The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-18

Twenty Feet Spanned-HOw tho Structuro
Is Laid aud Sustained-Travel Across the
Thames.
From the London Standard, Oct. 81
The Blackfrars bridge OF the future now only
awaits O final touch to make 1t complete, both as
structure and as highway Strncturaiiy T. sim,
ol the northern abutment, the Thames emoank-
ment having delayed the erection OF the plaster &C
the northwestern angle. This part OF the work,
however IL now in hand, and Is proceeding rapidly.
The paving OF the bridge both In regard TO the foot
way ami the carriage road is finished, except
small portion at eacn end. The foot pavement on
the eastern side Will be intercepted at each ex-
tremlty until the tralc on the temporary bridge II
stopped-an event which Of course cannot be
brought about until the new bridge IL thrown open
to the public. The painting OF the ironwork and the
matters AZ yet unfinished. For all practical pur-
poses the bridge will be completed In fortnight or
less from the present time.
the new bridge stretches across the river Thames
In i've arches, having therefore four piers and two
abutments. The curve OF each arch Is segmental,
that Is to say IL Ia part OF the CIRCLE differing there
fore from the eiptcal arcn. OF which notable ex-
ample Is to be found at Westminster. The centre
arch has span or 1856 feet, the arch on each side
span OF l76 feet and the two abutment arches each
span OF 1876 feet. The centre arch rises to height
Of twenty-five feet above high water mark ana the
OF each arch is part OF the circle the segment Is 50
small, IN comparison with the entire circumference,
that the arches have somewhat nat appearance, pre-
senting the utmost contrast 70 the cAvernous water
ways OF old Backfriars bridge, which, although
constituting IN eacn instance very ane gso
. bridge possessing any degree OF elegance.
Externally the piers OF the new bridge are OF gray
grante internally they are OF brickwork, built solid,
and OF enormous strength. In the Old bridge much
oil the internal space was occupied with rubble
whereby the arches were duly weighted. but which
in other respects conferred little strength ON the
structure. The great defect Of the now defunct
bridge was IN regard TO the foundations. These were
not carried TO SUFFICIENT depth. Hence the scour OF
the tide ultimately caused the settlement OF the piers
ana the breaking OF the arches, showing plainly TINT
rum was near az haad. The foundations OF the new
bridge are very differently contrved, being laid deep
III the hard London clay. This object was effected
by sinking edgewlse q number OF iron cassons,
measuring horizontally thlrty-six feet Ia length
by eighteen feet In breadth, which were forced
down through the bed OF the river until they
became liked. Four OF these caissons placed
side by sice, with slight intervals between, and
having their length lying across the stream, FUR
nish basis or each pier AT each end OF this row
OF cassons was one OF u triangular form, on which
was reared tue cutwater OF the pier. Each pier,
win It's cutwater, thus required Six caissons THESE
were sunk about twenty feet into the bed OF the
river, ana were afterwards nled with concrete ana
brckwork, as also the intervening spaces In addi-
ton these permanent caissOns. others OF tenn
porary character were introduced, and the whole
process involved the constant employment OF divers,
rs well as OF steam cnglnes the latter to pump out
the water from the Inferior OF the caissons. On this
solid mass Of ironwork concrete and Drickwork,
was LAID the combined brickwork and granite, form
Ing the supefBtrncture Of the bridge.
