New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-03
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE BRIDGE.


PRESENT CONDITION OF THE BRIDGE.
The great rapidity with which the work is
executing, and It's advance far beyond what was antcl-
pated by the engineer, Mr. Roebng, and his corps OF
assistants warrant the belief that in less than i've years
the bridge will be in successful operation II the proposed
action of the Ring does not leave the management TO-
tally dsOrganiZed. Since work was resumed on the
towers FALL eight of stone have been laid on
the Brooklyn tower which is l56 feet above the sur
face OF the earth, or the exact hight OF Niagara
Falls. Seven courses OF stone nave Deeh
laid this the New-York SIDE
and the tower will be carried this year considerably
above the level Of the roadway. The Brooklyn tower Is
now at the hight OF ordinary foursory mousse above
the roadway When the tower shall have been com
peted as expected this year, the top will be nearly
twice the hight Of the the Equitable building
Looking from the present hight ferry-boats appear
about size OF turtles swimming upon the surface OF
the water and persons seem as small as toy images Inc
from the top OF the tower IL extensive, and includes
In ITS range the Highlands OF Neversnk. Prospect Park
Greenwood, Astoria, Mount Washington III NewJelsey'
and many other places OF interest
Experience has enabled the workmen TO place the
stones in position great CELEBRITY. When it Is con-
sidered each OF these stones weighs from -FOUR
tons, and that on last Friday Sc OF them were
placed in position 1t will be what extraordinary
progress is making The stones elevated to the top
which contains the tower while they placed in posi-
ton by engine at the top OF the tower which operates
upon a derrick whose arms move in circle ana arc
arranged also carry the stones in lateral direction
that il within reach OF the derrick the stones may DC
placed in any position desired. few days ago stone
weighing six taken from the tramway car at
the foot OF the and in three minutes time was
placed In its position at the top OF the work.
LENGTH THE BRIDGE
At point about the hight OF Frenchs Hotel above the
top OF the present work. arches VIII 10 begun so as TO
make two covered openings above the roadways
Seventy the springng of the arch the top OF
the tower will reached where at 26s feet above high
watermark or feet above Trinity Church steeple the
four cables which support the whole roadway and travel
of the bridge will pass over and bending toward the
river until midway the bridge where they will be within
eight feet the roadway and then rise to the top OF the
opposite tower whence they viii descend in curve to
the anchoragcs.
1t will thus that the cables will extend from
anchorage anchorage, and that the bridge will not
only be suspended from tower to tower but on either
of the the anchorages. From the anchor
ages to the OF the roadway the bridge VIII
consist OF arches made TO accommodate the uaVel on
the Streets directed by vaduct, and the structure be
built OF masonry The bridge in its divisions will there
fore consist OF central span 1000 feet long-about the
distance from the Astor House to Duane-st.the side
spans extending anchorages each $50 feet long
pension Bridge-and the stone yiaducts each 1903 feet
in length which about the distance from Broadway TO
the river either side Of Futon-st The total length
Will thus be 5s62 feet the distance from Canast TO
the Aston House, OF which 1886 feet viii be suspended
THE TOWERS.
There will 143 Of stone in each tower Of
which 81 are completed on the Brooklyn side and
% are finished on the New-York side The of the
towers are 1863 feet by 100 feet an eighth OF mile
around Them while the stone c0rnce at the top Of the
towers when completed, will be 49i feet wide and 1876
feet long-the of the ground floor Of the Academy
OF Musio-so that the summit OF the towers will afford
comfortable outlook for about 1000 persons at time
Near the top OF the cornices and upon the masonry
there will be placed an immense iron plate which
there will rest saddle" or another iron plate with
level bottom and rollers underneath. over the top OF
the saddle" which will be oval, the cables win
run with similar curves to the anchorages on
the one side and midway on the bridge on the
other This arrangement is for the purpose or prevent
ing any strain from coming upon the towers that
any load which would tend by its position either side
OF the towers exert strain upon the masonry Will be
compensated for by the movement OF the saddle"
The equality OF weight in the cables Will be so regulated
that depending in similar from either side Of the
tower particle OF side strain viii ever be brought
to bear upon the which will have to sustain only
perpendicular dead weight IL will therefore be it is
essentially necessary that the anchorage place where
the ends Of the cables fastened should be of such
soidty as defy any strain that could possibly be
brought TO bear upon it, The building Of such struc
ture il therefore work of great magnitude
THE ANCHORAGEs
In this city the anchorage will be situated in Jamess
between Front and Watersts. In Brooklyn it VIII be
situated at Yor-st Merceu and Prospectst Work
has already begun in the latter city, and is pro-
crossing with great rapidly. The ground upon which
the masonry the anchorage viii be built is 125 feet
long and 1877 feet deep The masonry, when finished,
will from the surface Of the earth. The ground
is excavated the depth IS feet and In order pre-
vent the cayngn Of the soil undermining of the
adjoining buildings. timber framework has been placed
within the opening Two longitudinal rows OF piles were
eayation and divided into three spaces, from
81 10 40 feet between them, the piles being so
placed TO make transverse divisions OF from IS
70 25 feet each Heavy lines OF bracng extend between
piles making q rectangular divisions. 10 VIII be
25 by 40 feet long and 10 by 81 deep six
will be placed in positions TO carry the stones to
one OF the cables extends each end and the other
two the middle, that the anchor plates with
which the cables will be connected by chain will De
anchorage, and in the middle. The municipalities
long II, feet diameter in one direction
and 10 feet diameter in the other. When placed upon
upon his back with legs extending every direction
The legs with naDges iaring to be firmly
are with the cables by two immense fiat iron
chains. The chains each composed OF ten links,
70 which cable Will be attached This will be 20 feet
long. Each LINK is made up OF nine nat bars the lower
bars being seven inches wide and three inches thick
and the upper nine inches wide and three inches
thick. These bars weigh about half ton each, max |
ing the weight OF each link four and "a half |
tons. The links joined by heavy turned |
pins which pass through eyes placed In their extrem
ties. Each chain will weigh about 90 tons, and the two
which hold end OF each cable will contain abOat
irOn that the Brooklyn anchorage alone
weight of tho chains which connect the cables with
the anchor plates will be The whole support OF
the bridge depends finally upon the anchorage and the
power OF the anchorage consists IN ITS weight
sistance TO outside power but weight acts only in "A |
vertical direction therefore the anchor plates which
are the final ends OF the cable chains. are placed