Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-29

How TO SPAN RIVERs-THE BRIDGE
OVER THE TENEEssEE-THE NASHVILLE
AND NORTHWESTERN RArLRo4D.-The
Tennessee river at JohnsonvilIe is being
bridged by the Nashville and Northwestern
Railroad Company, in view Of speedy di-
Eeet connection ofthis city with the Missis-
sippi river at Hickman, KY. The impor-
lance Of this connection was demonstrated
in 1859, when the city voted a large cash
subscription to the enterprise, after one of
the most thorough and decided canvasses
ever made for local improvements. The
writer of this was then member of the
City Council, and drew up report against
the subscription, on the ground that the
company failed to furnish evidence that the
enterprise possessed other means sufficient,
with this aid, to finish the undertaking in
the time expected and promised Great
events have since transpiFed, and the delay,
which majority Of our peopledid not then
expect, is fully accounted for. Since the
war the Intelligent management of the road
have relaxed no exertion to carry out the
original enterprise, and we are happy to
announce that it will soon be completed.
From Hickman, in this direction, to its
junction with the Memphis and Louisville
road at Mckenzie Station, distance of
fifty-two miles, the road is completed
Thence to Huntingdon the work is progress
ing, and will be finished by the 18th of
December, proximo. From Huntingdon
to Camden the work is going on, and the
roadway from Hickman to Camden will be
manning distance from Camden to John
sonville is only eight miles, and brief pc
riod of timeand labor only win be required
to complete the connection between Nash
vile and the Mississippi river at Hickman
the bridge over the Tennessee being the
chief work-total distance one hundred
and seventy-one miles.
The bridge at JOhnsonville, spanning the
Tennessee river, will be about ], 800 feet in
length, and will be constructed on the Howe
Truss plan. There will be eight piers with
two abuttments additional, and the whole
will be erected at a cost of S250,000. The
first pier-stone was dropped to its place on
10th July last, and the work has steadily
advanced, and is still going forward. 1t
will be finished by the lst of March next.
The masonry is Of the most substantial
character, the stone being two feet six
inches thick. four to ten feet long, bound
together by strong headers, and the whole
solidly united with a grout of hydraulic
cement. The stone is procured some thirty
FIVE miles above on the river, and from
Newsom's Quarry on the limo of the road.
The latter is the finest We ever saw, fur
nishing imperishabie blocks of any desired
length, from two feet four to two feet six
inches in thickness. The timbers for the
bridge are of the finest yellow pine, which
are obtained in the neighborhood of Rome,
Ga. The "Draw" win be on the West
side, covering the channel, not far from the
shore. 1t is being constructed at Chicago,
and will be fashioned on the most approved
plan. The entire work is two-thirds fin
ished, and will be one of the handsomest
bridge structures in the Union.
The manner in which we obtained these
interesting facts is explained by the polite
invitation to us of Colonies Innes and
Claiborne to join the officers of the road,
together with Mayor Brown and few
other gentlemen deeply interested in such
subjects, in the excursion to Johnsonville,
on Tuesday, to inspect the work. For the
interesting details we are indebted to L.
Hutchinson, Esq, Engineer in charge, and
to Mr. Flannery, Contractor. For the
creature comforts, with which we were so
literally supplied, We take pleasure in &C
knowledging our obligations to Capt Geo.
White, Of the wharf boat. 1t twas a most
pleasant and instructive excursion, and
facts ELECTED give assurances that within
few months we Shall be in direct connec-
ton with the father of waters by the North
western Railroad. lr. ~ .Has