Conspicuous on each pier Is u column OF red
polished granite from ten TO twelve feet nigh. and
about seven feet In diameter. The small height,
In proportion TO the diameter, gives 10 these columns
peculiarly massive or compressed appearance. III
they are not ugly, and therefore deserve . more
complimentary term. Each column has highly
ornamental capital ana cornlce, and on the top OF
all comes the parapet OF the bridge, which ut
that part Ii made OF granite ana forms species OF
battlement being IN TACT recess or Day from
the pavement Of the bridge, somewhat similar to
those on London bridge, only more ornamental
In style ana semi-octanguiar IN shape. Inc base
OF each column, as well az the capital, Ii Of
extremely rich Those on the upper river side
made to represent river birds and plants, While the
capitals on the opposite OF down river side arc
preventative OF marine llfe-gus and seaweed. The
treatment IL very bold, and reflects credit on the
sculptor MT: Phillip. sprnglng rom , the piers. we
each arch, placed side by size, land .braced Trans
versely with ironwork in the usual manner The span
drills Of the arches ARC filled ia with iron lattice
work, decorated with floral bosses. The external
ironwork Will be painted II bronze green, relieved
by the gliding OF the bosses. The parapet Of tho
bridge II OF open ironWork, which also VIII be
painted bronze green. Rising from each OF the
abutments Is an enormous plaster or pedestal OF
granite, with carved cOrnce la Portland stone. Two
oil these lank each end OF the bridge or VIII do
when the fourth ID completed AZ the northwest ANGLE
Viewed from the roadway, these pedestas have .
fine effect, and suggestive OF staluary-eques-
TRAN or otherwise-wh,cn we suppose al some date
will crown9heir summit.
The architectural style OF the bridge 10 venetian
Gothic Its length Is $40 ieet and the gradient IL
one In forty. The rise Is, therefore gentle, and the
approach Is easy, even on the southern side, where
the ground dips. The breadth inside the parapets
Is 10 feet, London bridge being SO. Each pavement
Bridge 70 iegs et for the ' roadwy Tne
height OF the parapet balustradc IL moderate but
suIllcent, ayeraging ieet inches being slightly
viewing the liberal breadth OF footway and the
noble aspect OF the bridge generally, we seemed
almost presented with an antcllmax In the shape
sundry IRON cylinders, stuck vertically INTO tue
pavement. We could scarcely believe our eyes,
light this bridge werdfo be stuck on posrs after
the good odfashoned style, intrudiDg on the loot
way and obtruding themselves on the eye In
manner by no means favorable to architectural
effect. No doubt, some economy OF light will DO
achieved by thls arrangement yet IL must be poor
lamp when cannot cast its rays over half tho inter-
val or eventy 1--we feethat il TO say, about dozen
yards. Lamp Standards with lamps In groups,
would shed abundant light II placed on the parapet,
where they need not be any eyesore. II they were
In this latter position tue gas could be laid
through pipes, Independent OF the pavement. Ac-
cording " the present arrangement the pipes are
under the pavement and whenever they require
attentionS--thougn 1t may be but seldOn-some OF
the stones VIII nave to De raised Al oil times tho
iron posts VIII be an obstruction. They stand back
q foot from The roadway, and therefore practically
occupy-wnere they occur-aDout two feet out Of
the fifteen. lf fifteen feet space h not too mucu
thirteen Ieet is too ttle Concerning tho pavement
we should observe that IL IL not Jagged with gran
ite but with York stone the advantage OF the latter
material consisting IN Its afordDg a Arm hold for
tho foot, which granite does not The latter we pre-
sumo, 10 tue more permanent material; but York
stone Is said TO be very durable.
The pulling down OF tho Old bridge commenced In
June, 1854. The erection Of the new bridge began
about year iater the memorial stone being laid by
LORD Mayor Hale, III July 1895. Much dilncuity was
experienced In constructing the found ATOMS par
tculary IT the northern end, whore the bed Of the
river proved extremely unfavorabe for the work
The engineers OF the bridge Messrs. Cubitt and
Carr. The c0ntractors-b0th for pulling down the
old bridge and erecting the new ons-aro Messrs r.
and A. Thorn Co., whose engineer, Mr.. +. W. Bry-
ant has acted a. their representative In carrying
out tho works. The temporary Dridge-isself an In
genous structure-was erected by Messrs. Rennc n
Logan. The iron work used In the new bridge
between 5000 and 900 tons In Alhas been supplied
BY Mes.rA Lloyds, Fosters Co., Of Wsdnssbury. In
6tAn0rdshire.
The Thames Embankmsnt.