The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-01-16
From the New York Sun,

The bridge CROSSES the Tay one mile and
quarter west OF Dundee. On the south
side IL joins the North British Railroad near
Leuchars, and on the north side 1t Is con-
nected with Dundee by mean Of tunnel
and short line Of rails. The construction
of this tunuel was considered a considera-
bic undertaking. 1t passes near Magdalen
Point, running along the great docks. and
partly through one of tbem-the Earl Grey
Dock-besides passing beneath one Of the
main streets Of the city. The bridge had
three spans of 60 feet, two OF 80 feet, % Of
1870 feet, IA Of 200 feet, 10 Of 100 feet, 25 Of
66 feet, one OF 100 feet, and SIX OF 81 feet.
The first three spans $50 feet) on the south
side are on descending gradient Of in
100 feet. The two 80 feet spans are level.
The bridge then rises with gradient of /
In 1853 feet to the centre Of the 200 feet
spans. Finally,it descends with gradient
of / in 1886 to the north shore. On the
south side the rails are on top Of the grid
ers, as on the New York elevated railroads,
and are 10 feet above high water. In the
200 feet spans, sS feet above the water, the
rails were beneath the girdsrs, as is the
case with the New York Central Railroad
bridge across the Harlem River, and, in
deed with q majority OF the iron railroad
bridges In this country. When the 100 feet
spans on the northern end of the bridge
are reached, the rails again run on top of
the girders. II was at the series Of 200
foot spans. where the cars were nearly 90
feet above water, and ran beneath the trus-
SEES, that the breakage occurred.
From tie south side the first five spans
are on q curve OF 20 chains radius. The
line of the bridge Is then continued directly
north and south as far as the end Of the
120-foot spans; thence the whole Of the GO.
foot spans, the 180-foot bowstring spans,
and the 27.foot spans are on curve Of 20
chains radius, forming nearly q quadrant
of circle. The length Of this northern
curve Is nearly 1000 feet. The bridge was
northward, and could not enter the town
except for this curve, which brings 1t into
the city alongside the Caledonian Railroad
line.
The bridge was building nearly five years
and at time ss many as 1900 persons
were employed in the work. I.s construc-
ton consumed 5000 tons Of iron work, g..
600 tons Of cast iron work. $1,000 cubic
yards OF brick work, and s7,845 cubic feet
OF timber. The contractors estimated the
cost ut about ten millions Of dollars. The
builders found the bottom composed of
rock In some places, Of a hard material
resting on silt 10 other places. and of sand
covered with shingle and great boulders
along the remainder Of the route across
the stream. rhe stream is about 20 feet
deep In the channel. Storms hindered the
work. Northerly aud southwesterly winds
swept with terrific force down the river and
because of Its great width aHd strong tides
the sea Is often very heavy. Once gale
blew for three weeks, and all wsrk was sus-
pended until the storm ceased. II was on
account Of these disadvantages that 20
much was done on shore. There the great
piers were built, and from there they we're
fioatcd ont into the stream and lowered 10
position by great hydraulic rams. These
piers we're formed OF immense double CYL
inders of iron, which were let down upon
the bottom, workmen inside OF them ex.
csvated the ground beneath and imbedded
them In their places. Then they were
oiled with broken stone and liquid concrete
and the columns Of the bridge were built
upon them. Near the shore huge brick |
wall connected these piers. The brick |
work Of the piers was hold together with |
cement, and this and the concrete became |
70 strong that when the two piers, that |
caps'zed In the early part OF the work,
were dragged ashore, they could be broken |
mp only By blasting. The airders spanning |
the columns were put together on shore, and
boated out to their places In the bridge.
These eirdeu are 81 heavy wrought iron,
braced with angle iron. The roadway is
carried BY cross slcepers, 10 BY inches
placed three feet apart. Whore the road
way runs below the girders IL il carried by
iron cross girden feet apart the rails be-
.ng laid upon l4-inch longitudinal slsepers.
There are double cylindrical columns under