Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-05-03
The Magnitude of the Public Works of the L. S

The Magnitude Of the Public Werks of the C. s
1t has been fashionable ia compare unfavora-
bly, the works of this country with those OF Eu-
rope. To such an extent has this been carried
that 1t Is nos unfrequently said that We have To
look to England or the Continent for most oi
our examples. We are continually tolI by
travellers, of the great extent beauty and dn-
rtoiilty of the continental works. and of the
enormous strength of the English structures
Now IT IL perfectly true that Europe can boast
OF railroads, canals. bridges and aqueilcts un-
rivailed In the world for beauty and excellence
OF Workmanship and design, bnt 1t /. equally
! true that America point to works of uillity.
/ that, In the maSniicence of their proport ions.
are not exceeded anywhere
The Julian Aqueduct of Rome i two miles
longer than the Croton Aqueduct of New York.
| built by John b. Jervis and Horafio Allen. but
/ the Croton carries more water Imam all the sew
en- aqueducts OF Rome put together. and more
than any other aqueduct in the world. and Is
| longer than any other excepting the Julian
The Illinois Central Railroad, built by Col.
Mason, Is the longest line ever Constructed 10y
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 Engineer
corps Is more extensive and durable by far than
the Appian way.
The stone arch Cabin Johns Creek on
the Washington aqueduct, built by Captain
Meigs, is about fifty feet greater span than any
other stone arch III the world aud Is more beau
itul IN proportion than the arch the Oca,
so long celebrated for its macnitcencc.
The tunnel built by Mr.. Haupt the sum
NIT of the Pennsylvania Railroad was Il more
difficult work than the tunnel under the Thames
The structures on the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road at Harpers Ferry, and beyond the summit
built by Latrobe and the STALLION and vinduct
on the New York IL Erie Railroad. built bv
Julius Adams. are equal in magnifccnce and
laYar !, 4
did in Ell gland Moran il, France
The Suspension Bridge over the \ iagara riv-
er at Lewiston built by Major Serrel, is I.0I2
feet lO inches in one span and is 43 feet greater
th an any other single span i. the world, being
nearly twice rs great and quite strong az
ieford's celebrated bridge over the Monai
Straits in England.
| The United States Dry Dock at BROOKLYN is
the largest dry dock in the world by many feet
The wor kmanshp done under the direction of
Mr. NcAiplne and General 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 Lockport, built by the State Engineers
are equalled only In one other place in Christ
endom-( Sweden.)
The Railroad Suspension Bridge. built by
Roebling over the Niagara river. Is within a
few feet of twice the span of Stephenson's
great uDuiar brlO9e IN Englanu, the largest
structure of the kind 1t is 500 feet in one span
and is two stories high, the railroad being above
the public highway. Nothing uke this exists
anywhere else.
The lighthouse on Minot's Ledge being
built by Capt. Alexander, is in a more exposed
situation, and as proceeded with, is much more
/ securely bolted together thar the famous Eddy
! stone lighthouse in England
| The bridge at Wheeling. built by Charles
| Ellet. Is exceeded in span only by the Lewiston
bridge, and Is heavier than II. II is the second
| largest span In the world and is much more
beautiful than the Fribuurg bridge, It's European
| rival.
! In carpentry are uncxcelled in the world
! Such structures in timber as the dry docks in
Sa@ Francisco and Philadelphia - McCullam's 5
and Seymour's bridges the Erie Railroad and
branches, the timbci vinducts on the Catawiss1
Railroad. built by S.anclif Col Longs bridges
on the various New England Railroads. and
How's trusses at Harrisburg. have not their
equals across the Atlantic.
Then, again, In Europe many structures are
built that might have been avoided-a few hun
dred rods of detour might have saved the great
box tunnel. Now maintain that the location
of Slideils division, for example. on the Erie
Canal, evinced more skill in avoiding the neces-
slsy 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 Cleepatra's needle, aud
those now beng put INTO the United States
Treasury at " Washington are much heavier than
any stone of Pompey's Pillar the Pyramids
of Egypt.
As to the difficulties of location there is no
country where more science and skill have been
brought to bear than III ours and II Is a remark
able fact, that, in point of time, last year,
average travelling 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 were but little more than
half the English rates.
The reason why these things are not generally
known is. that here we build great work, an
nouDcc its completion in the same advertise
that heralds the opening of the road, and no
more is said about it, except. perhaps what may
where dry feet inches. stress strain and torlioi.
are discussed and never read, except by the
professional engineer. While on the contrary
is finished, and while it is being erected pic
lures by thousands are Published medals are
struck and circulated. glass models are made
and the illustrated nc wspapers show it in every
stage of progress, aud from every point of view;
the engineer is knighted. il he is not already
one of the nobility, and the fame Of the struc-
ture is sent from land to land while with u.s. rs we
have shown may be found some Of the most gi-
gantic works ever undertaken that are passed
by and over without hardly any notice Il is
remar kable that the best popular descriptions
of our own pnDlic works of great magnitudes
are to be found In the journals of France aud
Germany-Ne,r York Ii1nes
Death of the Marquis OF Waterford.