The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-20
BRIDGING THE HUDSON.

The Projected Highland Suspension
Bridge Between Fort Clinton and An
thongs Nose-The Work to Begin at
Once.
pension Bridge Company" chartered by the Legis-
lature OF 1868 69 has begun operations. The books
for subscription to the capital stock, which is fixed
at &2,5o0O0o, were formally opened May II, and
plans for action in preliminary matters have been
under advisement, and will be settled upon before
the close of the present month. The bridge will be
nnsned before the 4th July 1915 The location was
determined upon by the following Board of Eng-
Wright Q. A. Gilmore, f W. serreII, Egb,ert L.
Viee, Charles B. Stewart, Julius w Adams William
g. McApnen A and o. H. Barnes r., The place selected
Hudson four miles above Peekskll, and forty-three
miles from New York, across to Fort Clinton on the
west bank, four miles below West Point. This Is at
the narrowest part OF the Hudson river between
New YORK and Albany. The bridge will be in one
span OF 1000 feet from shore to shore. Comparatively
little masonry will be required in the abuments as
the solid granite mountain bases on either side
afford excellent natural supports.
The length OF the bridge between the towers will
be 1866 feet total length, including approaches 2549
workng eaS for the ralroad trains 1aoS ssfe
load for highways 26S0 tons load that would break
the bridge, rs, III tons. Two granite towers OF i'm
will rise $50 feet above the water level Over these
will be strung The upper main cables, the ends OF
which will be deeply anchored in the solid granite
mountain side There will be 20 main cables IN four
systems each cable being about Ia inches in dame
Ter ana composed OF new steel cOmDlnatlon wire
in many strandg. These cables will contain
81, 1885, $50 feet, ABOUT 7O,302 miles, The total
weight of iron and steel used will be 1850
tons, with suspended weight of 1851 tons. The
total amount of masonry will be 5S, ,0s4 cubic yards
This structure will safely support train Of sixty
cars, and 35, 900 people The amount of weight that
could be crowded on it at once viii be but one-sxth
OF its supporting capacity. There will be two decks
or floors, the upper for the railroad, the lower as
highway. The elevation above the water level Is
far higher than the taest masts OF passing vessels.
The appearance OF this great bridge will be exceed
The benefits TO accrue from this enterprise are
many and valuable 1t opens new connection with
toe whole country by which the transportation OF
delay and expense OF reshipment, and will be unn-
terrupted by ice during the winter season. For
highway convenences it will be invaluable to all the
region within thirty miles, and population OF over
100 900 will use 1t.
An Immediate connection is to be made with the
Erie Railway at or near Turner's. The distance is
but twelve miles, and the route lies through very
productive iron region, with a favorable grade to-
wards the river, at Fort Clinton. A short branch,
three miles in length will connect with the Hudson
River Railroad at Peeksktll. The direct airline
eastward the New England Railway, will continue
on TO the Connecticut State line passing near Lake
Mahepac, and crossing the Harlem Railroad at
Brewsters Thus continuous rail route be-
tween the Eastern States the Pennsylvania
coal fields and the grain tracts OF the great West,
will Obviate all the existing disadvantages of ferry
ing ana breaking bulk IL is estimated that 6,OOO 600
saving an enormous waste ana vast expense. Coal
can thus be brought by raias is the case in Phia-
delphia-drect from the mines to the retail yards.
This, OF ITSELF is an important item to New York.
The same benefit accrues in the of iron grain
general merchandise and passengers.
The freightage from the mines TO ELzabethport,
Philadelphia, or to this new bridge, is aoout the
same. From these places adding the freight by
water the shipping expenses, insurance, loss on
TWO shipments, and usual allowance or per cent.
mace by the railroad companies gives this RESULT