The New York herald., 1875-11-21
IMPORTANT BRIDGE BURNED.

COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE MARKET
STREET BRIDGE AT PHnlADELPHIA-rTs COST
AND HIsToRr-sroPPAGR OF TRAFFIC TO THE
CENTENNIAL GROUNDS.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 90 1876.
Az hapast three O'Clock this afternoon the bridge
over the schuylki River connecting the eastern and
principal business thoroughfare, took nre and in
hours time was completely destroyed
HISTORY BRIDGE
The Market Street Bridge the Oldest and best
wooden bridge in this country, II is said. 1t was
erected by incorporated company in 179S. 1t
sisted OF three wooden arches, supported by two
piers and two abutments and wing walls The western
wall was sunk In a depth OF unexampled in hy-
drauc architecture the top Of the rock which IL
rested being forty feet nine inches below high
ter The dam for the western tier of peculiar
struction from design furnished by William Weston
OF Gainsborough, England. The masonry also ex-
ecuted on a singular plan.
Tho walls OF the abutments and wings we're perpen-
dicular without buttresses and supported by interior
effects. These were found completely competent to
support the pressure OF the filling without battering
or contreforts The abutmcnts eighteen feet
thick the wing walls nine feet at the foundation
retiring by Offsets to thirteen inches.
The piers contained nearly 800 tons Of masonry
and of the stones weighed from three to twelve
tons number Of massive chains were stretched in
various positions across the piers and built in.
IT COST.
The bridge cost $500 900 70 build and remained
toll bridge in the hands Of the company until 1882
when the city purchased It for $50 900 cash. collect
ing tolls until the sum reached the original cost
100000
The Dimensions Of the bridge we're follows:-
Length $50 feet; abutments and wing walls, $50 feet
total length 1859 feet height in the clear, the
carrageway II feet from the surface Of the river 81
feet
One OF the two roadways OF the bridge was used
exclusively by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for
the purpose OF conveying freight and from tho
West Philadelphia depot and various points along the
Delaware front and IN other portions or this city.
This most important matter TO the railroads
and transportation companies there being no other
bridge IN the vicinity available This traffic was very
heavy. The other roadway was used by the Market
street TO the Centennial Grounds ana West Phila
delphia and for general travel
In 1850 the old bridge torn down, and the wood
work newly constructed
row THE FIRE OCCURRED.
The origin OF the fire Is said TO be follows-For
some time past workmen have been engaged substtut
ing larger gas mains 10 convey increased amount OF
gas for use A. the Centennial grounds. These mains
passed directly behind little watchman's box at tho
eastern end OF the bridge leakage the pipes
sufficient TO cause AN explosion upon contact with
drove the man from his post and before anything could
be done the wind had carried the fire 70 the dry timber
OF the old structure, which burnt like tnder The
Harbor Police boat and the nremen could nothing 10
the bridge, and in short time after the break
out OF tho flames II was a smouldering ruin
Tho city gas works, with large gasometcr fun OF
gas and with So 600 tons OF coal, in the lmme-
date vicinity and the hremen taxed 10 their Mt
most TO save these naammable and dangerous mate
rals
BADLY HURT.
Several hremen we're injured At the bridge, none
seriously, IL is hoped. that street car with
several persons board had fallen into the water,
has not been verified.
INSURANCE AND REBUILDING. -
The insurance upon the bridge was SIS, 000 The
Mayor, with commendabe promptness, has issued
proclamation calling together the City Councils on
Monday TO take measures for rebuilding.
sToPPAGR or TRAFF1u
The Market street Bridge was direct route 70 the
New York depot and the Centennial GROUNDS lts loss
viii be serious TO the freight trac OF he renn'
sylyania Railroad