The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-05-31

This bridge was opened TO the public
May 24tn with imposing ceremonies. The
President and many other noted men were
present, and fine addresses were made by
Rev. DR.. Storls aud Hon. Abram S. Hew.
lit. We append the following particulars
in relation to this immense structure:
"The great bridge uniting New York
and Brooklyn, which was formally opened
to the public May Oath was the conception
OF John G. Kingsley OF Brooklyn, who in
1865 hsd plans for the project drawn by a
competent engineer. In 1867 Legislative
charter was obtained for company with
a capital OF S.. 900, 600, and the work was
entrusted to John A. Robeliug, who built
the first suspensio bridge at Niagara and
the big bridge at Cincinnati. He estimat-
ed the total cost, including the approaches
aud incidentals at $40, SOC, 900, and thought
the work could be finished in five years.
After the work was well under way Mr.
Robeling died from lockjaw caused by
having his foot crushed between the side
OF boat and dock. He was succeeded
in the superintendency Of the work by his
son, Col Washington A. Robeling, who
has himself been an invalid for ten years
from disease contracted while personally
attending to the sinking Of q caisson.
Tho construction OF the bridge was be-
gun January 3. 1870 The principal
problem, aside from raising money for the
work was to get the piers into deep water;
and this was ingeniously accomplished by
sinking huge cribs OF timber on which the
towers were to rest. Ugen tins framework
were laid huge blocks Of granite, while be-
meath the ground was excayated TO allow
the whole mass TO sink uniformly, aud
this process WAS continued until bed rock
was reached The towers thus stand
about 80 brlow the level OF the tide. while
they isr above IT $40 feet Each tower is
1874 feet long 1t iiie bottom by SO feet wide.
They are not built solid but hollow, and
at their summit are 100 feet wide by 40
feet thick. The towers contain S.. 1853
cubic yards OF masonry. Over these i'm
mense towers run four cables. each | 8 81
inces ia diameter and consisting Of $500
steel wires wrapped TO solid cylinder.
The ultimate strength OF each cable is H..
900 tons. The size OF the cable anchorag.
es at the bases is 100 by ll9 feet, and at
the top III by 104 feet The weight Of
each anchor plate is 20 tons.
The total length Of the bridge is 5,0s8
feet. or mile aud about one seventh.
The central span from tower to tower is
! .502 feet. and the clear height in the CEN
ter above high water l36 feet The span
on each side from the tower 10 the anchor. |
age is $50 feet. The length of the New
York approach, beginning in Chatham
street. to the anchorage is 1862 feet and Of
the Brooklyn approach 81 feet The
width Of the bridge is IS feet, giving space
for an elevated promenade OF 10 feet in the
center. two railway tracks and two drive.
ways for vehicles. The latter take up the
outer sides. The or ade Of the roadway is
8 IA feet to every hundred feet. The APP
prosches are OF iron and solid masonry,
arching over the cross streets, and are by
no means the least costly part Of the work.
The total cost OF the bridge will not be far
rom SIS. 000, 600. and the work has occu.
pied over Is years But il must be taken
INTO account that after the work was be-
gun the company gave place to board Of
rustees, that there we're many difficulties
about raising money, and that plans we're
Uttered and other changes made which in
Tolved delay and extra cost. 1t cannot be
lenied. however, that the bridge trustees
,sve something impressive 10 show for the
money expended. Although it has not
'een made free bridge ii will nndonbt-
dly be largely pstronized. More than I
I. oco, 900 Of passengers cross In the ferry
'oats between the two cities every wear,
nd the ferries are inadequate to the tray.
l. When cars arc running over the bridge
will not take more than Ven minute,