Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-28
TUE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE.
Progress ltl Character Of tho Work.
The Roads to Gross H..

TIE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE.
Progress mi Character Of tho Work.
The Roads to Cross H..
1t is now expected that the great
International Railroad Bridge, to span
the Niagara river between Buffalo and
Fort Erie, will be completed, and q
formal opening take place, some time
IN October next. It is the enterprise
OF an independent company, was com
menced in May, 1870, and it's cost will
be something over ono million of dol
lars. The Buffalo Commercial Adver-
tiser thus describes it: '',The super
structure is of iron, supported on stone
piers, with the necessary draws for the
passage of vessels. The length OF the
main bridge, across the river, is
1868 feet; thence across Squaw
Island to the west end of the bridge
over Black Rock hsrbor, is about J., zoe
feet; and tue bridge over the harbo1
to niagara street is 517 feet Squaw
Island is at present crossed by a
trest'e-work some twenty feet in
height, but this is to be filled up SO
that the track across the Island will be
upon solid entertainments The work
of filling will not be done until the
completion of the bridge, however. as
the material is to be brought from
Canada. Commencing at the Canada
shore there will be nine spans across
the river proper; three of them are 100
feet each in the clear; then
come three spans, each 24O feet
in the clear; then two draw openings,
each 160 feet; then one span of 1870
feet to Squaw Island. The length of
the bridge across Black Rock Harbor,
as before stated, is 517 feet, and in this
will also be two openings of ninety
feet each, with pier between. The
swing over this opening. as was that
over the opening of the river, will be
operated by steam, and the length of
time required to open or shut the
same is given at fifty seconds. The
location of the swing in the river
nearer the American than the Canadian
shore-is in accordance with the deci-
sion of q commission of United States
engineers, appointed by the Gov.
eminent, consisting of Gen. Warren,
Col. Merrill and Col. Karwood, and
the selection OF the position meets
the entire approval of the Canadian
parties. OF the piers in the river, eight
in number, all are finished save one in
about the middle Of the stream. In
preparing for the foundation of this il
was discovered that the rock in the
bed of the river was covered to the
depth of about nine feet with gravel.
This it was, Of course, necessary to re-
move. The work of removal has been
finished, and the laying of the founda-
ton will be Immediately commenced
1t IS calculated that the pier
will be completed in the course
of three or four weeks. All the
piers are SO laid and built up as to Sc
cure the greatest solidity, and offer the
least possible resistance to the ice.
The depth of the water in the river,
where the bridge crosses, is from ten
to forty-three feet. The iron work for
the bridge is manufactured at Phoenix
vile, near Philadelphia, and the super
structure is known as the Pratt truss.
The trusses consist of four main lines
that from pier to pier, the lower
chord, as it is called; that parallel
with it, but at considerable height
above it, and known as the main chord;
and counter supports at either end, on
which the upper chord rests. The
upper chord and end counters are
tubular, put together in five pieces,
with fanges. The lower chord consist
of rods which tie the counters
and verticals, and resist the tendency
Of the upper chords to thrust the
counters apart. The upper chord is
that on which the roadway is hung.
Transverse grinders are suspended
therefrom. The grinders bolted to the
lower chord and connected with the
upper by an iron vertical principal.
The uniform lord which would nee
fall on this vertical principal
is distributed latterly by means of
counter-braces and rods, until it Is
thrown finally on the piers. The bridge
has the strength of tubular one, with
out its weight and other objections.
Vertical and counterpieces form the
sides; the tap of the vertical principals,
united horizontally, strengthened dag
onally, and supported by angel ties,
form the roof; and the roadway consti-
tutes the floor, A novel plan is pursued
IN placing the iron spans upon the
piers. They are built upon o frame
work over number of pontoons, which
act in the manner of dry dock. The
pontoons are carefully dropped between
The piers, and when in position water
is let into them, and tbs iron truss is
settled into it's exact place on the piers
The chief engineer in the construction
Of the bridge is MIR. E. 2. Hanaford, of
Montreal, and the resident engineer is
Mr.. J. Hobson, of Fort Erie. The
Grand Trunk, Great Western, and
Canada Southern Railways have al
ready put down approaches to the1
bridge on the Canada side. The ap-
proach on this side is abodt 100 feet
south Of Parish street, and here, also,
several of the roads have already put
down tracks. including the contem-
plated New York, West Shore and CHI
cago Road"