, 1880-05-16
THE OUTER BRIDGE.

| Ane FlfHt 1fa1n 10 cross the ChfCaE,
Rtver-Dircct Connection Of the Hi
nois Central and Northxyesteru-Con
Eratulatory Speeches.
| The new Illinois Central bridge over the rive
near Elevator IA was formally "opened YES
terday, or rather closed, to enable lccomotiv.
and passenger coach to pass over from the Soutl
| to the North Side. In the car were about thirty
gentlemen, who had becn invited to *'celebrnte'
| the completion Of the enterprise, which was con.
ceiyed twenty-eight years ago by the late Will.
! lam Il. Ogden, and finally brought about bJ
William F. Whitehouse, the Solicitor Of the Dock
and Canal Company, who devoted three years te
the work. Among the party we're Mayo,
Harrison, Controller Gurney, E. H. Sheldon
Gen. William E. Strong, T. B. Blackstone
John Crerar. 3. F. Aver, E. T. Jeffrey, John
Dunn, J. c. yelling, s. Corning Judd, L. Loewcl,-
thai, ". Graydon Of New York. George N,
dIi 69iaG 7nSd E vt1f vflshhnrn D9vid Wyte E. Wood
WI. Beale. and E. G. Clark. 'D''' ~ L. osff''
me bridge is Of wrought-irou, POS feet long,
fourteen feet wide in the clear, and nineteen feet
high, Of the form known rs the Pratt truss, >
ana Is calculated to sustain d rolling Wei1ht Of
450 pounds to the lineal foot Of Structure, in
addition to the liked weight Of the bridge itself,
Under the rolling load the bridge could not be
struined to beyond ono-tifth of its ultimate
strength nor is It possible to place upon it more
than one-half Of the load which 1t is calculated
to carry. The pins are Of steel, and the iron Of
the very best quality manufactured. The bridge
rests On a pier OF solid masonry, built Oh piles
space between them being filed with broken
stone. It is the strongest and most substantial
one s+ on tn the river, and Probub!y IN the North
west: Inc cost was 81, ,000 The single track is
on line with the docks, and the bridge will have
to oe swung for tugs, but it opens very easily.
After the party had gathered an idea from be-
ing run over the tracks OF the territory east Of
Rush street. they went into the office Of the
feshngo Company, where lunch and some
champagne had been provided.
GEN. STRONG WELCOMED THE GENTLEMEN
on behalf Of the Dock Company, and referred to
the advantage the bridge would be to the North
side' acknow!edging the obligation all on the
pier were under to the Illinois Central for con
thereby the railroad systems of the two sec
uons, which would greatly fuci1itate the transac-
ton Of business.
Inc gio"tn W Gf me city ana dwelling particularly
upon @ its railroads The latter, he said, should
a G4me a1o IL along the oranches Of the river and the
tn's: hns. ~ a9o No., @ also 81 steamboat run from
herer ht,', try TO gob5te the lake 'front.' He would
city. f017' - NAo
r u response to the toast, Success to the
br1oge, Mr. B. F. Aver spoke Of
THE FUTURE OF THE PIER.
trusting TINT the connection made ny the bridge
WITH the South Side might prove not only cor
venont and serviceaole, bnI in tho highest de.
- ~ EAAf0Ak@aEEut4S Alu prOuL1Dlc TO All whose
interests were affected by it. The Illinois Cen
lrni mad no desire to tyobble anything it was not
entitled to. Il was interested in increasing the
trade and commerce OF the city, and, he thourht |
wouldn't throw any obstacles in the way.
j, Mr Sncluon said it Was necessary for Chicago. j
IL order to remain the Imperial City she was, to
awe afforded her every facility for the trtlsac-
aon OF business chcaply and expeditiously. It |
sns surprising that two great railroads, within
~ 1eet OF each other, had not been connected !
'efore Until now cars had to be transferred |
y the belt line nine miles around, which in
FolVed vexatious delays and great inoou-
'enlence. Oftentimes the Northwestern sent
'afs back to tile country empty rather than nut !
~ With the annoynuces incidental to the belt
lne Hence the building of the bridge was not
,urely private enterprise, but one in which
ne public at large was interested.
AR. " F. WHITEHOCSE
ompltmentcd the Illinois Central and the North |
'cstern, especially the former, and referred to |
ne necessity Of the bridge. He believed the
ny was not fur distant when passeuser-couches |
well Us frelght-car would 60 over the britige
Mr. George II. Dogue spoke Of tho late Will !
lfn Is. Ogden to whose genius Chfcaxo was in Il |
reat mensure indebted tor its present CONNER
lAl standing.
This ended the speech making, and, after 4
ortlng toast the gentlemen were taken back to
10 teutrll depot, proud, doubtless, thai they
ere III the first car that. crossed the bridge,