Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-10
"UNIoH ARCH 1.-THE structure thus designs

10 the mnst imposing feature OF that triumph Of
engineering skill-the Washington Aqneduct.
ABOUT seven miles west Of this city, a stream
called Cabin John Run has. In its passage to the
Potomac, worn a narrow and deep gorge through
the rocky slope on the Maryland side Of the river
AZ the Aqueduct was to cross this stream at an
elevation Of nearly one hundred feet above its
ned, the chief engineer conceived the idea of
boldly spanning the valley with a single arch of
granite thrown from the natural abutment of solid
rock at the base OF one Hill to the corresponding
ahutment on the other side. The conformation
Of the valley favora BILE tn the project and the
result IL beautifully preportioned stone arch, Of
greater span than any other IN this country or Eu-
rope. That which approaches IL nearest in mag
nIfude, 10 the famed bridge OF sandstone across
she river Dee, at Chester, In England circular
arch II two hundred feet span aud forty feet rise
The Union arch IL circular, "a segment with
"span OF 30 feet, and 81 feet 3 inches rise The
Vcusscirs are Of fine dressed Quincy granite com
,nehcing AT The sprinsins line, with a radial
length Of feet Inches, which decreases at the
crown To feet inches. They run I'm regular
courses through the breadth Of the bridce-2O
feet -and start from massive granite blocks
Nodded on the natural rock in the bosom of its
native hills. Over the main arch OF granite is
thrown a rubble arch, OF sandstone from the
seneca Md quarries. This superintendent
arch Is also lighter at the crown than at the
springing line, hut the extrldos instead Of being
curved surface, has been formed as il were into
gigantic steps, thus allowing the spandrell walls
70 start from horizontal beds. Some European
bridges have relieving arches Of rubble, but they
are concealed by the horizontal cours of masonry;
here the rubble work presents its proper appear
ance OF superior ARCH and seems, by the arrange
mont OF the horizontal and vertical lines of the
ehtrados, to be composed of immense blocks of
masonry, put In place by some Cyclopean power
fhe centerInC to support this enormous load must
have hccn perfect in arrangement and construc-
ton; for the gradual increase Of weight to nearly
two thousand tuns, IN building the granite aruh
and the addition Of the greater weic ht of the
rueeie arch, caused so little arrangement of its
narts, that not day was lost In correcting any
detection Of the lines of curvature
The length q the bridge on top IL $50 feet The
spandrei walls (of Seneca sandsone) and the abut-
ment walls (of blue gness from Quarries on the
banks Of the Potomac In the vicinity of the work.
ere necessarily Of massive proportions; but waste
OF material Is prevented by rectangular spaces,
covered with relieving arches, a few feet below
the bottom Of the conduit. The arch Is finished
ana work upon the spandrel and abutinent walls
was progressing rapidly the present season when
n,deis Were issued for suspension of operations.
Inc walls had attained more than half their aIti-
tnde, and would probably have been finished be-
fore the close Of the year Chief Engineer Meigs
perceived the risk of leaving the arch without It's
proper balance to rest up1n the center for an in
definite period, the timber being exDosed To the
chances OF destruction by FIRE or other casualties
or from natural causes and directed that the arch
De properly loaded, and the wedges removed
Ehese directions were carried out by Principal
Assistant Engineer Ed ward Frost, and the wedpes
were removed on Tuesday, the I'd inst, witt. the
result stated In tue S;ar of next day. That there
WIS no pcTceptible settlement of an arch of such
magnituds In removing the center proves con-
slusively that the work was well calculated and
that The plan has been faithfully carried out so far
When the work was stopped, the granite tab
iets on The east and west abutments were in
place, and were made secure. These tablets are
both on the south side, aud are placed one in
each a6utment at an altitude of about half he
feet In length by feet inches In height That
in the west a6utment bears the following in
scfiption:
Washington Aqxsdut
Begun A. d 1853.
President Of the United States, franklin Pierce.
