, 1881-08-12
RANDOLPH VIADUCT.
A Notable Bridge Over the Rail-
way Tracks at Central
Depot,
Built by the Illinois Central Rai1rond
at q Cost of $4,000.

Tho opening up to public trntI|c OF a Ono now
thoroiighfnro ono-thrt of milo In length, in
ono p1 tho busiest sections Of tho business con-
tro. is matter of sotnothn9 moro than passing
interest to Chtcngonns. On or at]ont Sept suoh
an extension will 10 made, ind Randolph atrcot
will 10 opened through to tho Lnko.Ftont from
It's present terminus ut Michigan avenue. Tho
new street 1s further nottccabio Ia that 1t IL cur
rictl through tho mir nt hight Of twenty foot
nbovo tho regular lcro!, nnd Ii supported
throughout by Iron pillars and beams It forms.
In fnct. tho longest Vinduct, extending 0ntlrcly
over land. in tho United states, md few pcoplo
hnve my conception Of tho An,ount Of lRbor md
invested capital which havo boom put into this
Important and desirable Improvement. ,,~
For years past tho necessity Of q safe md con-
rentcnt approach to tho lumbor.yar.ls and
dock property In tho vicinity Of tho Illinois,
Central slip aud tho lnrgo elevators th9ro haa'
continued to make ltsolf 1nura and tuuru mnnt-
fest Tenms travelling in TINT direction wueo
,Sasro ; Io eros; forty or it tracks s to
aiways ot tlioulty ' aud oftcn Of danger.
ilnS,Iy reached s.tcf poIls that tte @ nnnase. &C.:
emt Of .nn in9's Stral Mairoa
fully <sU,ON hnvo constructed wtnt will be,
when fully completed, n magnificent piece OF
v,1,,1i,, work md an Immense accommodation TO tho
THE NEW v1ADucr
with its appso.chcs ia 1,54 foqt in length, and
extvntls from tho t'ast litlp Of Mlehga1 avorl,o
nasoslsy il tho West, mud il said to bav9 cost
VIZ ats g. bsosa %s' ,oe aSS oa md Gn1as Z ID
appearance OF Hrnca rs we'll rs or soItsltty. Tho
roadbed il Of colnent, covcred with nsp!at, and
some lamps Tho eRstcrtl nppruach, while or
elunlly sOi!d CONSTRUCTION. 10 not 90 highly ornf-
r4a !, s kan.pca Sst e s'Gas 5 fto a1y KpS1s i
The y''',,st pfopes e entirely ol ise 81! The BE-
atSr rdso worss "ss IT ufas N. no sos
sIsts Of twonty-one long and seyen
0st y esap spss eet cSs ysTyn no S9 yauoS II Ss
peculiar lnnns,er 70 which tho, tracks nre?
others dlayonaliy and nj varoas ansics. The
illInuis. Central, atchiunn Eontrai. and i5aitt-
trouble to wink up on tho ylatluct und look
around hu viii yet s'n,n lfea Of tho ynst oxtont
switches. aud viii roalfze that tho raIroad bnsl-
ness done OIL tho Lake. Front Is no tritil1ig mat-
solid masonry, which fesls Oh plies driven far
below tho water-lfno. To avoid my possible
uatu, and Al tho posts
Will 1,E BEcuHELf ANCHORED.
Tho floor beans nro n,nssivo, nnd nro So
cMrciy fastcnod by oross-tIes 9t,d nolts Tho
upper pGrt Of tho structure Ia OF what IN known
rs tho WArrou Htrtler pnttcrl. ind NIL tho work
IL rivetcd Sotno Twenty-Five miles Of tho elo.
ratetl rntlruah track IN New York City Is coll
atrlictsd on this pattern, which has been much
used III railroad work, cspeclatty In tho East,
and bus boon extensively. tried by tho Illinois
Central Nailrond with uniform goad ros,lts.
Tho roadway ts twGniy-une feet eight inches
| wtto botwGGn tho contrcs OF tho trnsses which
| will givo clcar passage-w way twenty foot wide
for tennis. It win hnvo double flooring Of nne
bonrds four inohes thick: the lower floor being
laid squarc. aud the .upnor one orogstnE 1t Mt al
anglo OF forty.iiye degrees 4 sidewalk about
sx tuct wsde will oxtond nlonE tho sDltth side OF
tho riatluct its entiro length. This viii he car
rtcd on projecting bcnuis and protected By q
stout lton raiitng a Eas.lAmp wl bo plauod To- or
during the heated term In future ycara tho via
dtlct Will bo crowded by thousands enjoying the
| cooling breezoa frnul Lake Michigan.
| Tho Ftlluct will bD Of ensy npproach, The
gradeB Mt cithor pud being about half mn lnpt
loatl of 2,5o pounds g. tho llteal foot, md us
such strain can possibly be brought to bear upor
| cry plcco Of Iron entering into lis construction
has boon carefully examined, and the wholt
erection will be subjected to tho sovoscst lostt
4: Tic x!aduot .,. vii bo ., psb.
llo thoroughfure.. although the cntirt
cost Of Its CONSTRUCTION and lnatnt9nanco fall
| upon the Illinois Coutrai Isntlroatl. Mr.. A. G
| Fretch. 9uPortntGntent Of 1lrldEoa ot thnt road
1 hAs hAl full Charge Uf tho construction Of thu
soltilty and tne nppcarnne1 Of Tho work.. Tht
iron-Waek ie all ~ placg aud moro than huff th'
flooring, and it ts confidently beloved that b.
Sept. ! tho viaduCt Will bo opened for tralliu.