Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-26
The New .Chain bridge -

OF the spans Of the new wrought iron bridge
over the Potomac, near the Little Falls. on the
old Chain bridge" site have been corn pleted
with a fair prospect that the entire structure
will be completed before the expiration of the
time limited in the contr acG-Msy 1st, Isl 4.
This IL all the more satisfactory In view of the
fact that considerable time WAS lost in couse-
quence OF the original contractors for the work
throwing up the job after the contract al been
made, thus rendering new letting by the gov
eminent officials necessary.
PROGRESS OF TEE WORK.
The present contractors, Messrs. Clarke,
Reeves, 4 Co., recei we'd the fret castings from
their works, (Phenixville Bridge Works near
Philadelphia about the first of the present
month, and with their well organized force OF
mechanics brought here with them set TO work
at once raising the ponderous iron frame work
on the old stone piers com mencing on the VIZ
ginis side, and they propose 70 eont t on To-
until completed. 1t is expected that all the
castings will be here by the first day of Feb.
ruary and that the entire work will be com.
ment will be hailed with great satisfaction by
citizens living on both sides OF the river as for
a long time past large area of rich country in
Fairfax, Loudoun, and Fauquier counties has
been almost cut off from communication with
this District, by the high rates of bridge tolls,
atIer reaching the river by crcuitous route.
There have been several bridges erected in the
site OF this one, and on each successive one built
the defects in the plans and constructions of the
former ones were sought TO be avoided. Much
money has been spent in repairs all of which
has been swallowed up by the floods.
THE TERM "CHAIN BRIDGE"
comes from the first structure erected on the
years ago, and which was swept away by
heavy flood. This was an iron suspension bridge,
supported by immense cable chains stretching
from pier to pier; but it was found that these
supports afforded a Judgment for the ice and
drift-wOOd, which finally resulted in the de-
structiOn of the bridge. In q report made by
Gen. \. Michler to the Secretary of War in
1863, upon the subject of "a railroad bridge
across the Potomac river and the channel of the
river" considerable statistical information ia
given concerning the bridges in this District,
and regrets expressed that but few of the re.
ports, plans, and estimates OF the different
bridges are now to be found among the archives
of the several departments, and that the most
important facts concerning these works, aside
from the various amounts appropriated and ex-
pended on them, are only to be got from the
Statutes at Large.
From carefully prepared profile drawing of
the bed of the Potomac river in the Off ce of
Colonel Theodore B. Same, the channel at this
point is shown to be quite deep, the bottom
rocky and uneven. the current swift and run
ming close to the Virginia shore.
The long stretch of rocky flats nearly five
hundred yards in width between this channel
and the canal, on the District side. is seldom
covered with water, except in times of freshets.
Immediately below the Little Falls the depth of
water Is over so feet, and continues very deep
until the Aqueduct bridge Is reached. SO disas-
uous hitherto have the floods been TO the bridges
here, that General Bsbcock has taken the pre-
piers raised two feet additional, thus giving
more elevation, ard afioTding more room for
the ice and dTiftwood.
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION.
In 1872 Congress extendred the jurisdiction of
the corporation of Georgetown so as to include
the bridge which had then just been constructed
by that corporation at the Little Falls. This
act provided that as often and so long as said
bridge shall hereafter, from any cause be i'm
passable, it sha all be lawful for the proprietOrs
of land on both sides OF the river through which
wit hQ Ean ri sra
turnpike must pass, aud they are hereby author
lied and empowered TO establish and keep a
ferry" &c.
In 1858 Congress, by an act making
appropriation for sundry civil expenses of the
government, placed this bridge under the pro-
lection OF Georgetown, with power to regulate
the speed OF travel and the passage OF drOves of
cattle over the same, but expressly forbid that
any tolls should be charged.
In 1850 an appropriation was made to reim-
burse the corporation OF Georgetown for money
advanced towards the construction of the Little
Falls bridge.
THE HISTORY OF THE ERw BRIDGE.
Since Its partial destruction the last time va
rious appropriations have from time to time
been made for its repair, &c, but such expen-
dltnres proving to be unsatisfactory by reason
OF the floods, Congress, by an act approved June
10, 1872, appropriated $1,000 for rebuilding
the chain bridge. with r proviso that il shall
be rebuilt as a substantial iron structure, upon
plans appTo1 ed by the chief of engineers of the
army, and under his super vision and directi on"
Proposals were advertised for, and finally the
bid of bridge building firm from Connecticut
was accepted. These parties forfeited their
rights by delay, and the contract was then
made with Messrs. Clarke, Reeves 4 Co., and
together with their capable superintendent, Mr..
ID. X. Kelly, these gentlemen have showed
themselves TO De the right men in the right
place.
TIE PLAN FOR TIE NEW BRTDen
selected by Gen. Babcock as best adapted for
this site, in what Is known as the "Murphy-
Whipple Truss" tits divided into eight spans;
two Of 100 feet and six of l72 feet each The entire
l'ngth Is ,@52 feet. The spans are separate and
Independent of each other, resting on cast-iron
bridge seats, securely anchored to stone cop
ings; one end of each span is liked, and the
other rests upon friction rollers provided for
the expansion and contraction of the iron. life
trusses are % feet III depth and placed % feet
apart from center to center. Each truss of I72
feet span is divided into twelve panels, and
each truss of 100 feet into eleven panels Of Az
feet each. The upper cords, main and inter-
mediate posts are formed of Phoenix column
IRON, and the lower cords, main and intermedi-
ate ties r OF the forged links, without
iron caps and seats, the bottoms of the former
and the tops of the latter being truly turned
Tor that purpose. Turned wrought iron pins,
three inches in diameter, lock in one connec-
ton the caps Of the columns and the diagonal
ties, also the bottom cords, the seats Of the
columns, the diagonal ties, and the floor beam
suspenders. The floor beams are l5-inch
PhG nix rolled beams, and the floor joists and
flooring are to be of the best North Carolina
pine three inches thick and not over six inches
securely spiked. There will be 40 sidewalks
but az iron railing four feet high ia to be placed
on either side of the carriageway. The width
OF the roadway Is twenty feet, and the bridge Is
proportioned so as to safely carry in addition to
the weigt OF the structure, 100 pounds for each
square foot of roadway, and the maximum
strain produced by this load is II, 900 pounds
per square inch of section, about one-sixth
Of its ultimate strength. The contract price
for the entire work lie S94 go, which is paid by
instruments, as each span is completed The
work is in GOOD hands, Mr.. Theodore b. Same
being the engineer directly in charge.
IMPROVEMENTS ON VERMONT AvRNUR-In
no section OF the city has there been more rapid
Improvement for year or two past than in the
neighborhood Of the circle, at the intersection
OF Vermont and Rhode Island avenues nor tn
west. Property in that locality which a few
wears ago sold for 25 and so cents per square
foot IS now in demand at Sl.JO. Scott square,
the NJ street circle, and the large circle at the
intersection of the two avenues above named
make vermont avenue one of the fayorite
drives of the city, and next spring will see the
erection of a large number OF fine residences
upon that thoroughfare. Several have already
been commenced, and one, belonging to Mr..
W. 5. Roose, on the east side Of Vermont
avenue just above street, is nearly completed.
IL is Of brick, with Ohio stone trimmings sur
mounted by a French roof, and contains some
twelve rooms with all the modern Improve
ments. The interior wood work is of black
walnut and North Carolina pine. The parlor ia