The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-03-11
Correspondence of the Chicago Times:
The st. Louis Bridge.
SpRINGFIELp, H., March

1t is somewhat strange, after all the efforts
made by Missouri capitalists and others, that
tho immense structure which will span the
Mississippi river at St. Louis will virtually
be built by an Illinois company and by Hi
neis contractors, and that thus the skill and
enterprise of the Prairie state will overcome
that which the older community of St. Louis
has struggled for years to surmount. | some
time since sent you the names of the officer
of the new company, but win here repeat
them. They are L. b. Boomer, Chicago,
president; r. P. Tansey, Alton and St.
Louis, secretary. Directors: L. B. Boomer,
". Il. Morrison, George Judd, c. Beckwith
and r. P. Tansey.
The entire length of the bridge win be .
700 feet. The lowest part of the main spans,
or bottom chord, viii be not less than 90 feet
above the city directrix indicating the high
est watermark) at the great span. There
Will be two spans over the main steamboat
channel of $50 feet each, in the clear, not
including the abutments. The remainder oi
the spans over the main river will not be less
| than 2e0 feet each, and probably will be
80 feet each. There viii be two spans from
the Missouri shore of the river overthe levee
and it viii probably be found necessary to
bridge at least two streets, besides the above,
on the ST. Louis side, before coming to a
level grade. A portion of the slough on the
| Illinois side will also be bridged. The total
length of the bridge over the main channel
| OF the river viii be about 1000 feet: The
total length of bridging over the streets in
| St. Louis and over the slough on the Illinois
shore viii be about 700 fee1-thus making
the entire length Of the bridge, as above
about2, 200 feet. The superstructnre Mill be
built of iron, aud on Posts patent plan.--
The railway viii consist of two doubfe-tracb
carrlage-ways and one singie-traek railway
with tracks on the latter to accommodate
the difiereHt gauges efthe railroads center
ing at SIS ixeass.- Tle railway traek viii rus
between the rwo Carriage traeks,-the latter
at the ends passing under the railway,which
| viii run over them vn ibrdges, thus Keeping
the carriage and railway tracks from all in
| reference with each other. Thus there will
in reality, be three bridges over the river
abreast of each other, which is equivalent &c
a single.track bridge s, 100 feet long. In al
dition to the carriage and railway trssoiSs
there viii be two sidewalks, six feet wide
each, one at each side of the bridge. The
masonry viii be of the most substantial and
massive character and description The
main piers will be from 100 to $50 feet high
| from the foundations, and viii be 60 fee
| long on top, and Z to & feet wide,s with
proper batten to their foundations. The
foundations will be very expensive, and i
msy be found necessary to use pneumatic
| piles but It is hoped that the ordinary pile:
will be found sufficient. Ii so, they viii b.
| firmly driven, sawed off at the bed of tn,
river or top of foundation, and the masonr,
lowered in iron caissons to its place.
| The approximate cost ofthe entire astruct
ure, it is estimated. will be about $5,000,000
although this cannot be determined until a
thorough examination is made OF. the bed o
| the river, by. corps of engineers in a few
| DAYS. EEsss-- IS ss-. szkk esTsseKs
We learn that Messrs. Drexel & Co., O
Philadelphia, and Messrs Jay Cook 4 Co.
are interested financially in this undertaking
| and that there is no doubt Whatever but tina
the enterprise is already placed upon, such
basis as will insure that it viii be undertaken
Immediately, aud completed with Ithe leas
/ possible delay. Mr.. Boomer, the great bridg
/ baikser of your city, has put this shoulder t
the work, and intends to make it virtually a
enduring monument of his skill and enterprise
With him there as no such word as FAIL