The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-19

By dint of questioning, it was afterwards
found out that her father had maltreatcd
her as well as the woman. The Mayor
then gave him severe reprimand, in which
he called to his mind the shameful manner
in which he was rearing his child. He said
that he would require them both to give
security for their future good behavior.
They being unable to give it, they were
both committed. The little girls grief at
this was very great, and she went out in
search of some one to release them. Is
there no asylum for this innocent young
girl Cannot a home be found for her !
She has shown noble traits of character,
and we hear is recommended by those who
know her as an industrious and smart girl.
If taken into some family as nurse, she
would prove useful, and would be saved
from life of MISUNDERSTANDING OF
crime. -, H.
TIE PETERSBURG RAILROAD BRIDGE.+
One of our reporters yesterday morning,
in company with Mr.. James III. Woodcock,
the courteous and efficient general ticket
agent of the Petersburg road, had the plea
sure of walk across the immense super
structure which now spans the James
river, and will be ready for use by the 25th
of this month. Though elevated an I'M
comfortable distance above terra TRINA, the
feat of crossing from Richmond to Man
chester upon this viaduct was accomplished
in manner which would have done credit
to Monsieur Blondin himself. Once or
twice during the Journey, and just at those
points where the swollen stream below
seemed most threatening, the tacctious
agent undertook to pcrpctrate joke, but
our rcportcr-he-wcll, he did not feel
well, and preferred not to laugh, but
rather to walk pcnsivcly on and contcm-
plate the mutability of-that is, examine
the immense SuperStruCturc.
This bridge, which has been built under
the immediate direction and superintcnd-
cncc of Colonel Samuel Strong, is 2,S5S
feet and seven inches in length, and is
upon the Howe plan, with all its improve
ments. There are about 10 spans, varying
from about 1854 to l5ii5 feet, making
the total length above given. The piers
on top are AZ feet in width, and the
surface of the water is 80 feet below
the top of the rail. The timber used i'll
the bridge, with the exception of the
wall-pIatcS and tics-which is Of white
oak-is of seasoned white pine Of very
superior quality. The distance from the
top to the bottom of the chords is Is
feet, and the width from outside to out
side of the chords is l6 feet. The upper
chords, of which there are four on each
side. arc ! and inches in width and II in
depth. The corner chords, of which there
are four on side, are also and & inches
in width and If in depth; the ends OF the
chords at their junction are tied together
with white oak spices 4S inches in length.
The bottom ic-bcamS are is feet, and 3
hv 10 inches; they cross the SuperStruc-
trlrc ut the centre of each truss or pannel,
and where they cross the bottom chords
they are notchcd ont about one inclf and
Il half, so as to receive them. The floor
beams are 10 feet long and 9 by If inches
wide, and will he laid not more than four
feet apart from centre to centre. The
main and counter braces measure by
81, inches, and about Is feet in length.
At each bottom tie-bcam, lateral cross
braces are constructed, so as to stlf-
fen the bridge against wind; these en-
tend from the lower TO the upper chords,
and are 6 inches square and about ~ feet
in length. Each PANEL is provided with
horizontal braccs-onc set at the upper and
another at the lower chords, and are formed
of timber 6 inches square and about Ii
feet long. These rest on Il butt against
cast iron seats or chairs. The bottom tie
beams and every fourth-hoor beam Is Sc
cured to the chords beneath by bolts three
fourths of an inch in diameter, provided
with screws and nuts. The track-StrlngerS
are also secured to the floor in like man
ner-cach stringcr having at least three
bolts. The iron used in the SuperStructurc
is of the best quality and Of American
manufacture. At the end of each span the
main rods or bolts are inches in diameter,
and continue so for three pannels, then
they diminish regularly so rs to be one and
a halt inch in diameter at the centre OF the
span. There are two main rods ut the END
of each PANEL on each side of the bridge,
which are provided with top and bottom
plates ) inches wide, q long, and three
quarters of an inch in thickness, and nuts
3 inches square and inches thick. Bot
tom and toprods cross each PANEL so as TO
tie the chords together they are one and
a quarter inch in diameter and l6 feet
inches long. Four bolts cross through the
top and four through the bottom chords OF
each panncl. These bolts arc tlrce-quar-
tiers of an inch in diameter.
Quite novel feature of this superstruc-
turc is the permanent walkway, two feet
in width, along the inside of the lower
chords, TO allow the workmen to examine
the bridge.
The first train will be run over the bridge
ON the 25th of the present month. The
top and bottom chords of the last span, on
the Manchester side, were completed seve-
raj days ago, and the contractor is now
only waiting for one piece of iron, which
was defective, to be recast, which is now
being done with all possible dispatch at the
Tredegar Iron Works. The first engine run
over the road will be the Thomas Ellis, y
and the contractor, Colonel Strong, will OF
that occasion act as engineer.
As soon as the superstructure is com
pleted, the depot buildings on this side o
the river will be rebuilt upon a more mo-
dern and improved plan. But Of this We
may have something more to say hereafter
GRAND JURY OF HENRIco.-The Grand
Jury of Henrico county will continue