The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-21
Railway Notes.
Davenport Democrat.

There is rejoicing in Clinton over the
granting of the right of way through the
city to the c., M / St P. and the use Of
park for railroad depot. Supt. Wyatt
Informed the Herald, on Saturday, that il
is the intention of his company to ulti-
mately extend their line southwest of this
city-probsbiy TO an early connection
with their Davenport branch, thus giving
Clinton direct and long needed South
western outlet-this being also sn indica-
ton that the Milwaukee company have in
some manner gained control of the old
Southwestern grade and right of way. at
least as far as to connect with the branch
The Sabuia Gazette has the following
article in relation to the Sabula bridge the
continuation of which is of conside cradle
Importance to Davenport, as all of the
shipments to and from the east over the
Davenport & Northwestern will be trans
ported over that bridge.-in short, the
bridge opens a new traffic line for that
city:
Work on the railway bridge is pro-
crossing rapidly, but is not yet under full
Roadway. the preliminary business of
driving piles for anchors requiring some
little time. Now four pile drivers are ct
work sinking the foundations for the
piers, which will be nine in mum Der, each
requiring from IS to 80 piles. These will
be sawed off close to the bed of the river,
then q caisson built on their top. in
which will be placed the masonry. The
piers will be numbered from the Iewa
shore. Up to No. 3 will be the draw; for
its foundation 2i6 piles will be driven.
The bulk of the labor is being done by the
driver on pier No. S. the piles for which
pier are mostly all driven. The machine
is novel piece of mechanism, and there
are only three of its kind 10 existenoe. 1t
originated in England, but was rejected
there as incompetent. Subsequently lin
1879 Chicago firm improved upon and
put it into successful use, and it had the
honor of humping in the supports of the
Lacrosse bridge, besides doing other
heavy work throuahout the country. A
barge supports Is herse engine. which
supplies motive power to trip hammer
giving from 40 to SIS strokes per minute.
The total weight of the hammering ap-
paratus is 1900 pounds, the hammer it
self weighing 5000 pounds Its fall is
stroke give the amount of impulse derived
from the old style hammer. but the
strokes follow each other so rapidly that
the pile is kept 10 motion and driven home
at greater speed and in much better shape |
than can be done by any other machine, |
Its average work is about Is piles per
day. The piles are driven into the bed of |
the river from Is TO 80 feet.
The large derricks have been erected to |
unload stone. and large force of stone
cutters will soon be at work. The stones |
are taken from the Champion qusrries |
near Anamosa. where double set of
hands are busy getting them out. Abont
s, 900 yards Of rock and 1000. 900 feet Of |
timber will be required, The iron work |
will be of the most substantial kind. |
When the work is fully under way. about |
100 men will be employed in the construc-
ton of the bridge. and it will be completed |
as soon as the wealth of the G.. M. 4 ST. |
2. can do it.