The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-16
THE NEW HARLEM BRIDGE.
Its Opcning To.Day-ConsfructIon, Dimen-
siOns and Materials.

Its Opening To.Dny-ConsfructIon, Dimen-
sions and Materials.
To-day Harlem bridge, work which has been in pro-
gess for nearly six years. will be opened for the general
transit Of foot passengers and vehicles. Tho old wooden
adjacent had existed long period that
people had begun to believe that the real bridge would
DO completed. Now however, all its various
pcs and mishaps have been safely passed through and
the handsome iron structure which spans Harlem river
IL actually &c facto
The act authorizing the building Of tho bridge was
passed on the 18th Of April 1857 the words Of which
stipulated that II should be commenced "as the
Commissioners thought it necessary" and about the
latter end OF November, $780, tho board in question
thought 1t was nearly time begin and the work was
taken in hand al that date During the progress Of
bridge Innnmerable financial and political difficulties
have beset its Want funds actually stopped
Il for time, and strikes OF the workmen engaged
upon IT have occurred ever aud The design and
structure too or the arches and uther parts
OF u have aso undergone alteration, that has
rowy escaped being an endless job. As IL now stauda
the bridge 10 built entirely OF cast and wrought IRON ex
cept the flooring Of the roadway and sidewalks which
Is OF yellow pine. The fixed spans composed or
hollow arched box tubes Of riveted plate IRON fastened
into cast iron sole pieces which locked together with
heavy chord rod OF forged IRON the latter being maine
tanned in position by many suspension rods OF
wrought iron The swing span composed also OF hol-
low box tubes OF veted plate ron tho upper tube
ing an arch extending the entire length Of the swing
span, connecting into and covering tao arches,
which extend from the central pier he channel or
the river W pore. ALI 0rCn LOD03
connect into longitudinal tube At the bottom, which
also cntends the whole length Of tho ewing span and
is curved to suit the grade OF the liked
spans. The open spans between tho major aud
MINOR tubular arches Of the swing span
filled with cluster columns and Castings The Gothic
style Of architecture The floor orders Of wrought
iron what is called the pattern, Of great strength,
and extend in solid piece the roadway, the
intervening beams be ug spiiced IN the centre and o..
tending the sidewalks On the fixed spans these
Orders rest upon the chord rods In the swing span
they riveted to the bottom OF tn, tubular girder
The abumens Of the Bird end the entire width Of
the avenue They are Of largo blocks or
limestone laid III parallel rows and faced with heavy
side built up with Of granite steps, extend
ing from the side bulks to low wafer mark, and Afford
ing convenient access to boats, while having very
handsome effect. Tho intermediate piers, supporting
river ends Of tho liked spans are formed Of cast
iron, again supported on i've graceful arch columns
twelve columns, one IN the centre and eleven In the
circle. On thu SO rest Q b avy cast IRON box grdef,
carry circular box glrdcf OF plate iron. on which
again Is fixed The swing span. lhe latter turned by
pair OF engines, and It can Also when necessary Do
turncd BY hand gear ntted for the purpose Four
easily shit II round. The engines are
adapted esther water and they will not nrss
be used with the latter power. row OF Rasamps
stud the length Of the BRIDGE which the whole
remarkably handsome structure although IL beauty
S. aonr sds ~ s rms VIII po Cleared however IN
course OF the month, and III few weeks, perhaps,
Harlem bridge will shine out n al It's glory before the
astonished vision Of those travelling into West
chester county. From the water on tho upper side
It looks remarkably well The engineer 10
Mr. Eras.us Smith, who had the charge Of The ram
Danderberg and no has been assisted In the work BY
MIR Ethan rogers. The dimensions and proportions or
the bridge foiiows:-Leng,n between abuments,
$50 feet; extreme length, including abutments, 526
feet and entire leagtn, including aDutmens, walls
and approaches $40 feet Tho width OF the road
way IL IS feet; OF the sidewalk, feet inches, and tho
entire width OF tho bridge 81 feet Tho height OF the
bridge from the surface OF tho water TO lower part OF
swing span is 20 icet. and from tho bottom Of the
columns exceeds 100 feet IDe amount oi ,asf and
wrought ron under the structure exceeds 5000 tons.
while ths masonry 5000 cubIc yards.
The entire OF the bridge somewhere approaching
million dollars although II may ba trile below that
traato.