, 1870-11-22
THE ST. LOUIS BRIDGE.

THE ST. LOUIS BRIDGE.
GuktnE OF thc Catsson-ExcatlnE Ac-
cadei1t la the Air Chuu,bes.-tro-
vseAg Of the Work at the Enst
Il Abuttnent.
From tA. st. Louia Republican, Sop. 20.
Tho great work of laying tho foundations Of
he east abutment pier Qf the bridge ls nov
tlrly commenced. Tho temporary bottom of
he immense caiseop, attached far the purpose
If enabling it 10 be towed to the sits Of the
1lert Has removed without difficulty during tho
easly part OF last week, and the laying Of ma
sonry was commenced on Thursday. Yesterday
The cutting edge Of the cRissou On the west
4ide bad reanhed the sand Ut the bottom Of the
river, but wa5 few fset from it 1t other
parts. The pressure OF air in tho chamber ia
about four pounds and half to the aquAre
iuch, but it will soon Ia much higher, "a tho
proceeds eteadily and rapidly.
A considerable portion OF tho hEst couree OF
tie masonry Is laid, and it iB quite Al inter
esting study to watch Tho PROCESS Of oper1-
tons. Tbs bloeka Of Limestone are generally
ofigreat size, bus are handled with wonderful
are affixed to the blocks rs they lie on ths
barge. the euca Of the hooks fitting tha ho1es
prepared On both rides Of each block, so that
tbe1s ia no danger Of elipplug. At q word
given, the rope descending from the traveller
IL drawn up and the stcne block Is suspended
horizontal wire rope track far overhe I'd are aet
in iuotinn, and the stone movea forxard over |
the caieBon, ard IL loxe1ed At the exact spot !
allotted on the bed Of mortar laid on the iron |
foor. Here it ia fitted into the other blocks !
slreAdy made, and where it will re It for ages.
As great carc IL taken wlth these lower courses |
Of matonry, as with those destined TO sustain |
the influences Of tho water and air. The
stones nEe chosen and shaped with close at-
ttntion TO the requirements necessary, and
1..l En- a@$
msss Of rock-1ike solidity.
As the caisson sinks deeDer and deeper With
the increasing weight Of the masonry. m 1ch
care IL necessary to make the iumeEaiun uni
form in all parts. Accurate soundings are
minutes or 80 by Mr. Mccomas, auperintend-
ent, and a level surface to the iron floor Ia
preserved by adiussing the weight of the
maeonry, laying Etone It such points - are
necessary to create nm equAble downward
pressure. The handling Of the heavy blocks
Of stone Within the iron walls Of the caisson
would seem to be work liable to frequent ao-
| cidrnt. The breaking Of ropeor the slipping.
| OF hook might 1t any moment make bloody
! pulp OF some of the men at work, but all pos
sible precautions are taken to prevent
tho bridge works haro been s,ngo-
larry FREQ from such mishaps. That il
dcnbiless owing to proper system being OBJ
sesved ii the operations, and using only te
best material IN the machinery aud imrle.
ments- Excepting, OF course, The effects Of
tho compressed air on sone Of ths workmen,
,lnsirg the work in the east pier air humber,
only ono or tEo Acc'dentB have occurred eiuce
the commencement OF the bridge wotEs. 4
few men have been drowned. owing to their
own ealeleesness, but We ellude to accidents
proper. It Is confidently anticipated that the
foundations Of the east abutment will be con.
stlucted without any serious consequences
from the compressed air, as the expetlence
gained at the other piers establishes the fact,
that when the proper precautions are taken
and the proper men selccted. Ill effects from
working in the air chamber arc almost entirely
prevented.
4 visit to tho interior Of the caisson reveals
: rcene Of busy industry that is almost be
wi!deriug. Here arc men laying the ms:ourY
pushing and showing around an immense
, ttonc, o. spreading the gray soft mortar bed
for a coming block. Tue iron walls are beiuf
built up and also the iron partitions which ral
ar1oss tho cAiseou to strengthen 4. Thi
! hanmering, while At small portable furnace
. l.oys arc heRtiug the Tivets usctf, to whit
/ heat These fire-bAlls are being tossed abol
! in all directions 10 the men 81 work on N
' iron, and visitor has TO be wary Or dautn
Q fragment may daeh against him at any nc
ment. although the imps who heat tho bullet
o ara generally acnurAte In their aim for the SAT
q p4 hts detifed. Overhead thcre is creakin
- 'of blocks and = clankiuG OF chaan'
; uhiio the s1cam-like Hiss OF escApin
ls sud the rush Of til, machinery driving tn
II large aiS 1,,,ups compiete the chorus. 4
It Urereut everything ID tight and dry in tt
J. caisxon. tho descent to the air.lock is only
70 fAw feet,E and there are none Of the gloom
70 horrors id the spaeioua ehAit which thos
D. Who visIte d the air chamber Of the east ME
vi On near tba rock, may remember. Tn
of caieson il Incorporates various improvement
v over the former ouea used, which actusl e.
