New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-21

sTprRsTRUCTURE-LONG sPANS-ESTIMATED
COsT-PROBABLE PRoFITs.THE COMPANY
The following description OF the great Driqge
now building at ST. Louis written for the New-l0r
Handles Zeitung by lido Brachy0gel, one OF the pest
German writer's of this country who at esehI one OIL
the editors OF the st. Louis WeSHiche foSI 0eator
The Pt proposition to build bridge over the Mssis
sppi River at St. Louis made In the year 1850 ana IN
1851 the Missouri Legislature passed an act incorporating
COMPANY i0r tna e5 ~ 49,, roTnany was Organized
under q charter. company was also fOrneu ul-
der charter from Illinois, and bitter contest was
waged between the two corporations IN court ana out as
to which should enjoy the privileges ana pear tuS to
spOnsibes of the enterprise. The battle resulted III
consolidation of the two companies III FeDrury io I'm
June Of that year special act OF Congress
nder tbe name Of the illinois and ST. Louis Bridge
Company" Charles X. Dickson is Presidents Robert
treasurer James b. Eads Chief Engineer, and John A.
Dillon secretary The directory CONSISTS W 81 I
John r. Lionberger, Wm Taussig John O. C0peln, Bar
ton Bates James H. Brton Gerard b. Allen SGsa
Fogg, Robert Lenox Kennedy Scion Humphreys, MOTIFS
The last four names Of the directors belong to New
The Engineer, Captain James B. Eads may be called
the t Sd c aad Ii s fortune before the Rebe5n and
after the war began he achieved natlona tePtt
ton by his energy in building the Mississippi Meet OF
iron-clads which much the national success de-
pended. - - $1,000,
The locality at the river chosen for the bridge is
of the strangest and most exciting KIND along te
banks extensive workshops, heaps OF heWn Stone
beams iron work, and cement barrels forges oSes ana
soi Of miracle and finally the lofty UNDERSTANDING
machines the shore piers which are in progress OF
construction inside of strong cassons In the midst
5i5 feet distant from each other, we see
the same fc9odng only more their s cSp
size aordng an elegant spectacle In their w9nderin
symmetry Structures OF all kinds ana palisades that
the current of the river and more particularly the Oat
tiOns hat r bosom
buildngyards shore they crowded with engineers
and woTkmen whose sefconscious ability is infinitely
Increased by the enormous mechanical powers which
stand ready for at every step in the form OF floating
derricks steam engines, pumps and hydraulic jacks.
These are the buildng-yard OF the two piers.
The Investigations in regard to the undercurent OF the
Mississippi have shown that no river in the world
changes It's sandbed rapidly and to such an extent
and the soundnys that made near ST. Louis showed
may be carried away depth of feet and under
extraordinary circumstances secured down To the very
Thus was demonstrated the necessity of laying the
basis Of the piers upon the rock which under one PIER !,
OF the surface OF the water. nasnuch on the other
hand, as the law Of Congress made in the interest OF
navigation prescrbes that the night OF the arches shall
be 80 feet above the average hight OF the river the entire
hight Of the piers must be las and TIA feet respectively
SINKING THE PIERs-THE AIRCHAMBERs.
The system by which the base laid upon the rock is
G ana 81 nk npcn He sE se W with the
ing weight OF the piers built on top OF tneI ana whch
the sand under them is removed to the upper world
sink deeper and deeper, this lowering is effected. In
order however to render the caissons which IN spite or
ton might not be able TO Withstand te pressure OF the
growing masonry and the of sand that press against
iv ,neana 81 enormons air-nnmps is compressed in
them in such manner that their power or resistance
When the casson OF airchamber strikes upon the rock
THAT is, when the sand pumps working in IL have re-
moved the gigantic layers of sand through which had
to penetrate and when the pier that rests on the casson
Is separated only by the air-chamber from the rock
the indissOuble connection between pier and rock
when the last particle Of compressed air in the archam
her has given place this indesructbe compound Of
cement and stone all that remains to be done Is TO NIL
up in similar manner the s9a tbs We9
world and the whole structure Of the pier stands in solid
compaetness Incorporated with the rock far below:
Both the eastern and western piers have now reached
THE STEEL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SPANS.
Is laid down in the plan that the portion Of the piers
above water, exposed to the action of the air. shall be
from the rock certain point under the lowest water
shall he built from limestone blocks from Grafton quarry
IS feet in diameter The two land abutments, on the
shores Of Illinois and Missouri Of similar solidty and
structure upon Which the bridge itseif viii rest They
viii carry three arches which VII measure-those ef
SIS feet.
Cassteel will be the material Of these arches Each
OF them will be double that is TO say, will consist OF two
concenrc arches 60 feet apart and joined together by
double arches will be stretched four and four running
parallel with each other from pier to pier Upon their
lower OF these stories is intended for the railways the
upper belongs TO vehicles and foot passengers Being
80 feet wde both will afford space enough to satisfy the
demands OF the liveliest traffic Meanwhile underneath,
the largest steamers when the water Is at It's high
est, may pass.
THE APPROACHES TO THE BRIDGE.
The street leading directly to the Observation-Disclosures
ave-is OF the broadest and finest in St. Louis Like
the whole Of the ST. Louis shore slopes rapidly when IL
approaches the IL will he sufficient, therefore, 10
proOng the bridge which rises about so feet above tho
shore, comparatively short distance-three bockslO9
feento city order that its level may equal that
OF Washing yiaduct of 81 arches under when
the traffic of the streets below may be carried on
unObstructedy, will form the continuation OF the BRIDGE
and will be OF the same hight and breadth
At the end OF ii the high level road will pass into
Washngtonaye., which stu continues to RISE whereas
the low level road with its railways will into tu
mel feet In length, which passes under large por
ton Of the city, and terminates at spot where the
great ST. Louis Central Railroad depot will be erected
The tunnel will be IS feet wide and II feet high With
the approach the bridgeoye the HAT marshy ground
whatever to do Dykes and trestes, branching of
cordng To the convenience Of the different railroad com
pamies To north SOUTH east will complete the connec
ton with the bridge
THE CASH CAPITAL sUBsCRIBED-PRoBABLE PROFITS.
And what will this gigantic w0Tk-measung from the
Illinois abutmen 10 Washmgton-aye IN ST. Louis, 2,230
feet-costl We give the estimates:
superTucure pliers and ahu,men $4,000 90
superuu sches and roads for tTafc.... 04la %
oZO5JI "a
Tunnel 4lO4Il %
appropriations. 5eh0 %
Total expense Sti9d953 %
or this capital s3OC0000 81 100000 In ST. Louis, the rest
In New York; have already been subscribed and the out
lay up TO the present moment l. VI 100000.
The estimate OF Tho traffic OF ~ rlw east and west
which will be the total number finished and In operation