,
and .others aiscreditabie to the reputation Of
any scisnsi6s engineer. The wAoie report
wss contemplate ,ruckie tosalsar OF sci
Ash preiodicss, Or to the most unreasonable
eamity 70 this magni6een, structure. He
haA previossiy to this made himself partica-
larry oficious in his action relative to this
bridge. Mr.. BIsseli had his own motives
Tor this course. II the Rock Island Bridge
u torn Down, suspension bridge must take
iis place. There has been considerable
talk Of hsildiag suspension bridge st ST.
Louis. Mr.. B. had built ono suspension
ss.dee. end ba, one. and he eonla point to
s,at ~ an evidence ot his skii sad experi.
ssc< in rearing such structures. Mr., B. no
sasb, rsy mssh desired having : hand in
the erection Of . suspension bridge here,
81 at 81. Louis. To gel hager in the
latter pie. he could take no better plan the .
70 Join 10 the crusade seainst The Rock is-
land bridge. Into THE warfare he plunged,
asd speaking and wri,iag ~ an sngiases.
kis is6usncs was calculated 10 be more ef-
tscsiye than the action OF Easn Of any
ether profession Its true. he has exhie-
ited Ainssif very poor sngineer in his
report rsiasivs 70 this bridge. Or else to IN.
gsaliass hiassn With particular comauni-
y tAas - cares very little for bic reputa,ion
- ~ engineer. Dpt Mr. Bissells rsputa-
tiss = builder Of suspension bridges rests
eatirsly upon the Rochester structure. II
i mas Of ruins. We shall see whether
or not HE rePusatlon - builder Of susPen
sion bridges. he's no, gone down with the
fall sf this structure.
ltappesrs body Of snow loot in depth
fell on this bridge. and iis weight pros,rated
the structure. The Rochester Union es-
Inmates the weight Of this snow q, thirty
pounds to the square foot, and the whole
weight at $50 tons. This 10 certainly an
exaggerated estimate throughout, and il is
70 Be- recoiiec;ed. too. that this weight Was
spread eveny over ihe surface OF the shoie
bridge, instead Of resting Il enc point
The statement we Published yesterday gave
q the estimated strength Of this bridge
2,o0o tons, or that j, would support this
weight! This, we presume, vas the en.
gineefs' estimate. So, estimated TO sustain
9 weight Of 1000 tons, ii fell beneath .
weight very unrsasonabiy estimated at $50
tons sight discrepancy. And this bridge
vas buili ~ Mr.. Bissell, and completed SIX
asnihs after the stipuiated Tine for its
erection had expired, II was the nonume NJ
70 his skl 10 which he was 10 point the
people of 81. Louis when they CONNIE need
the erection Of their suspension bridge, and
desired The services o: falis competen,
and experienced engineer. The Uuion
thus aIludes 10 some Of the defects Of thi.
briAgs:
The defects in the structure are apparen,
in more ways than one. The towsrs we've
Q sham, bot poss;hiy --sEnr nave vithstoot
sAs ss.s 70 which they we're subjected. hac
heee, had the cables been laid 50 a. 10 rem.
Ter, and not 90 as 10 draw the tops Of the
ts0efs towards the nver when The wei CHI
drscfiy over the stream was greatly 10.
esssssd. ~ !, vas last night. The towers
we're made In sa inferior manner and were
not - strong as they appeared 10 be. We
notice that one Of the columns broke At q
point where il had been patched BY piece
Of boiler iron, put on the inside and riviter
= the casting. This piece OF ps,sh WORK
vss made in Consequence Of crsck around
he column, and 10 save rs-cssting. How
many more Of these columns were patched
~ cannot say.
The gentleman who erected shis bridge
psssends to condemn the Rock lsiand bridge
- most sSkward and unskil!t..l structure!
Hs woaid like 10 have il torn down and
bi@sslf erect : suspension badge in ia
place. We trus, that hereafter Ar. Basel
vill devote himself to some oth.r depart.
Dsst Of Civil Engineering than building
suspsasion bridges. or that be sill condne
~ criticisms entirely 70 bridge Of tia, ne
turs, and lei sioas the Rock leland tridss
whiei still stsnss firmly performing its gresi
duties, . connecting link bstseen t~c
0saiss and two important railroads, whi!s
ths hsils Gsneses suspension bridge hs.
Daasel away in ruaas before Il was year
Old, and 10 nox but m unhappy memory Il
he community yet murnuring beneath th.
taxstion caused for its erection.
Medical eeeis,y.