The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-26
THE sTRIVER BRIDGE.
Tho Greatest Project OF the Age

The project OF Mr.. Roebling, the famous en-
gineer and suspension bridge builder, for unit
ing New York and Brooklynyby spanning the
East River, has been approved by the commits
sion appointed to examine it, and it is said
that the work will be at once commenced.
The first operations will be upon the Brook.
lyn side, near the Fulton Ferry. where excaye-
tions will be made, ninety-seven feet, down tC
the rock upon which the foundations or the
abutn.ent towers will be laid. Digging on
Pier NO. 20, East River. Rock is there found
at one hundred and seven feet. The new bridge
will be striking and graceful feature OF
the s will
or about a mile and one ninth; but these figures
may vary slightly when the termini become
settled. The New York terminus will either be
on chathamstpee an opposite the Regsters
in Brl oklyn will pc near tho junction Of Main
and Fulton-streets. The structure will thus
overtop many houses VIII ich are situated upon
viii! be suspended in thred openings, two Of
which will be on land, and one, Of 1860 feet,
over the water. The floor will be both fire and
water proof, and will serve a. root to the houses
and stores beneath. Its width will be eighty
feet within the the ratings, equal to Broadway,
and will be divided INTO five spaces, marked by
six lines of iron trusses, INDEPENDENTLY of side
walk Of six feet on each side.
AS the now DTluRo Will WeIgn 54SJ tons, being
far more than twice as heavy and wide as anY
other structure of the kind in existence. the
jar upon it will be scarcely perceptible, and the
most violent winds will be powerfess against II.
Its weight in the daytime will be perpet ually
augmented by more or less cars, carts, animals.
and human beings. The ma xmum weight Of
these, if covering the entire surface would be
1870 tons, but an average of about 400 tons
may be calculated on. Two passenger tt aims
Of cars upon eteel rails will run backward and
forward over the bridge alternately. They
will be attached to an endless wire rope,
propelled by stationary engine on the
Brooklyn side. Their speed may be at
twenty or thirty miles an hour without injury
above high tide will be one hundred and thirty
feet, and vessels. the upper masts Of which
exceed that measurement, will be required to
lower them on passing, which can be easily
done. Prominent features Of the work will be
the towers on each side Of the river. Their
length at the base will be one hundred and
thirty -four feet, and extreme width fifty-six
feet. Their heigth to the roof will be two hun
dred and sixty eight feet, at which point the
length will be reduced TO one hundred and
twenty feet, and the width to forty feet.
The estimated cost OF the bridge is to be
$6,675 1857, without the purchase Of real estate
81. 900 600. or this S., ,O0O 600 have been aised-
5000 900 by the Brooklyn Common Council,
81 800 900 by that of New York, and $500, 900 bv
private subscription. When the work will have
become far advanced, through the expenditure
Of the $5, 600 900, it will be easy to issue bonds
for the remaining sum needed.
The Union Fcrry Company are now trans I.
porting 40 .O00, 600 persons annually across the
East River.