Smyrna times., 1866-12-05
Opening of the Susquehanna Bridge.

That most momentOuS event in the history
of the 7. W. d b. r. r., the completion and
opening to passenger travel of the stupendous
Railroad Bridge which spans the Susquehan-
ma at Its mouth, nearly mile in length, was
celebrated on Monday last by excursions from
Baltimore, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and
towns on the line of the road, and a grand ban
qnet served up by the Company, at Perryville,
to the guests present ON the occasion.
This Bridge, which has been four years in
course of cOnstruction-the work of thousand
men Ill that time-is one Ofthe greatest achieve
nents OF science and art, and one of the most
stupendoIs of its kind in the world.
The entrances to the Bridge were handsome
ly decorated with evergreens and flags, and be-
meath them, on the Cecil end was the inscrip-
tion, Four YEARS Work FOR One Thou
SAND MEN." On the Havre dc Grace end of
the Bridge, the motto Reconstructed in Nine
ty Days, alluded to the destruction of the su-
perstructure. which was demolished, in a min
ute OF time, by the terrible tornado Oflast July,
which left such fearful desOlation in its track.
The train, after a short halt, moved slowly
and steadily on the bridge, and passed over to
the Hartford side in eight minutes, with no per-
ceptible strain on the work, more than that
slight vibration experienced in crossing every
species of arched bridge We subjoin short
historical and descriptive sketch of the work.
The shore abutments are massive stone struc-
lures, beautifully modelled, with StorehOuses,
within each for the use of the railroad cOmpa-
ny, and are built up to height of 26 feet above
the level of the river, that being the height of
the abutmentS. On the west side of the ascent
is but slight, the landing being nearly upon O
level with the bridge, but one the east side
there is gradual ascent of 26 feet from mean
level with the river, graduated upon a tresSel
work. The piers, as will be seen by the his
tory are formed over iron and stone. The
first six from the eastern side are first formed
on piles filled in and walled around at the bot
tom, the remainder being upon rock at the bot
tom. Upon this rests an immense wrought
iron caiSson, one and a half inches thick, made
water tight, the exact size of the piers, which
are feet wide and % feet in length either end
being gradually formed to sharp point to ward
of the Ice and prevent its masSing. These
being Sunken upon the foundations, are filled
i'll with the huge granite blocks up to height
OF twelve feet, where the remainder is formed
OF granite to the base Otthe superstructure, the
whole being bound together by an inner lining
Of wrought iron. The wooden superstructure
is very powerful being of the best seasoned
timber, built upon the truss plan" which
has stood such wonderful tests heretofore
This superstructure is % feet in height and
the top and sides are firmly braced throughout
with three inch bolts. 1t is 20 feet in width,
with an open flooring, there being nothing but
the railroad track and narrow plank tor the
sentries to pass over upon, all foot travellers
being prohibited from using it. The spans are
twelve in number and are $50 feet each in
length, being constructed as pivot draw
bridge to admit of the passage of vessels
The piers are each eight feet in width, making
an aggregate in length from abutment to abut-
ment Of 5,27S feet, or nearly two-thirds of q
mile.
1t is estimated that the bridge has cost about
| $I.lOO,00O. There was used in its construction
5,OOOOOO feet of oak timber, 1000 600 pound.
of wrought and cast iron, and over 20 900 cubic
yards of Maryland granite, the greater part Of
which was procured from quarries near BY, and
which is pronounced by the engineer the bes
building stone in the known world
After crossing and re-crossing the Bridge tC
the Cecil side, the train ran a short distanc,
up the Port Deposit branch, which is nearly
completed, and which will be open for trave
| in two or three weeks