The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-06
THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR PURIJC WORKS

THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS.
1t has been fashionable to compare unfavorably
the works of this country with those of Eurona =
10 such an extent has this been carried that it is
not unirequently said that have to look to Eng
land or the Continent for most of our EXAMPLES
We are continually told BY travellers of the great
extent, beauty and durability of the continental
WORKS, and OF the enormous strength of the Eng
llsh structures Now it is perfectly true that Eu-
rope can boast of railroads canals BRIDGES and
aqueducts unrivalled in the world for beauty and
excellence of workmanship and design, but it is
equally true that America point to works of
utility that, in the magnifcence of their propor-
tons, are not exceeded anywhere.
The Julian Aqueduct Of Rome is two miles longer
than the Croton Aqueduct of New York 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 auue-
duct In the world, and is longer than any other ex-
cepting the Julian.
The Illinois Central Railroad built bv Col. Ma
son, is the longest line constructed bv one
company, and i'll point of workmanship is equal to
any European road.
The National Road, over the Cumberland noun
tains built by the United States Engineer Corps is
more extensive and durable by far than the Appian
way.
Tho stone arch over Cabin Johns Creek, on the
Washington aqueduct, built by CAPTAIN Megs. is
about fifty feet greater span than any other stone
arch in the world and is more beautiful in proper
ton than the arch over the Oco so long celebrated
for its magnifcence.
The tunnel built by Mr.. Haupt, on the summit of
the Pennsylvania Railroad, was a more difficult
work than the tunnel under the Thames
The structures on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road at Harper's Ferry, and beyond the summit
built by l4atrobe and the Starrocca Viaduct on
the New York and Erie Railroad, built by Julius
Adams, are equal in magnifcence and excellence of
wor kmanshp to anything Brunei ever did in Eng
land, 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 auy
other single span in the world being nearly twice
as great and quite as strong Telfords celebrated
bridge over the Menia Straits in England
The United States Dry-dock at BROOKLYN, is the
largest dry dock in the world by many feet The
work kmanship, done under the direction of Mr. Nc
Alpine and General Stuart is equal if not superior
to anything of the kind anywhere. The plates O
iron used in the gates of this dock are the arges
that had ever been made up TO the time they were
rolled.
The flight of combined locks on the Erie Cana
at Lockport, built by the State Engineers are
equalled only in one other place in Christendom-
Sweden.
The Railroad Suspension Bridge built bv Roeb
ing over the Niagara is within few feet of twice
the span OF Stephenson's great Tubular Bridge in
England, the largest structure of the kind 1t i:
SOO 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 Minots Ledpe beino bu;lt
by Capt. Alexander, is in more exposed situation
and as far proceeded with is more securely boted
together than the famous Eddystone Lighthouse
in England.
The Bridge at Wheeling, built by Charles Fllet
is exceeded only in span by the Lewiston Bridge,
and heavier than it, it is the second largest snan
in the world, and is much more beautiful than the
Fribourg Bridge, its European rival.
In carpentry unexcelled in the world
Such structures in timber as the Dry Docks at San
Francisco and Philadelphia McCulam's and Col
Seymours bridges on the Erie Railroad and branch
es, the timber viaducts on the Catawissa Railroad
built by Stancliff Col. Longs brdpes on the yari
Gus New England Railroads, and Howes trusses at
Harrisburg, have not their equals across the At
antc.
Then, again, in Europe, many structures are built
that might have been avoided-a few hundred rods
OF detour would have saved the great Box tunnel.
Now maintain that the location of SidelPs diyi-
sion for example, on the Erie evnced 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 Rogers are larger than any single
stone in Cleopatras needle, and those now being
put into the United States Treasury at Washington
are much heavier than any stone of Pompey's pill
lar, or the Pyramids of Egypt.
As to the difficulties of location there is no coun-
try 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, average travel
ing 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 rates.
The reason why these things are not generally
known is that here we build a great work, an
nounce its completion in the same advertisement
that herads the opening of the road, and no more
Is said about it, except, perhaps, what NAV apear
in one or two scientific periodicals. where dry feet
and inches stress, strain and tortion are discussed
and never read except by the professional engi.
neer. While on the contrary, in England and
France as soon as a great work is built and while
it is being erected, pictures by thousands are pub
lished, medals struck and circulated glass mod
els are made and the illustrated newspapers show
in every stage of progress and from every point Of
view; the engineer is knighted if he is not already
of the nobility, and the fame of the structure is sent
from land to land; while with us, as we have shown
may be found some of the most gigantic works ever
undertaken that are passed by and over without
hardly any notice. 1t is remarkable that the best
popular descriptions of our own public works o.
great magnitude are to be found in the journals o
France and IinrmanY