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

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he called To his mind the shameful manner
in which he was rearing his child. He said
that he would require them both 10 give
security for their future good behavior.
They being unable to give il, they We're
both committed. The little girls grief At
this was very great, and She went out IN
search of some one 10 release them. Is
there no asylum for this innocent young
girl Cannot 4 home be found for her :
She has shown noble traits Of character,
and We hear is recommended by those who
know her aS m industrious and smart girl.
II taken into some family ~ nurse, she
would prove useful. and would he saved
from life Of unhappincSS-pcrhaps OF
CEiIac. .,
u - - - -.
THE PLTERSBrRG RAILROAD BRIDGE
Onc of our reporters Yesterday morning,
in company with Mr.. James II. Woodcock,
the courteous and efficient general ticket
agent Of the Petersburg road. had the plea
sure of 4 walk across the immense super
structure which now spans the James
river. and viii be ready for Use by the 25th
OF this month. Though elevated an I'M
comfortable distance above terra rInlT, the
feat Of crossing from Richmond t. Man
chester upun this viaduct was accomplished
in a manner which would have done credit
10 Monsieur Blondin himself. Once or
twice during the journey. and just al those
points where the swollen stream below
seemed most threatening, the tacctiouS
agent undertook to pcrpctrate joke, but
our rcportcr-hc-wcil, he did not feel
well. and preferred not to laugh, but
rather 10 walk pcnSiyclv on and contcm-
plate the mutabiIity of-that is, examine
the immense >uperStructure.
This bridge. which has been built under
the immediate direction and Superintcnd-
cncc of Colonel Samuel Strong, Is 2.N5s
feet and seven inches in length, and Is
upon the Howe plan, with all its improve
mcnts. There are about l9 spans, varying
from about 1885, 10 lj+l, feet. making
the total length above given. The piers
on top are - feet in width. and the
surface of the water is - feet below
the top Of the rail. The timber used in
the bridge. with the exception of the
wall-rIatcS and ticS-which Is of white
ulk-iS uf seasoned white pine Of very
superior quality. The distance from the
top - the bottom Of the chords i Is
feet. and the width from outside 10 ont
side uf the chords j l6 feet. The upper
chords, "f which there are four on each
side. are : aud inches in width and u in
dcpth. The corner chords, ot which there
are four on a side. are also and + inches
in width and II in depth the ends OF the
chords At their junction are tied together
with white oak >pliceS f. inches in length.
The bottom tic-hcamS are j. feet, ana b
hy 10 inches: they cross the >uperStruc-
tllrc II the centre of each truss or panncl.
and where they cross the bottom chords
they are notchci ont about one incR and
\ halt. 80 rs to receive them. The floor
beams are ~ feet long and by IL inches
wide. and will hc laid not more than four
feet auart from centre L. centre. The
main and counter braces measure by
o., inches. and about l. feet in length.
At each bottom tic-hcam, lateral cross
braces are constructed, 50 as 10 stiff
fen the bridge against wind these cX-
tend from the lower Ia the upper chords,
and are inches square and about ~ feet
in length. Each panel j. provided with
horizontal hraceS-Onc set ~ the upper and
another n the lower chords. and are formed
of timber inches square and about IL
feet long. These rest on butt against
ca>t-iron seats or chairs. The bottom tie
beams and every tourfh-fioor beam l> Sc
cured To the chords beneath bv bolts three
fourihs oi an inch in diameter, provided
with screws and nuts. The track-StringerS
are also secured 10 the floor in like man
nrr-rach Striuger having Al least three
bolts. The iron used in the SuperStructurc
i 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 - for three pannelS, then
they diminish regularly SO aS TO he one and
A hal, inch in diameter at the centre of the
Snan. There are two main rods al the eud
OF each paunel on each side ot the bridge,
which are provided with top and bottom
plates ) inches wide, - long, and three
quarters OF an inch in thickness, and nuts
3 inches square and , inches thick. Bot
tom and t"prodS cross each pannel 81 as To
tie the chords together: they are one and
a quarter inch in diameter and Is feet :
inches long. Four bolts cross through the
top aud four through the bottom chords Of
each pannel. These bolts arc thrce-quar-
tiers of All inch in diameter.
Quite Il novel feature OF this superstruc-
ture is the permanent walkway, two feet
in width, along the inside of the lower
chords, 10 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 seye-
raj days ago, and the contractor is now
only waiting for one piece Of iron, which
was defective, 10 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, =
and the contractor, Colonel Strong, will on
that occasion act as engineer.
As soon as the superstructure is COM
pleted, the depot buildings on this side OF
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 HESRIoo.-The Grand