The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-04-27
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PUBLIC
WORKS OF THE UNITED STATES.

1t has been fashionable 10 compare un-
favorably the works of this country with
those of Europe. To such an extent has
this been carried that il is not unfrequent-
" said that we have TO look to England
or the Continent for most Of our exam
pies. We are continually told by trav-
elers of the great extent, beauty and du-
rability of the continental works, and of
the enormous strength of the English
structures. Now it is perfectly true that
Europe can boast of railroads, canals,
bridges, and aqueducts unriyaled in the
world for beauty and excellence Of work
manship and design, but it is equally true
that America can point to works Of utili-
ty that, in the lnagnifcence of their pro-
portions, are not exceeded anywhere.
The Julian Aqucduct of Rome is two
miles longer than the Croton Aqueduct
of New York, built by John b. Jervis
and Horatio Allen, but the Croton car
ries moro water than all the seven aque-
ducts Of Rome put together, and more
than any other alueduct 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 con
structed by one company, and in point of
workmanship is equal to any European
road.
The National Road over the Cumber-
land mountains, built by the United
States Engineer Corps, is more exten-
sive 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 other stone arch in the
world, and is more beautiful in proportion
than the arch over the Oca, so long cele-
brated for its magnifcence.
The tunnel built 10y Mr.. Haupt, on the
summit Of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was
more difficult work than the tunnel un-
der the Thames.
The structures Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad at Harper's Ferry, and be-
yond the summit, built by Latrobe, and
the station and yinduct, on the New York
and Erie Railroad, built by Julius Adams,
are equal in magnifcence and excellence
of workmanship to anything Brunei ever
did in England, or Morgan in France.
The Suspension Bridge over the Mag
ara river at Lewiston, built by Major Ser
rel, is l,042 feet 10 inches, in one span,
and is 4S #. greater than any other sin
gle span in the world, being nearly twice
as great and quite as strong as Telford's
celebrated bridge over the Menai straits
in England.
The United States Dry Dock al Brook
lyn, is the largest dry dock in the world
by many feet. The workmanship, done
under the direction Of Mr.. McAlpine and
Gen. Stuart, is equal, if not superior, to
anything of tho 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.
Tho flight of combined locks on the
Erie canal at Lockport, built by the State
Engineers are equalled only in one other
place in Christendon-(Sweden.)
The Railroad Suspension Bridge built
by Roebling over the Niagara river, is
within few feet Of twice the span Of
Stephenson's great Tubular Bridge in
England, 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 like
this exists anywhere else.
The Light house on Minots Ledge,
being built by Capt Alexander, is in a
more exposed situation, and as far as pro
ceeded with, is more securely bolted To-
gether than ihe famous Eddystonc light
house in England.
The Bridge at Wheeling, built by G.
Ellet is exceeded only in span by the
Lewiston Bridge, and is heavier than it;
! il is the second largest span in the world
and is much more beautiful than the Fri
4 4 q.