Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-03-06
LETTER FROM ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. "a, Is

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way is mystery; but this was quite
welcome, and for long time kept me
entertained by following from column
to column the interesting matter you
are so successful in presenting to your
readers.
- observe your Winter has been
cooler than usual, while the reverse
has been the case here. There has
been but mere trifle of snow here at
any time, and it seldom remained
twenty -four hours. Boats have run
constantly to and from New Orleans,
unobstructcd by ice, and the grass in
public parks has been green for long
time. On Sunday evenings very many
people resort to them to lounge as in
June. The most disagreeable feature
is mud; it prevails in every portion of
the business streets, and is more
abundant from the large amount of
earth thrown up in eXcavating for the
Custom-hOuse and the great railroad
tunnel. Innumerable wheels and busy
feet distribute it everywhere. lnspite
of the mud and soft weather, there has
been but light mortality report.
Last week, the whole number was
eighty-six. This is light for popula-
ton of 100000.
The effects of the panic are still felt,
and business moves slow, but the peo-
pie will have certain amount of
amusement under almost any circum-
stances.
Four theaters are we'll patronized,
numerous public readings and lee
lures, both literary and scientific, are
equally popular. The great excite
ment among the masses has been a
series ofrevival meetings, led by Rev.
Hammond. 1t is estimated that six
hundred new members have been
added to the churches ia the last five
weeks.
The newspapers have been more en-
crossed with the important subject of
hSocial Evir' than any other for sew
eral weeks. Most of the respectable
people exerting themselves to have
the law repealed and the masses to
have it remain as it Is. The papers
opening their columns to both sides, and
keeping sharp lookout to see which
is most likely to win. While many
good citizens are thus engaged in the
laudible effort to give us good laws
and pleasant entertainments, the
great MECHANICS and laborers are toll
ing at the magnificent bridge, and the
double tunnel under the city. Three
graceful arches, each 500 feet long,
resting on two abutments and two
piers, span the river. On the st.
Louis side the railroad bed is sixty
feet above low water, and the Illinois
side being low, it slopes gradually to-
ward that shore and finally reaches
the existing railroad track level 5000
feet back from the shore. On this
shore it keeps up over First and Sec
ond streets and enters the slope under
Third street and extends for three
quarters of a mile under the city,
reaching the great central depot of the
Atlantic and Pacific railroad on Eighth
below Poplar street. Two tracks trav-
erse the tunnel while four are laid on
the bridge. These are to accommo-
date the twenty railroads that now
center in this city or in East st.
Louis, opposite.
Four great ribs of cast steel rise and
bend gracefully from pier to pier
forming the arch on which the whole
upper structure rests. These ribs are
hollow tubes fifteen inches in dame
ter Four more curve above and par
allel to them at distance of thirteen
feet. The upper and lower ribs are
then Joined by diagonal iron braces.
The railroad tracks rest on the crown
of the lower arch, while the carriage
way lies above the upper arch five
feet, and reaches st. Louis on level
with the streets, leaving eighteen
feet for trains to pass through.
Whole width of bridge fifty-four feet
width of carriage way thirty-five feet,
and walk on each side eight feet
wide. The cost Of bridge and tunnel
is ebout $lO,OO0,000. 1t will be in use
by the LIST of July next.
The city is supplied with water from
the Mississippi; huge engines pump
it up into reservoir on Compton hill,
where, after standing a few days to
settle its 100000 cubic yards of mud
per annum, it is led in mains and
pipes to almost every door.
A Custom-house to occupy whole
square is in process of erection.
Another block will soon be covered by
the Merchants Exchange.
Among the present large buildings
are the Laclede Hotel, S. G. Davis &
Co.'s wholesale store, Singer Sewing
Machine Company's building, st.
Louis Life Insurance Company's build
ing and Geo. Knapp 4 Co.'S st. Louis
Republican printing office, said to be
the most complete In all its appoint
ments of any on this side of the At
lantic. In fact it is to st. Louis what
the HERALD is to Southern California,
the best paper from the best office.
Hoping the day is not far distant when
cheap and speedy communication will
be opened between your getty of the
Angels" and the great Central City of
the Union, 1 remain very truly yours,