The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-12-27
creased by TIE death of Mr.. D. c. Haskell i
~ Y eraao
Opening of the Can,ilever bridge,

LocKpoRr, N. Y, Special Telegram, Dec 20
AT al early hour this morning special trains
rom Now York and Chicago, bearing the
officers and guests Of the New
York Central AMI Mlchiganf Central
:airoad from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse
md other cities came rolling into tho
lepot here, where they unioadcd their
% ''" Witness the '''f fos%al OPENING ''' Of
tho great cantilever bridge over the Niagara
river. At IL o'clock the bridge was tested
by placing number of Mogul engines,
whose aggregate weight was 1000 tons, upou
the center of tho bridge, and large number
made careful examination of every part
Of the structure Every part was declared
firm. The de Election was tritling and the bridge
was pronounced q success. Following this test
two trans Of palace cars, in which were the
1000 invited guests were run upon the
crossing Of the bridge was made Dec. 9th last,
wher Division Superintendent Burrows, of the
Now York Central. accompanied by number
Of civil engineers and experts, members Of the
press and one or two ladies crossed on his pony
engine No. 5l3.
The bridge is located about 800 feet above the
old railroad suspension bridge. spanning chasm
$50 feet wide between tho bluffs and over 200
iost deep AS the foaming rapids at this point
rendered it impossible to build piers in the river
erect temporary supports, 1t was necessary to do
sign structure which could be erected without
cantiever type was adopted which would be self
supporting during erection. The principle Of the
cantllever is that OF beam supported at or near
its center. with arms extending 18th ways. arm
being held down BY an anchorage or counter
weight so that the load on the overhanging arm
produces an uplifting force i'll the opposite end
is consa, BY the The
towers. 1872 feet CT, inches high,
resting on stoue piers thirty-ni feet
a 16 Eacn Of these towers supports eantileye.
tower rests upon au abutment at the edge Of the
tlutt, while the other end extends out over the
river. The shore ends of the cantilevers are
anchored to the abu ment masonry anchorage
piers, and both river arms are CONNECTED BY in
termel iato span Of 100 feet which is suspended
from the extreme ends OF the river The total
between the centers OF the anchorage piers; the
clear span between towers being 40 feet. The
height from surface OF water to base Of rail is .'33
feet. The towers are hraced steel structures con-
tanning four columns each. which are made up Of
plates, and angles riveted together. braced
x xth hor!zon t,a struts and tie RODS The
batter OF the columns at right angles
to the center line OF the bridge is in 8 aud oaral
le to the center line in Fl. The trusses are two
in number. IS feet apart between centers; the va
rons members being connected with steel pins IL
inches. 81 inches. and SIS inches in diameter.
turned accurately so as to fit the bored pin holes
within GA of au inch. The depth of the CAN'T
yer Lru>SeS over the towers Is 90 feet. aud al the
shore ends 81 feet. and at the rives ends q; feet!
The lower chords and centerpos.s arc made of
plates and angles riyited together ard atticel, the
intermediate posts being Of 12by 15-iuch chan
nes. latticcd. This upper chords Of tho cantevers
are S-inch bars, the shore arms having a
compress lion member Is inches deep COM
posed OF plates and angles packed between the
chord bars The shore ends Of the can,ilevers are
attached TO short links, oscilialing plus anchored
to the abument masonry. which serve anchor
ages and also as rockers to allow for expansion and
contraction OF the shore produced by changes
of temperature. Exuans;ou joints are also pro-
viaed for at the connection Of tie Intermediate
span with the river ends Of tie two can;evers
The structure Is rropOrtiOne to carry, in addition
to its own weight, freight train each track at
the same tim, Weighing ton per .inca foot
engines. with Il factor Of 'afcty of .; Tic wind
bracing has been proportional for a pressure Of 80
pounds per square foot, surface twice the area
Of one face OF the truss, Plus of floor system
plus the Of sido Of train taken as 10 feet YER
sical height