In tnal experience suggested The leskaEes
air developed up to tho present are .Fit,in ia
gives eyiderce Of having been thorough
ct well devised and put together
At preF8nt the caiEeOn has *nteSJ has
nj and the men in the chamber walk on stag!'
fastened to tue sides and ceiling but IN q e
days moro the cutting edge will have entet
the bottom Of tho river all round. and
i'll lloor viii be dry and yielding sand.
he In this connection We must mase soc
1is mention Of rather exciting accident in
air chamber, which occurred last week y
ing to the fact Of tho ca,sson being bottoo1
les. except by dark and rushing water, !
tin McComas, superintendent Of tho work: 81
ell or,]ers that no visitors should DO admitted
ler the air chamber. This order, however, v
ter no, considered 20 stringent but dispen'
&c lion took place in referooce to o. party oi g
/. 4 the ST. Nicholas Hotel, who camc over to I
uf- uicr fsr The express purpose OF penetzAti
ory ile my.te1ies Of the air chamber. The pei
1ch Of lha rieit we're culy reheatssd to tho VI!
'vn crs, but they wern entirely undaunted.
lud tive sir cbAmter they nus1, ana 81 tnes sn
, = cd to make the tsir. under tho direction
wn the forsm1n. THIS All pressure tneonvenien
ntil l No cue, and In 4 minute the elliptic
1cs slared door swung open, and
ont parry stepp.d into the As chant M
.a4 Ves tee roea .apih i1k stasa, ,sote two
d entering, Mr. Jennings, probably confused ssl
put the abrupt change from light TO heaEy gtot
ap- slipped ID the planks, md plunged into
ado water, which was about ten feet deep, VI n
on swift current. This accident naturally tn
< in everybody into wild excitement. Aad U
yity not been prompt and sctive man Tresen
her The person Of the foreman, the results N
,oat ! haye been setions- He throw himself d
was fat on the staging. and, e or. ,,;sa sennn
ssy where he fell tu, he caneht him, and in I
giih Tim vu,hy hotetkeeper. minus his hat,
her soaked with water. hut net otherwise q
I'd q | aged, WAS hauled out OF danger, This nnit
It is naturally created feeling aSnnat N,
hich chamber, and the party returned % INC
| tho of dav, having seen quite enough OF
apce rlsee. When the cai=son has reached the
uniformly, any reEils Of this kind. eltht
yisi.crs or workmrn. vii be impossible.
Re- The operations II tl1e bridge are rot II
of The approaches on this sids OF the five
~ tn is,il and the liers ara built up some dat
pres. from the surface Of the ground. Up 70
IN .terept thev have been constructed OF
sim Missouri granite. and in their tactnss
n. X fciutipgs are fine specimens OF sohd. con
bteu | masonry. The Foundation Q, the aitn
onr rrcach pi,r. the sight Of whach is IN u:
Can Of 1be ievee eahutnhs. pAs ~. -. ~ -,
ThS | full title to the gyoupd. In the Approaed
~. | nca1 est to the atutmcnt. the work of l
inIcst 1te 6ret couree of Missouri sandstone hAA
SEC commented. and the Light G.ayish White
onts contrasts veil Win me polh en ~ "a ~,
sigu fEeulte- 1he eanosnus ns nu 70 .N.a
Ants) tanc hrtEht OF ~ tIeso epploI
,dred So that there viii be harmony Of color
oaSht rsone Of the piers md regularity OF on
{ Nc the sbutments md river piota wln - G.
S 1EeB eBB S1ptS plSe an ~ 1es e't
ouse | Ing the blocks OF stone, psl1fcn!at1y III
It tho tericr onee Of tho pifzs, great caro- u
I WAS with the JOINTS. they being uaAdo As clio
Eor Of possible. In several instances Captain
ad no has caused the rejection Of stones after
to re- bad been 4;ted II the m...en,y, ~. on aseo
bring forming vide totnts- Attention to thet
United tails IL absolutely NECESSARY to insure
,nduct iehAhle soliditr- II joints are not made
utt Of | the mortar works AWAY in course OF tin
ion Of 1nits water, and the subsequent effect Of
es on | causes displacement Of the stones and z
grant. deterioration ot the masonry.
hich is ZEAL 6srATE
,eident
Those WMrantee deeds, conveying city and guR
tier at property within seven mIles OF the Court
+ bont hled ior record On Non.lAJ. November 81.
est OF South Part ~, 100 It OF Twenty third IT.
but ~ WI, 7ax19n II, SoE- l0:....- ..........
struck Txenty,sIxst1n. n,h c@ n ., aoaaan 81. q
Kss.aie sssa < 4 sie ii H's: & q auddaa i,