Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-05-30

As Col w. A. Roebling, who succeeded
his father, John A. Roebling, as Chief Engi-
neer of the Brooklyn bridge, was born in Sax
onburg, this county, MAY 26, 1887 we can
properly feel some little local interest in the
great structure. The bridge is one of the me-
chanical wonders of the world. 1t is not tie
longest bridge in the world, but there is TO
single span which approaches the central span
over the East River, 1895 feet. 1t is 50 feet
wide and is divided into two roadways for vehi-
cles, two street car tracks and central footway.
The two towers are the principal features Of
the bridge. They are each 27S feet high above
high water mark; measure 140x59 feet at the
high water line, and at the top 136x53 feet
The Brooklyn tower foundation is 40 feet be-
low the water line and the New York tower
7sfeet. These towers are solid masonry, with
the exception of two openings in each, 33 feet
8 inches wide by III feet high, from the floor
of the bridge 10 the center of the arches. The
floor at the towers is 11afeet above high water
mark, and OF the centre of the bridge 135 feet
when the temperature is 90o. The four huge
cables work loose in their saddles on the tops
of the towers and the whole superstructure lis
atmosphere varies. Our Court House is about
12O feet long from the back door to the steps of
the portico, and is about 60feet wide. Twenty
feet more would extend it to the line of the
front fence. Imagine it so extended, sunk IS
feet under ground, and built 27S feet above
ground-three times the height of the present
steeple-a solid mass of masonry. with the ex-
ception of two holes at the top 80 feet wide and
III high, and you will have idea of the
size of the New York tower. The Brooklyn
tower is of the same size excepting that on
that side they had to go but 45 feet under
ground for a solid foundation. John A. Roeb-
ling, the father of Washington A, and the in
ventor of wire suspension bridges, came direct
to this county from Saxony, Germany in 1881.
He was one of an advance party of five, sent
here to purchase land for colony. At Pitts
burgh, he parted company with the other four,
who went farther west, and came to this county
and purchased several tracts of land from Mrs.
Collins. Come other immigrants followed
him, to whom he resold most of the land.
They were all poor and made living by
farming. Roebling was a hard student, even
while poor farmer. He made his first wire
ropes in long frame building near Saxonburg,
in 1912. These he hauled down to the river
and sold for canal boat ropes, ferry ropes, and |
for use in hauling the cars of the old Portage |
road, over the mountains. He was a citizen of
his name can be seen in the county dockets. !
In 1887 he, with David Dougal and William |
Denny (yet living were the viewers on the |
Denny Mill road, in Winfield township, and |
their report can be seen in Road Docket No. l, |
page 24l. In 1912 or 43, proposals for the re-
building of the canal aqueduct over the ALE |
gheny river between the Allegheny City and |
Pittsburgh were advertised for, and 81 900 |
was offered for the best plans. Roebling at
Mr.. Ferd Baer that he hadn't money enough to |
buy good suit, with which to go to Pitts
burgh. Receiving encourae ement from Mr. Baer |
he made his plans, went to Pittsburgh, got the |
contract and built the aquaduct. This was
followed by the Monongahela Suspension bridge |
some other bridges East and West. the ALE.
gheny, Federal street bridge, the Niagara
bridge, the Cincinnati bridge and finally the |
East River Bridge, which is the greatest mon
uMcut W HIS Hculuos llCj vi COuIScy DtCduC
wealthy, and educated his son Washington,
who is said to equal his father in mechanical
genias, in Europe, for civil engineer. He
left this county about the year 1S4S, and was
living in Trenton, N. j., when he was chosen |
Chief Engineer for the projected East River
bridge. He made plans for this bridge, but |
while making the initial surveys for it in 1869,
met with an accident that cost him his life. |
His foot was crushed between the ferry boat |
fender of the Fulton ferry and the string piece |
of the bridge dock, while he was superintend |
ing the soundings on the Brooklyn side. He
believed in the water'cure Ia hobby of his, and |
kept the injured foot in cold water until lock- |
jaw set ia and caused his death. The work |
was taken up by his son Washington, and as
we all know has been successfully completed.
Two of his old friends in Saxonburg, Julius
Reidle and E. A. Helmbold, were invited by |
Washington to take part in the opening cere
monies of last Thursday. Riedel attended,
but Helmbold did not.