The Nevada Democrat., 1860-09-19
nragnitude Of our Public works.

It has been fashionable TO compare unfavora
bly, the works of this country with those Of
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 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 English structure
Now 1t is perfectly true that Europe can boas
of railroads, canals, bridges, and aqueducts un
rivaled in the world for beauty aud excellence
of workmanship and design, but 1t Is equally
true that America can point TO works OF utility
that 10 the maRni6cence Of their proportions
are not exceeded any where.
The Julien Aqueduct of Rome Is two miles
longer than the Croton Acqueduct Of New York
built by John b. Jarvis and Horatio Allen, bui
the Croton carries more water than all The
seven aqueducts of Rome put together, and
more than any other aqueduct In the world
and is longer than any other except the Julien
The Illinois Central Railroad, built by Col
Mason, is the longest line ever constructed by
one company, and In point OF workmanship IL
equal to any European roads.
The National Road over the Cumberland
mountains, built by the United States Engineer
Corps, is more expensive and durable by far
than the Appian Way.
The stone arch over Cabin Johns Greek, 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 beau.
tiful In proportion than the arch over the Os0,
80 long celebrated for lite magni6cence.
The tunnel built by Mr. Haupt. on the sum-
init Of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was more
difficult work than the tunnel under the Thames.
The structure on the Baltimore aud Ohio
Railroad at Harper's Ferry, and beyond the
Summit, built by Latrobe, and the Stirroca
Viaduct on the New York and Erie Railroad,
built by Julius Adams, are equal In magnd-
cence and excellence Of workmanship TO any
thing Brunei ever did In England, or Moran in
France.
The suspension over the Niagara river at Lew
iston, built by Mai. Serrell. is 1,042 feet 10
inches in one span, and is 43 feet greater than
any other single span 10 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 at Brooklyn is
the largest dry dock in the world by many feet.
The workmanship done under the direction OF
Mr.. M'Alpne and General Stuart, lie equal, If
not superior, to anything of the kind anywhere.
The plates of iron used 10 the CRATES OF this dock
are the largest that bad ever been made up to
the time they were rolled.
The fight Of combined locks on the Erie canal
at Lockport. built by the State Engineers, are
equaled only in one other place in Christendom.
Sweden.
The railroad suspension bridge, built by Ro.
eblng over the Niagra, 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 bigh-
way. Nothing like this exists anywhere else.
The Lighthouse built by Captain Alexander,
is In more exposed situation, and as far as
has been proceeded WITH is more securely bolt
ed together than the famous Eddystone Light
house in England.
The bridge at Wheeling, built by Charles Ell
let. is exceeded only in span by the Lewiston
bridge, and Is heavier than it. It 10 the second
largest span in the world, and Is much more
beautiful than the Freirburg bridge, its Euro
pean rival.