Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-05-25

Shops and houses stood upon
the bridge until 1857, when
they were demolished. The
bridge was rebuilt in 1910; in
1897; in 1853 of stone in 1909
926 feetin length; and in 1881,
the present structure being the
sixth which has stood on or
near the spot. The first struc.
ture was destroyed by the,
Norwegian Prince Orlaf, the
second was swept away by a
food; the third was burnt
The present structure cost up.
ward of two millions Of dollars.
1t has been the scene of the
most remarkable event in the
history of the city of London.
1t is frequently alluded to by
Shakespeare. 1t was the only
bridge across the Thames, un-
til 1850, when Westminster
bridge was built, Blackfriara
bridge was opened in 1909;
rebuilt in 1869. VAuXhall in
1916; Waterloo, 1926 feet III
length, in 1917, and Southwark
in 1919.
The Britannia bridge over
Menai Strait, connects Caernar-
Won with Auglesey, and is
l,1QO feet from shore to shore,
1t is tubular bridge resting
on piers. An island rock, $50
feet long, stands in the center
of the strait, upon which the
ends of the tubes rest. 1t is
considered a great triumph Of
engineering skill.
The ancient Peruviaus built
their bridges of the "maguey'
or osier of the country, which
had an extreme degree of te-
nacity and strength. These
osiers were woven into cables
of the thickness of a mans
body. The huge ropes, then
stretched across the water, were
conducted through holes cut in
immense buttresses of stone
raised on each bank of the Iiv.
er, and there secured to the
natural rock or heavy pieces
of timber. Plank were laid
transversely across the cables,
and Notwithstanding the light
and fragile appearance Of the
bridge, as it swung at an ele-
walton Of several hundred feet
above an abyss, afforded a tol-
cradle safe means of communi,
cation for men and heavy bur.
dens of artillery, The length,
sometimes exceeding two hun,
dred feet, caused it to dip with
an alarming inclination toward
the center, while the motion
given to it by the passenger
occasioned an oscillation still
more frightful, as his eye wan
dered over the dark abyss of
water beneath. These ridges
were twenty feet in width,
with a railing formed of the
same material.
The first stone bridge, with
an arch, built in the United
is said to be the "Cho-
ate" bridge, across the Ipswich
River. 1t is still in existence.
1t was erected in 1854 by Judge
Choate, and was called, before
it was open to the public, Cho-
ate's folly. A bridge was pro-
posed to be built across Charles
River, in 1920, but it was look
ed upon as Quixotic. In 1856,
the first bridge over Charles
River was built at Charlestown,
1903 feet long, and AZ feet
broad, and stood upon rs piers,
and cost $4,000. 1t was re-
built in 1856. Maiden bridge
was built in 1887; West Bo8-
ton bridge was built in 1893,
and is 3,403 feet in length
Chelsea in 1903; Craigie's in
1904; Warren in 1928, and
cost $4,000. The Niagara
Falls, 900 feet in length, and
the Cincinnati bridge, 1,1O0
feet in length, are both con.
structed Of wire, and consist Of
a single span each. The East
River bridge, now in course Of
construction, is 5,862 feet in
length, and 80 feet broad, and
consists of three spans, two Of
~ n