Secretary Of War, jefferson Davis
Building A. ID lS6l
President Of the United States Abraham Lincoln
Secretary of War, Simon Cameron
In The east abutment, the tablet is inscribed as
follows:
Chief Engineer, Capt Montgomery C. Meigs,
L. :. Corps of Engineers
ESQ prPstna
IL ID 70 be much regretted that a suspension of
operations on fh!s Inn portant work was Considered
necessary. 1t Is now. We understand, the only
connecting link needed to make the conduit com-
piete, and thus bring the water directly from the
Great Falls Of Potomac, and the contractor for
the mssonry-Mr kobt McIEtyre, of Pennsyl-a-
nia-has stated, we hesr, that in two m0nths
time, with an expenditure Of fifteen or twenty
thousand dollars, he could so far advance the
work as to finish the lower half Of the conduit.
and thus allow the passage OF water AS an un-
falling supply Of pure water is necessary for the
comfort and health Of citizens and strangers =,
well as Of the troops now here and to be here, and
as the supply from Powder Mill branch, though
abundant at present, may fail when most needed
we uu>t that the reasons for susPending the work
may not be Of such nature as to prevent the re-
sumption Of operations at an early day
ARsESAL.-Tbe war movements have wrought
very perceptioe change in the appearance and
appurtenances Of the Arsenal Ia the last few
weeks. The entrance Is strictly guarded by a
hle OF soldiers, and 10 sooner does the yisito,
obtain admission from these watchful sentries
nnd m he hrf,,k -
Slistcning rows Of batteries, ready To repel aSy
Intrusion, however formidable Besides these
arc numerous new field batteries scattered about
IN various localities, awaiting the order for their
removal tn the first scene Of action upon our Dor
ders, while inHumerable new gun carriages, for
six, twelve, twenty-four and thirty -two Founders
are scattered about in the grove Down by the
whdrves lie long rows Of blac K frowning cannon
-cady to be placed upon their carriages while
here and there among the trees immense riicd
guns show their teeth to the Virginia shore
Hundreds of gun car rage whCsls lean up against
sheds, ar-enals and workshops, aud supersunu-
stcd batteries, Yet scryicedbr, rest IN peace be-
meth the caves OF tie long rows of buildings
In the workshops everything is In comnotion
and activity Ammunition chests, &c are turned
OF at the rate of b,itc y per week, ard hundreds
81 rih9d cannon shot and shells, crap, &c are
ME balls, ard one hundred thnussnd Minnie
cartridges are manufactured a day. willie knap-
sacks, belts, haynnet scsbbards. &c are made up
and packed with surprising dispatch.
COMMUNICArED.
ST. MATHEWS IsFAaI ASYLUM Mr. Editor:
] was very much pleased ;he other day with a
visit to ~ Mat hew's w ashingto Infant ASYLUM,
located in the house formerly occupied by Gen.
Cas-, where saw twenty nine children, VARYING
In age from three yesrs down to n week old
These little creatures, who, but for the kind min
istsions of the Sisters Of Charity, ht be suffer
ing from lack Of the ssiteS Of lie have every
attention shown them that the fondest parents
could bestow They are well housed, well fed
well clothed, and well cared for In every respect
IL 10 real treat 20 ono, who, mingling much
with the world, and seeing much Of Its selfish
ness TO turn for hour from the hig hwsys of the
city, where men testle one another In the great
for gain and look In upon an institution like
this Infant Asylum, where a few Christian ladies,
without hope or thought Of fee or reward in this
world, devote their hole lives TO the Of such
helpless little beings az are here cnngregated
Though located In 81. Matthew's parish, this
asylum looks to the entire city for support for II
receives subjects from all parts. l understand
that any thiHg In the culinary or house keeping
line will be acceptable 10 the r3Islers. A.C
UNITED STATES TRoOFs ARRIvE-About eco
u cavalry arrived here last evening, from
Carlisle Barracks, and went into quarters near the
Park bofel, seventh street, where they remain,
awaiting orders They all cpme mounted on
hne borses and ready 10 90 into the Geld at a