The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-21
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TO THE KENTUCKY RIVER.
Excursion Over the
Cincim natl Southern.

Yesterdays Excursion over the
Cincinnati SOuthern.
The Board OF Trustees Of the Cincis-
natl Southern Railroad invited party
of prominent citizens to join in an en-
cursion over that road as far as the Ken
lucky RIVER, one hundred miles irosa
this point, and to witness the test Of the
bridge spanning that stream. The par
ty left the BuTnet House at Z O'clock
yesterday m ,rniug, aud passing through
CovingtOn were driven to Lu fiOw,
where they took the train, consisting of
three coaches, u caboose and two gOil-
dolas, starting south promptly aa .
O'Clock. ..-.
In an hours time WillIamstown was
reached, thirty-hye miles distant. AS
9:45 the train reached E1gle Greek,
ffty-.hree miles from Cincinnati, Where
the engine was supplied with water. In
an hour more the heart OF the Bius
Grass region had been traversed. pass
ing through Rogers Gap aud George
town, ana the train pulled into Lexins.
ton.
Here an excursion train Of kentucky
notables from Frankfort joined the mAih
party, which after hastily inspecting tho
trestle work at Lexington pushed on TO
tho main objective point, the Kentucky
River Bridge, where they arrived at
quarter past IL O'Clock, having made the
distance III four and quarter hours.
AT this point a large number Of people
had assembled to witness the arrival Of
the train.
Here the excursionists disembarken,
and after eating lunch spread ON the
bank, Governor McCreary, of Kentucky,
I'm nj hn urfv of
called for and made short speech
eulogs site or the road and the Trustees.
A heavy rain commenced to fall just as
the Governor concluded his remarks.
and all further oratorlcal effOrts ~enO
stopped. In the meantime the oth ,efs
OF the road were busily engaged in pre-
pairing for the test OF the bridge.
There were seven tests IN all The
first was on the north span, with a
standing weight OF four locomotives
weighing 472,00O pounds, aad four dat
cars loaded with iron rails and partly on
the bridge, making a total weight Of572s-
900 pounds. The second was on the mid.
die span, With the iOur locomotives
and four loaded cars, making dead
load on the span OF 632, 900 pounds. Inc
third was the same as the first for The
south span.
The fourth test was to get the greatest
counterstrain ON the middle span, OF
upward detection, by placing two loco
motives and five cars on each shore
span, making a weight Of LOBje@
pounds on the bridge. The fifth was
10 get the greatest strain on the iron
pier on the north side OF the stream by
placing four locomotives and five cars,
the latter partly on, giving dead
weight of 642.0G0 pounds on that span.
The sixth was similar test for the
south pier.
The seventh aud last test was by rus..
ming locomotive and twenty-five p ,a-
ed cars, weighing in all ], ,0S2, ,Uo", nonndS
on the bridge at the rate 3, ifteen mile
an hour, and then r"T, orsing the engine.
This was dope, and the train brought 70
stop ID about 105 feet.
T-e testing OF the bridge being accom-
|, rlished with satisfactory results, prov
ing its construction to be one OF the
greatest feats OF engineering skill, the
party soon after set out ON its return,
reaching this city last evening safe and
sound. 3