The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-08
TESTING THE BRIDc E
Under Pressure Of 676, 900 Pounds.

According to communication from
Mr.. G. Bousoaren, Consulting and Prin-
opal Engineer to Mr.. J. T. Redmon,
Master Mechanic and Master of Trans
portation OF the Cincinnati Southern
Railway, the testing OF the Ohio River
Bridge was set for to-day, beginning at
10 O'Clock.
Long before the appointed time the
wharves on both sides of the river were
lined with spectators anxious to get a
good view Of the test.
Some were drawn to the spot, think.
ing perhaps that the great iron
structure would give way beneath the
immense pre- ssure that was advertised
TO to be put upon it.
| Some more daring than the rest scaled
the ladder leading to the approach Of
the bridge on this side and spread them
selves along the track on the various
spans.
Others entered the structure from the
Ludlow side, and several hundred were
so fortunate as to secure a position on
the locomotives or on the fat cars.
Before the appointed time the Trust
ees OF the road, Engineer Bouscaren
and his assistants, Chas. g. Webster,
Mr.. schumo and Mr.. g. Bouscaren;
chanic j. T. RedmHn, OF the Common
Carrier Company; Superintendent VIM.
Beard and his assistants, Mr.. John
Beard and Engineer A. Gottlieb, were
at the depot in Ludlow preparing for
the test.
At 10 O'Clock Mr.. Redmon gave the
signal for the first test, which consist ted
in running an engine and two fiat cars
loaded with iron rails the whole weight
being about 10000 pounds) over the
bridge to the end OF span No. 10 and re.
| turn.
This engine. No. 1, was in charge Of
kentucky, and his fireman, Mr.. John
Berry.
Mr. Miller, who has been on all the
leading roads centerlng in Cincinnati,
mad the honor, which was highly appre-
| ciated by him, of being the first
| TO run an engine over the river. His
| Itellow-aborer at once dubUed him "the
Hero" u title that MIR. Miller bore with
becoming modesty.
| Only two members OF the press were
present at the commencement of the
testing, and they made the crossing OF
the bridge, their position being before
Inc headlight OF the engine. The two
reporters were representatives Of the
STAR.
Tue second test consisted in running
two engines, coupled, to the end Of span
NJ. l, ITO teet long.
The third test was that Of the south
nall OF Span No. 2, pivot span, with four
engines COUPLED,
Inc engineers were John Andrews,
Mat. Conn, the pioneer of the road
Charles Ferry ana jim Redmon. Tne
ded !stioh III the span was about severn
elgn hs of an inch.
Tue north half of the pivot span was
then tested in the same way.
| The sixth consisted In the testing of
The entire pivot span, three hundred
and sixty feet long, with seven engines
coupled.
lhe main interest, however, centered
III the testing OF the channel span. This
Is o20 leet long. Seven engines aud four
MAJ cars, Two In front and TWO in the
rear, were run over at full
speed, and then coming to q sudden
stop. The who.e weight on the span
remained IN position about fifteen min
utes to allow time for instrumental ob-
serYation.
| Tue weight amounted to 33S tons, or
676,0OO pounds. The bridge did not
snake, and the detection in the center
of the span amounted to exactly two
inches.
Spans Nos. 4 and S, 300 feet long.
tested by six engines coupled, give u
detection of little more than an inch.
| Ine 10 feet span and 113 leet span
were tesled by Two engines.
| The load in every case had to be
| diametrlcal to The center Of the span uL-
der test.
| The terrible strain on the bridge
showed iully that it was one of the
a est in the world.
| When the main lest was in progress
ana The seven engines standing on the
channel span, every locomotive whistle
was opened, aud such noise had not
| been heard for some time.
The whistles were responded to by the
G., II. d., the l., G. d L., the 0. & NJ.
and other roads, also that OF the terry
and boats going up and down the river.
This test was over by II O'Clock, wi hile
the remainder occupied an hour more,
alter whioh the crowds dispersed.
The official figures OF the downward
and longitudinal deflectlons will be
made this evening by me engineer, Mr..
B0uscafsA.
The Keystone Company, who built the
bridge, viii 81 10 work in a lew days On
the span over the y. Ii. &c ID. track.