The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-13
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The great bridge across the Mississippi
river at St Louis, promises to be, when
completed, one Of the gtandest NOM
menb Of engineering skin and genius in
the world. Between the abutments It
will consist Of three steel arches, each Of
about five hundred feet span, resting upon
massive piers Of solid masonry. Mr.. Jas.
B. Fad, the chief engineer, has issued a
very interesting report of the progress
which has been made in this great under.
taking. Among those which most iorci.
bly, illustrate tho powero Of science toover.
come difficulties which would. seem al.
mostinsurmountable are some relaliug TO
the constructionzof thosRest abutment,
which OF the date Of the report had been
completed from the bedTockof the river
TO a point3l feet above low water mark,
q height OF A feet altogether. Although
the bed rock at the site Of this abutment
Is 73f feet higher than at the east pier, the
difficulties encountered In building It's
foundation were more serious than at any
Of the others. It's site has been for over
sixty years part Of the steamboat land.
ing Of the city, and as such had received
every kind Of useless material thrown
overheard from the various steamers lying
over It during that time. The old sheet.
iron euveloping their furnaces, worn out
crate bars, old fire bricks, parts oismoke.
stacks, with coal .cinders, clinkers, and a
mass oil heterogeneous substances, formed
o deposit averaging twelve. feet il
depth over the rock. Not only lEWeFe
these miscellaneous distractions In the
way, but the Golfer dam constructed 70
enclose the site had TO be put down
through the wrecks Of no less than three
steamboats,, which were imbedded in the
sand. the bulk Of either (Which was moi
probably Of less than 400 tons measure
menL From the enclosure within the
dam were taken parts oil several old and
burnt steamboat engines, the iron parts OIL
some OF which had TO be cut OF; foul
wrecks Of barges, some OF them probably
in use before the era Of steam; likewise
several oak saw logs, some anchors
chains, and variety Of smaller articles
This homogeneous deposit made it exceed
ingly difficult TO maintain the integrity O.
the dam, and frequent floodings occurred
which delayed and increased the cost o
the work; but all difficulties were sur
mounted, and the bed rock within wa
finally exposed TO view. Tho piers were
sunk by means Of caiSsons, compressed
air, and sand pumps, similar in many re-
spects TO those in use for the East River
bridge. The east pier Of the St. IOui!
bridge mad on the LIST OF October beer
carried up to the height Of LII feet above
the bed rock on which 1t rests, about q
feet above the level Of the water at tina
time. II measures at lis base, In tho direc
tion Of the current, 80 feet, and transverse
ly GO feet. This pier was placed on TIT
rock In 1870 days alter the laying Of thI
first stone, work being suspended on |
during twenty days Of this time on &c
count of bad weather. The west abut
ment Of the bridge when completed 4
tho carriage way will be lis feet higl
above the bed rock OF the river, and vii
contain II 500 cubic yards Of masonry.