Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1874-01-31
The st. Louis Bridge.

'" The St. Louis bridge.
A late number Of the Atchiaon Dai-
'ly Globe has the following interesting
description of this great triumph Of
engineering skill. The bridge is fifty
feet above higl-watcr mark, as fixed
ov Congressional authority, and is one
of the most wonderful enterprises of
this rcriod. The Chief Engineer, as
sisted in the construction by Henry
Flad, is rearing n monument to Amer
lean science and skill, that may rhal-
lenga comparison with the greatest
st.uctnros in the world. The length
Of the bridge is 1921 feet, made Of two
spans connecting with the approaches
on each side of the river, each 502
feet and one Of 800 feet in the centre
The piers are sunk by caiSsons with
compressed air reacling the solid
rock on the west side at 90 feet, on
the cast.sile at ll9 feet, and at the
east ahutmcnt l27 feet below high
! water mark.
The super!trncturr Of the bridge
consists Of steel ribs, four to each arch,
and each rib Of two lines Of steel cnI!rs
connertel BY diagonal braces. These
r!bs form tn" sustaining part OF tho
stru;turc, as tAe posts which bear the
railroad tracks and upper roadway
rcst- upon thea. 1t requires 26OO
tons Of st ,ei and 5000 tons Of iron for
these spans. The western arch and
Que hal. tie central one are finished,
ana in POSITION, and the other il being
pushed forward rapidly, and is eNpec-
ted to be finished 10y the middle Of
DccenIcr. No f,lpr work or srati'old,
iny has been erected .!ov this strur-
,ure to ohstrurt navigation, which is
regarded - II won ler.nl achievements
At til" Icv"c the upper part of til"
structure for Il roadway Is is feet
above hi Ih-w mark. On the lIIi-
! ois s;d', the grade drScrnds four feet
pr hundred for 400 hundred feet to
the dixie. The railroad track is 90
tc It below thi, roadway and desccndS
one-h III feet to the hundred, and
reachc; the curb on the east side of
CAhokia Creek, distance Of 3lUO feet
from the le,cc. On the Missouri side,
the upper and lower roalwavs are
carried on stone arches OF great,
strength and beauty to Third street
from the lever through several blocks,
the streets being crossed by iron
bridges, making the entire structure
with the approaches one Of tn" longest
and most solld ever built. To this is
added the tunnel passing under streets
about 1000 feet with nearly 600 feet
of open approach, from Third street
on Washington Avenue to the Miss
ouri Pacific railroad depot, on Poplar
street. The cost Of widening and join
Ing streets for this stupendous work
was $5OO,OO0. The railroad tracks
are in double tunnel, with two side
walls five to seven feet thick, with a
center wall three feet thick. From
the center wall to the side walls the
distance is fourteen feet at the open
ing Of the arches, which are Of brick.
The side walls are of Grafton stone,
with clear height Of seventeen feet.
This tunnel will be used by eighteen
roads, and to avoid smoke, coke will
be substituted for coal. There is one
opening of an entire block, whi,h,
with four ventilators, will obviate the
usual dislike to travel in tunnels.
At the building, to be erected by
the Government for a Custom House
and Postoflice, the tunnel is wiaened
for platform to receive and send out
the mails. This is adjoining the line
between Olive and Seventh streets, in
the heart of the city.
The estimate cost Of the bridge and
tunnel is Sl0,000,0O0, for which pro-
vision has been made that is beyond
the reach Of the financial pressure.
About three tifths Of the money has
been expended in material and labor.
1t is the longest fixed bridge in the
world, and one Of the most difficult to
be constructed-a gigantic enterprise,
requiring pluck, capital and skill that
commands admiration. and will con-
ceutratc business at st. Louis.