The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-08
FAMOUS BRIDG rs.
A Fe ~ Of the NOr- Notable Siruct.
ures In Amercf.

OG the Sth OF March, 1853, the locomo.
tive passed over the celebrated Niagra
suspension bridge for the first time. 1t
was looked on as a wonderful work, and
thousands visited it from all parts Of the
civilized world. 1t is about 500 feet in
length between the towers, and hangs
suspended in mid air 25S feet above the
water. Its four great cables are each q
inches in diameter and composed Of 5, 600
wires. The towers over which they pass
are l5 feet square at the base, and &C
in height The cost of the entire struct.
ure was s5OO,0
The first cast-iron bridge OF any note
in the United States was the celebrated
iron bridge Of Philadelphia, completed in
July, 1856, at cost OF 100000. 1t is
800 feet long, AZ feet wide, 20 feet
above the surface Of the water and weighs
l,2oo tons. Five years were required in
its construction.
The Starrucca Visduct, on the line Of
the Erie railway, near Lanesboro, Sns-
quehanna county, Pennsylvania, is one OF
the most grand and imposing structures
of the kind in America. 1t is a splendid
piece Of masonry, 1000 feet long. ITO
feet high, 80 feet wide, consisting OF is
arches. with spans OF 80 feet, and strong
piers that will probably stand while time
cndnres. Its cost was 1920, 600.
The suspension bridge across the Ohio
river a. Cincinnati is 2,252 feet, and the
roadway is 100 feet above the water. Its
towers are each S5xj2 feet at the base,
230 feet in height and l.057 feet apart.
The work was commenced September /,
1859, and was about eleven years in the
course of construction, and cost about
S2,OoO,OOO.
The Victoria Tubular Bridge across the
st. Lawrence, at Montreal, Canada, is a
grand specimen of engineering skill. 1t
consists Of an enormous iron tube, % feet
high, l6 feet wide and 9l94 feet long.
1t is supported by twenty four stone
piers and two solid abutments. 1t was
opened for travellers in 1860, and cost
So, 800, 900. The bridge across the Ohio
river at Louisville is 5,2lO feet long and
is supported by 2i stone piers. Its cost
was s2,Ol6,sl9
The celebrated st. Louis bridge was
commenced in 1869 and completed il
1874. The main part is l,52o feet II
length, divided into three spans, resting
on piers of stone. The piers were sunl
to the bedrock in the river, through tn
sand from 90 to 100 feet, by means o
wrought.iron caissons and atmosphere
pre- sures. The immense spans are eacl
formed of four huge cast steel ribbe'
arches. The bridge is two stories il
height, the lower story being used by tn
railway and the upper by street-cars
carriages and footmen. Beyond tn
spans it passes over viaduct approachin
200 feet in length, when the railwa
enters tunnel 4,SOO feet long, passin
under great part of the city. Th
entire cost of the bridge and tunnel wa
over $40, 600, 600.
The famous East river bridge, +,
Gently completed, is 1906 feet. Tt
height of the towers above high wat,
mark is 276 feet, and the height of Il
roadway in the center above the water
l35 feet. The four cables are 3,57S fe
in length and l5q inches in diamete
The entire bridge, including the a
proaches on each side Of the river
SIP feet long. Its construction beg;
in January, 1870, and its probable co
when completed will not be less tn;
$4,000, 900, and it is not strong enou,
for railway travel.