Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-11


is very unpropitious time to do out door
celebrations, such as the spanning of the
Father of Waters would necessitate Assum-
ing this optimist view of the state of affairs, it
can be stated that likely the bridge will not be
ready for travel before spring, though the
ances to the contrary with whispering utter
ance like unto naming, January.
The Bridge.
A clear conception of the magnifcence and
massiveness combined with strength, of the
bridge is given by the excellent picture of it,
especially engraved for the GLOBE, which
adorns the head of this article. To enter into
an elaborate description: The bridge, or road
way, has stretch of l,01611 feet from shore to
shore, or abutment. The span from the
pier is 1875 feet. From this pier to the next or
middle one, which stands like a giant with it's
feet ever bathed by the waters of the Missis-
sippi, the roadway takes stretch of 27O feet
at the dizzy heighth of $50 feet above high
water mark. The next span to the pier ON the
st. Paul shore is ISL feet From this pier the via
duct is carried on iron trestles surmOunted upon
four stone piers each at intervals of seventy
two feet, to the St. Paul abutment. This
makes the stretch from the first shore pier to
the abutment, counting eighteen feet Tor each
trestle pier, 432 feet.
THE PIERS AND ABUTNENTS.
The three stone piers average ninety-eight
feet in heigth, and are mas tel pieces of ma
sonry. The first four or five courses are built
of granite, and to the water level with Hastings
or Red Wing stone.
The nose of the ice-breaker is wholly of
granite running up to the betting course, which
again is solidifed and strengthened by courses
of massive masonry. From this point the shaft
ln, Sol $.>
port the iron superstructure. The dimensions
of the base of the pier are 12x48 feet; at the
betting course, top of base or ice-breaker.
lH5x2S15 feet, tapering to the
top to the dimensions of 6x24 feet. The
piers look in their massiveness as if they could
resist the crack of doom.
The abutment at Fort Smelling is compare
lively low, rock foundation being found with
out much excavation. The .abutment on this
side of the river is a much more pretentious
structure. 1t is backed by stone
bridge approach, which is pierced
by an arch, though which the
road finds winding way to the f1atboat
ferry across the river. The sixteen small piers,
which support the iron trestle piers or work,
need no extended description. They are in
keeping with the excellent work done on the
piers and abutments.
THE IRON WORK. -~~.
The bridge is what is known rs deck
bridge. In other words, the roadway
or bed of bridge lies above
tho truss, which both gives it
support, strength and rigidity with fexibility
enough to resist breakage from the impact of
the wind or the constant conclusion of q pass
ing load. The iron truss used is tho Pratt, and
consists shown in the cut, of ties end
counter ties with vertical supports, strength
ened, as it were. with intermediate supports,
extending to half the depth of the truss. The
road bed will be protected either side
by strong and ornamental rail extending the
whole length of the bridge. The roadway will
be eighteen feet wide, and a foot-path five feet
wide will be separated from the driveway by a
rail. The specifications require that, besides
shall bear 800 pounds per linear foot. This
requires strength sufficient for ali use to which
the bridge will be put. In adj
dition to these requirements, others technically
named, and, which being fulfilled, as to de-
Election, ETC., will make the bridge as durable
as time.
Completed, as it will be, in the very near
future, St. Paul can boast of bridge, which,
in beauty, strength and durability, is unsur.
passed by any other which spans the rolling
waters of the Mississippi, from the Falls of st..
Anthony to the Jetties, excepting the massive
structure at st. Louis.
MILITARY HEADQUARTERS. ="
The bridge being an actual fact, and an
avenue for traffic. its Importance is not even
yet half realized. By it an immense traffic
will be invited to our city. The assurances of
this are rs many as the encouragement was
hearty, when the project was in embryo. The
wisdom of the government in giving aid to the
enterprise at the suggestion of Mr.. McClung il
now apparent Department headquarters will
be located at Fort Smelling, so soon as accom-
modations, already contracted for, are built.
The necessity of the bridge in this event is un-
questioned, as convenience to the military
and to St. Paul. Combined with this consid.
Grafton, Fort Smelling will become one of the
resorts or park drives of the community. With
the widening and proper grading OF Fort street,
St. Paul will be given a driveway unrivalled
in beauty and desirability. These are but q
few of the advantages gained by this enter
prise, which was at first derisively spoken Of,
aud they will increase as the city grows. s.
THE COST
The immensely of this work can scarcely be
calculated in the trouble and labor attending
it. But coming to dollars and cents, the an
nouncement can be made that with working
basis of $165, 900, the commission will complete
the structure at cost of $4,000. In
other words, the county voted $4,000
aid the United States appropriated
$4,000, this latter amount to be paid when
the bridge is finished. This will leave sur
plus of $50, 900 in the hands of the commits
sion, and the county will be reimbursed to
that amount. Or in fact the bridge will be
built at an expenditure of $4,000 to the
county.
What does St. Paul think of her new years
present?