The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-19
The East River Bridge.


In New York the anchorage for the
great East River Bridge will be situated
in James street, between Front and Wa
ter streets. In Brooklyn it will be stu.
nted at York street, near MGrcein and
Prospect streets. Work has already
been begun in the latter city, and is
progressing with great rapidity. The
ground upon which the masonry OF the
anchorage will be built is l25 feet long
and 1877 feet deep. The masonry, when
finished, will be 70 feetfrom the surface
OF the earth. The ground is excavated
to the depth of % feet and in order to
prevent the caying.in of the soil and the
underminingof the adjoining buildings,
timber framework has been placed
within the opening. Two longitudinal
rows of piles were driven into the earth
ut the bottom Of the excavation, and
divided into three spaces, from 81 to Al
feet between them, the piles being so
placed rs to make seven transverse d.
visions of from Is to % feet each.
Heavy lines of bracing extend between
the piles making 81 rectangular di-
visions. It will BIO seen, therefore, that
clear spaces for work are afforded, 25by
40 feet long, and 10 by 81 feet deep.
Six derricks will soon be placed inposi.
tons to carry the stones to every part
Of the ground. In passing over the
towers one OF the cables extends over
each end, and the other two over the
middle, so that the anchor plates with
which the cables will be connected by n
chain will be correspOndingly placed on
either side of the rear Of the anchorage,
and in the middle.
The municipalities are immensepieces
Of iron q feet deep oblong, III feet d.
ameter in one direction and lG feet di-
ameter in the other. When placed upon
the masonry they will resemble q great
spider lying upon his back with 10 legs
extending in every direction. The legs
arc made with fanges Aaring so as to be
firmly held by the masonry which will
surround it. The plates are connected
with the cables by twoimmense flat iron
chains. The chains are each composed
of ten links, each link being about 10
feet long, except the upper one, to
which the cable will be attached. This
will be 90 feet long. Each link is made
up Of nine flat bars, the lower bars being
seven inches wide and three inches
thick, and the upper ones nine inches
wide and three inches thick. Thesebar
weigh about half ton each, makingthe
weight OF each link fOurand half tons.
The links aro joined by heavy turned
pins which pass through eyes placed in
their extremities. Each chain will
weigh about 80 tons, and the two chains
VIII. eli hold one end Of each cable will
contain about 100 tons OF iron, SO that
in the Brooklyn anchorage alone the
weight Of the chains which connect the
cables with the anchor plates will be4OO
tons. The whole support OF the bridge
depends finally upon the anchorage, and
the power OF the anchorage consists in
its weight or resistance to outside pow
er but weight acts only in q vertical
direction; therefore the anchor plates
which arc tho final ends OF the cable
chains, are placed at the near and low
est end Of the pile Of masonry, with
their upper surfaces horizontal. The
plates have 10 openings through their
centers made to receive tho nine bars
which form the links Of each OF the two
Chains, and which nre fastened by pins
placed in the under side. OF coursethe
first set OF links passing through the
openings in the plates will be placed
vertically, but from this point the
chains begin to curve until they reach
the point where the cables unite with
them horizontally and so feet above the
surface, thus describing the quadrant of
circle. That portion OF the anchorage
containing tho plates, along the whole
width OF the rear, and 80 feet length.
wise from tho plates, will be built Of
solid masonry.
The remaining portion OF the anchor
age will consist OF three walls running
longitudipally and supporting the
chains. A wall will be erected on each
side and double wall in the center.
After the chains have been placed in
position upon the walls, masonry will
be added ; the walls will be carried up
and arched Mt the top to form the road-
bed of the viaduct, 50 feet above tide.
The chains nnd plates will be forever
hidden from view after they have been
placed, and the final appearance Of the
anchorage when completed will be an
immense piece of solid masonry.
A FAMILY FRIESD.-No family should