New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-29

George A. Parker a little over IA years ago rs STU
ated one mile above the mouth OF the susque-
hanna and Il mites below the head or navigatop' lue
cost OF he bridge has been estimated nj saOOCoo' in'
engineering difficulties surmounted IN building '"is
bridge have been very great When IL was irst pro
posed 10 build the bridge was the generally expeseu
opiuon of engineers that IL could not be done snort OF
an expenditure Of time aud money that would bankrupt
the corporation. Mr.. Parker after thorough eA''ni
nation OF the bed declared that the bridge couu
be built for q, 100000.
The depth of the water along the line OF the bridge
unusual The foundation at the river bottom Is unsa-
BILE IL also believed that the violence OF the Ice
and freshets which each year would be precipitated
against the bridge would render 1t an expensive opera
ton for the railroad company Tho bridge, however
has stood for over years. and has resisted all the on
sets OF freshets and ice.
TIE bridge spans each being % feet inches In
the clear east OF the draw, and Of nearly the same
dimensions west OF the draw. that L. Oh the Havre de
Grace side The draw span 17J feet in the clear The
entire length Of the bridge from abutment to abutment
T. 1928 feet inches. The hight OF the bridge is 20 leet
and the width is % feet inches The pers upon when
the bridge rests. are built Of solid granite masonry
sheathed from the bottom TO extreme high water marx
with plate iron. The masonry above high water marx
joints oncriahths OF inch, and where 1t sex
posed pressure from ice and water, 10 clampeo III
the courses vertically and horizontally AT inc
top of the sheathDg the piers are eight Feet wioc
The piers are bn OF Port Deposit granite ms elQne
is remarkable for its extraordinary density, IL ntne
over 165 pounds the foot The piers are 80 feet
inches long. feet inches wide Tue charter Oh the
LEGISLATURE does not permit pedestrians 10 cross inc
bridge cOmpes the railroad company TO carry Tree
those who Wish 10 cross from Hdvre de Grace 10 ferI
vile or return. The Company have talked 81 building
"A fOutway pedestrians. bat anybody attempting 10
now would be in extreme danger OF being run
IL IA train should come along az the same nue. ~
The bridge Is In danger from two directions The
ice gorge that blocking the rlVer may DC rdstu
force Ine spans from the PIER, ana
destroy the structure Tue ether danger s thai hc
liable do from ABOVE, may strike the peers
aud spans and demOlIsh them. Tas engineers OF tine
K rOad Company viii take pre- cautions 10 prevent II
possible the destruction or the Drudge ''Is losucu
with stone and Z be placed upon tue bridge
rs add wei; yht Logs are 10 be placed around
PIERS break the OF tue Ice against tne III
THIS bridge be badly damaged or cdIIioh away, coh
munica td WashDgtJB aud the South wiz be cut
off. When the last came d"wn tue capies OF Inc
Western Union Telegraph Company Wcro CUT anu inc
haa to be run over lbe bIlse.
The town OF Havre dc Grace Is also IN danger. The
site VI the greater portion OF the town Is low, ana rise
Of few inches In the will food tho business sec
ton which largely devoted to the lumber inel ess.
Tue Port Deposit is asO critical The river
opposite the town Is over mile wide. TDs space is
blocked with ice from shore TO shore. large cake IL an
ed at the upper end oi the gorge and aVg the shore
Is llod wall of Ice. Small channels have appeared IN
he mass, but they have not been wide enough 10 90
muCn good. Utne expected ireShets from ABOVE hOld
of uuul the tidcs can move tue Ice here, The town
Will not he seriously damaged. II a food Of Ice and
is precptated now, nothing can save tile town
destruction. Everybody ~ preparing
for worst but hoping for the nest. the greater
is appreciated because OF the laeness OF the
seasuD. IL Is believed that the now rams SO bgh
that It's beat must melt me snow upon tue MOUNTAINS
INV. aud t!us hun upOn the town an avaahch' OF
nee ana water whose -esui,r pre appalling 80 conten'
plate l,e OF III "e Gfet WIN esuee 'no
wafer 10 pour lutO the streets OF the tOwh