Worcester daily spy., 1871-08-15
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DAILY sPY.I

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, August, 1871.
From Chicago we turn towards st. Louis. As
usual in the west between chief centres there are
two or more trunk lines connecting them. In
this instance the choice is between the Illinois
Central and the Chicago, Alton and st. Louis
railways. We prefer the latter, as it is shorter,
deemed safer, and passes through Springfield
famous as Lincoln's long and last abode, and
now the shrine of thousands of travellers in the
west; and Alton, which, though small and un-
pretentious, has an important and conspicuous
niche in American anti-slavery annals, as the
place where the first chief martyr TO free speech
and liberty was murdered, and where his re-
mains are at rest. 1t is linked closely, also,
with Fanueil hall in Boston, where Wendell
Phillips first sprang to cratic renown in defence
of LovejOy and freedom against the insolence
and shameless audacity of Massachusetts, Attor-
ney General Austin. These pregnant events
link intimately Boston bay and the Mississippi.
Times shuttle will weave them still more firmly
as coming generations interchange visits be-
tween east and west.
Our schedule did not permit us to tarry at
either one; though it relieved the monotony of
the prairie, and made the 300 mile journey
pleasanter from the associations-eVen though
going at railway speed. Landing at East St.
Louis, on the east bank Of the Mississippi, we
encounter first the large omnibuses to carry us
down the bank, which is so sloping that the
passengers seem certainly to be upsetting
These busses are driven on to the ferry boat
in close row-passengers keeping their seats
We have nowhere found, or heard of, a more
disagreable or unsafe means of travel. 1t is
disgrace to the companies, and a nuisance to
the public. The only wonder is that it has been
tolerated so long. In about a year the new
bridge will be completed. The piers and abut-
ments are about done. The steel for the super
structure is being made in Pittsburg, Pa.
When complete the estimated cost is 81, ,000, 900.
The city and railway companies pay the bills.
When done it will be as great a credit to the
owners and builders as the present facilities
are discredit. If st. Louis had not been
slave mart so long, the structure would have
been in use the past ten years. No community
breathing the air of liberty would have crossed
this great river these many years in putting,
numbering old ferry boat, liable at all times to
be blown into the stream-after the recent style
of the Westfield in New York. Crossing it the
day after that terrible disaster brought it very
vividly TO mind.
1t is well, in passing, to glance at the style of
construction, and the size of this st. Louis
bridge. Comparing it with the other great
bridges in the world, we may safely say that
this is the most daring in conception and will
be the greatest in execution of any. There are
longer ones-the Brittania in England, the Vic
toria at Montreal, over the st. Lawrence, and
two in India. There are four styles OF bridges
the suspension, the tubular, lattice and arch.
This is the arch-deemed the strongest of all.
Arch bridges have endured for centuries, while
the other styles are of modern invention, and
may give way, as did the suspension at Wheel
ing, West Virginia, from the force of the wind,
alone. The difficulty in building an arch bridge
on large scale has been the length of span.
The st. Louis spans are $40 feet each-total
length 1040. The material, cast-steel, compared
in strength to wrought iron is as two to one
1t will have two stories, the lower one exclu.
sively for railways the upper for passenger, foot
and carriage travel, horse cars, &c. 1t is high
| NhOussh oDOFO hAHu WotNl oO thht thC go
steamers can easily glide under, with no need Of
draws. Thirteen railways will enter at the east
ern end, and eleven depart in all directions from
the western exit. The annual estimated income
is, from all sources of traffic, nearly 100000
from the tolls, showing it to be an excellent in
vestment, after making liberal allowances fol
repairs and additions. The builder is the Kings
ton bridge company of Pittsburg, Pa. Al
another has truly said: at will be grander thar
the COLOSSUS at Rhodes; than the Pharas at Al
exandria; yitalizing the commerce of the grea
Mississippi valley, and uniting the railway
chains between New York and San Francisco. ,
The protector and designer is James b. Eads, {
citizen of st. Louis.
On the st. Louis side arrangements are al
ready made for 4 union passenger depot, o
proportionate magnitude. 1t will be broaC
enough TO cover twelve tracks, accommodating
every road terminating at st. Louis. The train
will be run by signals, without whistlng, SO a
not TO disturb the guests in the large hotel il
the building above the tracks; and the floor
between will be deadened, so as to check th
sound. Surmounted by lofty French roof, i
which all the cooking and laundry work will
! carried on, and all the machinery for operatin