Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-16

KNOT AND LINCOLN RAILROAD.

KNOB AND LINCOLN RAILROAD.
A correspondent of the Rockland Free
Press is furnishing that paper some interest
ing articles in relation to the Knox and Lin
coin Railroad. We copy the following from
his last letter:
1.-TWO miles from the depot in Woolwich,
lies beastiful sheet of water known ~ Lake
Nequasset, which is crossed nearly at the
centre by the road; it is at this point where
commences that series of bridges which
should be the pride of the engineer, and which
command the admiration of all for their ad-
mirable proportions and the skill exhibited in
their construction. It should, however, be
borne in mind that the original estimates were
for pile bridges, where now exist the most
costly structures.
| NEQUAssET.
To obtain foundation for this bridge is
probably the most ingenious piece of work on
the line. but not of the greatest magnitude
An attempt to pile discovered the fact that at
a depth Of one hundred and forty-three feet
below the bed of the lake no solid bottom was
to be had. After careful examination the en-
gineer determined to construct piers OF SOLID
masonry, resting upon q well devised system
of cribs, consisting of twenty three, placed
at proper intervals, each crib being ballasted
with even hundred tons of stone, and left
sufficient length of time to settle all this
weight would effect. When as firm in place
as possible, four hundred tons Of the bsilast
was removed from each, this quantity being
regarded as ample to cover the weight Of the
pier, snperstructure, track and any possible
weight that might arise from any passing train.
The tops are foored over with solid timber.
and when ready to receive the pier, are one
foot below the lowest water level. thus pre-
venting decay. Having in this manner OBJ
tanned foundation, the work of building the
piers was successfully accomplished; not,
however, without some doubt on the part of
many, but the result has shown that the plans
Of the engineer were well and skillfully ma
tured.
The length of the BRIDGE over all, is eight
hundred and twenty-three feet, composed Of
five hundred and eighty feet of Howe Truss"
and two hundred and forty y-three feet of tres
tie. The train passes over the top at an ele-
vation from the water of twenty feet. Ex-
perience has demonstrated that foundations
obtained in this way increase in frmness with
the lapse of time, by the oozing in of mud
and the Interviewing of the roots of the grass
es ever growing in fresh water with the mate
rial Of which they are constructed Trains
have now passed and repassed over this bridge
since last November, occasioning no percep-
tible DETECTION, and warranting the assump-
ton that 1t is perfectly safe. think you can
readily imagine that this foundation was only
secured after great care in its adjustment,
and great labor in its construction. Four
miles from this point brings us to
MoNTswEAG.
This is small rivulet, which you will rec
ollect we used to cross in going by stage, at
Of hale
between Wiscasset and Bath. The stream Of
itself is of no great significance, but a. the
road crosses it at an elevation of forty 1.-TWO
feet, it requires bridge of two hundred and
forty-seven feet in length, approached by
high embankments. The surface in this
! vicinity is all ledge, consequently no Difficult
ty was experienced in securing excellent foun-
dations tor the abutments and piers, which
are of solid masonry. The centre span is
Howe Truss one hundred and fifteen feet long,
''decked," resting on two piers, the spans at
either end dre triangular trusses, and are re-
spectively sixty nine and sixty three feet long
the in-shore end resting on high abutments,
and the outer ends on the top of the central
span; so that the train passes through the
spans at either end, and over the top of the
central span.
1t is unique, and from its elevation fine
view may be had of it, and 1t is justly regard
ed as one of the prettiest bridges on the line.
Passing on four miles further brings us to tile
western shore of the harbor of Wiscasset,
and to
HoBsoN's.
This bridge derives its name from being
built through Hobson's mill pond. at Wiscas-
set. 1t is seventeen hundred feet long, ex-
tending from the western shore to the COM
mencement of the sea-wall near the Custom
l 10 brtl Or nil anl
be regarded as an excellent piece Of work of
its kind, though what with the action Of
worms and its exposure to the weather will
be its existence is easily to be foreseen. The
construction of this kind Of work is so well
understood will take up no further space in
explanation; so we will proceed few hum
dred feet along the water front and across the
heads of the wharves of the village, and We
are at the Wiscasset depot; and it 10 from
this point that begins that succession of
bridges which are the marvel Of the road, and
have cost hundreds of thousands Of dollars,
and delayed its completion many months,
description of which, however, am remind
ed by the length of this letter. must be de-
ferred to another time. Meanwhile, will
give you such information of the
PROGRESS
of the road the past week, as ! have been able
to gather. In my last we left the rails at
Georges River bridge W ednesday night, await
ing the putting in place Of the draw. This was
accomplished and the rails extended across
the bridge on Monday. During the suspen-
sion track-laying the crew were taken
back on the line to aid in surfacing up, thus
fastening, rather than delaying, the extension
of the assenger train to Thomaston.
The prospect of an early completion Of the
Georges River bridge is now very encourag-
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