New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-20
BRIDGING THE HUDSON.

THE PROJECTED HIGHLAND SUSPENSION BRIDGE
BETWEEN FORT CLINTON AND ANTHONY'S
NOsE-THE WORK TO BEGIN AT ONCE.
1t is announced that the Hudson Highland
Suspension Bridge Company chartered by the Legsa-
ture of 1s6s69 has begun operations The books for
subscriptions TO the capital STOCK which is fixed at
S25OOOOO were formally opened May IT, and plans for
action in preliminary matters nave been adopted The
contracts Tor material and work are under adj
visement, and will be settled upon before the
close Of the present month. The bridge will be com
menced early in the Summer, and will probably be
finished before the 4h of July 1875 The location was
determined upon by the following Board of Engineers;
Horatio Allen George B. Mcclellan, II. g. Wright, @ A.
Gilmore E. w. Serrel Egbert L. Viele, Chas b. Stewart
Julius W Adams, VIM. j. McAlpine, and o. II. Barnes
The place selected from Anthonys Nose the east
bank Of the Hudson, four miles above Peeksk and IS
miles from York TO Fort Clinton on the west
bank four miles below West Point. This is at the
rowes part of the Hudson River between NewYork and
Albany The bridge viii be III span Of 1000 feet from
shore 10 shore. Comparatively little masonry will be
required in the abutments the solid granite mountain
bases on either side afford excellent natural supports
The length Of the bridge between the towers VIII be
6G6 feet total length including approaches, 249 Feet
hight above the water level 1j5 feet afe~Orkng load
2sSO tuns: load that would break the bridge, l tuns
Two granite towers Of immense strength VIII be butt
level Over these will be strung the upper main cables,
the ends Of which viii 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 diam
eter and composed Of new steel eOmDina-
ton wire in many strands. These cables VIII
contain 7ll95,75O feet, or about 7O,S2 miles.
The total weight Of iron and steel used will be 1850
inns with suspended weight of 1851 tuns. The total
amount of masonry will be 5S,0Si cubic yards. This
structure will be a combination or truss ana cable, ana
will safely support train Of co cars and 5000 people
The amount weight that could be crowded on II az
once will be but OnesiXth OF its supporting capacity
There will be two decks, or floors the upper Tor me Ta
road the lower a highway. The elevation above the
water level is far CHER than the aest masts of pass
ing vessels. The appearance of this great bridge Will
be exceedingly graceful and imposing
The benefits to accrue from this enterprise are many
and valuable II opens connection with the whole
country which the transportation OF freight ana pass
engers will be relieved from the delay and expense of
reshipnent and will be uninterrupted by ice during the
Winter season. For highway cOnyenences II Will be IN
the region within miles, pOpuld-
ton of over 10000 will use II.
An immediate connection Is to be made with the Erie
Railway at or near Turner'S The distance Is but II
miles and the route lies through very productive iron
region with favorable grade toward the river, at Fort
Clinton short branch three miles in length, Will con-
meet with the Hudson River Railroad at PeeksklD Inc
direct airline eastward the New England Railway, will
continue on 10 the Connecticut state line,
passing near Lake Mahopac, and crossing the
Harlem Railroad at Brewster's. Thus continuous
rail route between the Eastern States the Pennsy
coal-felds, and the grain-tracts Of the great
West will Obviate all the existing Disadvantages OF ferry
ing and breaking bulk. Ii Is estimated that 6,OOOOOO
Of coal Will pass over this bridge annually saving
an enormous waste and vast expense. Coal can thus
be brought by raas is the III Philadephiadlrect
from the mines to the retail yards This of ITSELF is an
important item TO NewYOrk The same benefit accrues
the Of iron, grain, general merchandise and pas
sengers - -,
The freightage from the mines TO Ezabehport, Phila
dephia or TO this bridge Is about the From
these places, adding the freight by water the shipping
allowance OF per cent made by the railroad companies
gives this result: -