Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-03-19
Bridges.

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the word bridge does not occur in the |
Bible, we are led TO believe that the
Ancient Jewsand Egyptians were un-
acquainted with this method of cross.
ing streams to any considerable extent.
Giant trees which had stood on the
borders of water courses, and been
blown down by the wind, or had their
roots undermined, and lay extended
from bank to bank, are supposed to
have first suggested the use Of bridges.
Chain bridges were familiar TO the
people Of China moro than eighteen
centuries before they were made in
Europe. Some Of the bridges in that
country are of exceeding magnifcence.
There is one near Pekin, built wholly
Of white marble, with elaborate orna-
mentation, executed in the highest
style Of Eastern art. Others yet more
beautiful and imposing.span the canals,
having grand triumphal arch at
either end. Some are fat, without
arches, marble tagging Of great length
being laid on piers so narrow that the
structure seems almost suspended in
the air without support of any descrip-
ton. These bridges do not require
to be made very strong, for only foot
passengers cross them, and this &C
counts for their elegant and fanciful
construction. The more massive struc-
lures have immense arches, the cen
tre one being usually about forty feet
wide, and sufficiently high for junks
to pass without striking their masts.
The ascent to tho bridge on each side
is by stone steps, and in this respect
they resemble the Rialto, and other
bridges of Venice.
The ancient Peruvians, under the
reign Of the Incas, displayed great
skill in the construction of both roads
and bridges The latter were made
of sort Of native osier, which pos
sessed extreme tenacity. These osiers
were braided into cables the thickness
ofa mans body, then stretched across
the water the ends run through holes
left for that purpose 10 immense walls
of solid masonry on each bank, and
secured to the natural rock or pieces
Of heavy timber. The road bed was
generally twenty feet wide, and some
times exceeded 200 feet in length, with
a railing of osier on both sides. Planks
woro laid trensversely across tho cab
les for the flooring, and notwitbstand-
ing the structure rested several hun
dred feet above an abyss, and was
very fragile in appearance, it afforded
q safe means of communication for
men and heavy burdens. The oscilla-
ton Of these bridges was frigbtful and
the cause of frequent alarm besides,
there was an unpleasant inclination
toward the centre that made the pass
age more or less difficult.
The first bridge Of which we have
authentic record was erected by Queen
Nicotris, over the Euphrates, ut Baby
Ion, 2, 2,204 b. O. 1t was dra W bridge,
660 feet in length and 80 feet in width,
resting on stone piers, without arches,
but connected with each other by a
framework of plank, whick was drawn
at night, to prevent the inhabitants
on opposite sides of the stream from
passing and committing depredations
on each other. The piers were made
while tho bed Of the river was free
from water; the course Of the stream
having been diverted into largo lake
but subsequently restored to its origi
nal channel when the work was com
pleted. The stones Of the bridge were
fastened together by iron clamps
soldered with lead. Xerxes, B. G
iSl, constructed suspension bridge
over the Hellespont, the flooring Of
which rested upon enormous cables
made of flax and papyrus twisted to-
gether, and then stretched taut by
means ofwindlasses. Bridges of boats
have frequently been resorted to,
both in ancient and modern times
!, Darius, under the pressure Of military
nooossity, threw bridge of boats over
the Thracian Bosphorus, b. @, 52l.
The Romans were the first people
in Europe to apply tho arch to bridge
building, Julius Caesar constructed Q
wooden bridge across tho Rhine al
Cologne, in the short space of ten days
! 1t was the frat structure Of this kline
built in Northern Europe, and wa'
T greeted b. @, Sc.
Army equipments, both in ancient
. times and iu our day, have included
: small boats, or casks, and sometimes
: both the latter being used to support
tho RATS for the passage of both in
: fantry and artillery. l $4,000