Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-29
eLEARFIEnr. pa. "WEDNESDAY, JUNE 49, 1850
MAGNITUDE OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS

1t has been fashionable to compare unfavor-
ably the works of this country with those Vi
Europe. To such an extent has this been car
ried that it is not unfrequently SAID that we
have to look to England or the Continent Tor
the most of our examples. We are continual
ly told by travellers of the great extent, beau
ty and durability of the continental works, and
of the enormous strength of the English struc-
lures. Now it is perfectly true that Europe
can boast of railroads. canals, bridges, and a
queducts unrivaled in the world for beauty
and excellence of workmanship, but 1t is equal
ly true that America can point to works OF u
tility that, in the magnifcence of their pro-
portions, are not exceeded anywhere.
The Julian Aqueduct of Rome is two miles
longer than the Croton Aqueduct of New I ork,
built by John B. Jarvis and Horatio Allen,
but the Croton carries more water than all the
seven aqueducts of Rome put together, and
more than any other aqueduct in the world land
is longer than any other excepting the Julian
The Illinois Central Railroad, built by Col.
Mason, is the longest line ever constructed by
one company, and in point of Workmanship is
equal to any European road.
The National Road, over the Cumberland
mountains, built by the United States Engi-
neer Corps, is more extensive and durable by
far than the Appian way.
The stone arch over Cabin Johns Creek, on
the Washington aqueduct, built by Captain
Meigs, is about fifty feet greater span than any
Otner stone afcn IN the ana Is more Oeau-
tifui in proportion than the arch over the Oca,
so long celebrated for its magnifcence.
The tunnel built by Mr.. Haupt for the Penn
sylvania Railroad, on the summit Of the Ale
gheny mountain, was more difficult work
than the tunnel under the Thames.
The structures on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad at Harpers Ferry, and beyond the
summit, built by Latrobe and the Starrocca
Viaduct on the New York and Erie Railroad,
built by Julius Adams, are equal in magnif
cence and excellence of workmanship to any
| thing Brunei ever did in England, or Moran
in France.
The Suspension Bridge over the Niagara
river at Lewiston, built by Major Serrell, is
,O42 feet 10 inches in one span, and is 43 feet
greater than any other single span in the
| world, being nearly twice as great and quite as
strong as Telfords celebrated bridge over the
Menaia Straits in England.
! The United States Dry Dock at Brooklyn, is
| the largest dry-dock in the world by many
| feet. The workmanship, done under the di-
rection of Mr.. M'Alpine and Gen. Stuart, is
| equal if not superior, to anything of the kind
| anywhere. The plates of iron used in the
gates of this dock are the largest that had ever
been made up to the time they were rolled.
The flight of combined locks on the Erie Ca
nal at Lock port, built by the State Engineers,
are equalled only in one other place in Chris
tendom-Sweden.
The Railroad Suspension Bridge built by
Roebling over the Niagara is within few feet
of twice the span of Stephens great Tubular
Bridge in England, the largest structure of the
kind. 1t is 800 feet in one span, and is two
stories high, the railroad being above the
public highway. Nothing like this exists
anywhere else.
The Lighthouse on Minot's Lodge being
built by Capt. Alexander, is in more exposed
situation, and, as far as proceeded with is more
securely bolted together than the famous Ed
dystone Lighthouse in England.
The Bridge at Wheeling, built by Charles
Ellet, is exceeded only in span by the Lewis
| ton Bridge, and is heavier than it; it is the
| second largest span in the world, and is much
| more beautiful than the Fribourg Bridge, its
European rival.
In carpentry we are uneXcelled in the world.
Such structures in timber as the Dry docks at
San Francisco and lphia-McCullum's
and Col. Seymour's bridge on the Erie Rail-
road and branches; the timber viaducts
the Catawissa Railroad built by Stancliff; Col.
Longs bridges on the various New England
railroads; and Howe's trusses at Harrisburg,
| have not their equals across the Atlantic.
Then, again, in Europe, many structures
are built that might have been ayoided--a few
hundred rods of detour would have saved the
great Box tunnel. Now we maintain that the
location of the Sidell's division. for example,
on the Erie ,evinced more skill in avoiding the
necessity of great structures than could be
| SHOWN IN building them.
The stones on either corner of the Exchange
in Boston. built by Rodgers, are larger than
any single stone in Cleopatra's needle, and
| those now being put into the United States
Treasury at Washington are much heavier than
any stone of Pompey's pillar, or Pyramids of
Egypt.
| AS to the difficulties of location, there is no
| county where more science and skill have
| been brought to bear than in ours, and it is a
| remarkable fact that in point of time, last
year, our average travelling was faster by two
and a half miles per hour than in England,
comparing our principal lines with theirs,
while the charges on the American lines was
but little over half the English lines.
The reason why these things not gener
| ally known is, that here we build great work,
| announce its completion in the same adver-
| tisement that heralds the opening of the road,
and no more is said about it, except, perhaps,
what may appear in one or two scientific Pc
| riodicals, where dry feet and inches, stress,
| strain and tortion are discussed, and are never
read except by the professional engineer.
| While, ,on the contrary,in England and France,
as soon as great work is built, and while it is
being erected, pictures by thousands are pub
lished, medals are struck and circulated, glass
models are made, and the illustrated news
papers show it in every stage of progress and
| from every point of view the engineer is
| kHlghted, if he is not already of the nobllity,
and the fame of the structure is sent from
| land to land while with us,as we nave SHOWN,
| may be found some of the most 81 1gahtic works
ever undertaken that are passed py ana over
without hardly any notice. IL is remarkable
| that the best popular description of our own
pubIie works of great magnitude are to be
| found in the journals of France and Germany.
| The Westminster clock, England, has cost
the nation $4,000. Punch says it is strong
exemplification of the homely truth, ssTime
| is money"