The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-12-27
ensIs,iine.sf tlns Can,llSyser DriS

Bpslingg N the CantllSver Drid s
IoSKPoRF,, SpeoAl 6 raq,
-l1t III early lphr this lornllng spso< sraf
from Now York and Chicago, bearing the
officers aud gueAts d Of tho New
York Central and AichiganE Central
railroad from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse
and other cities came rolling into the
fSgaae, easseaesy, @ho e
to Witness the fofmal opening ssof
the great caItileyer bridge over the Niagari
river At IL O'Clock the bridge was tested
by placing a number OF Mogul engines,
OF epgineers, members Of the erican society,
made q careful examination Of every part
G&gahe struoture. Every part was declared
EATM The dedectioIwas trifing and the bridge
was pronounced . success. Follown: this test
two trans Of palace cars, in which we're the
s2, 600 invited guests were run upon the
bridge and there photographed. The first
crossing of the bridge was made Dec. 18th last,
swher Division Superintendent Burrows, Of the
New York Central. % panied by q rumDer
Of civil engineers and experts, members ofsthe
press and one or two ladiescrossed on lls roug
engine al'lP. No 91s' 5 .s, Il. III VI
The bridge is located about 500 feet above the
ga h1df
fest deep. As the foaming rapids at this point
rendered it impossible to build piers in the river or
erect temporary supports, It was necessary TO le.
such fa lse works to tain this end bridge Of the
cantilever type was adopted which would be self
supporting during erection. The PRINCIPLE OF me
its center. with arms extending both ways one arm
being held down by an anchorage, or counter
weight so that the load on the overhanging arm
produces an uplifting force in tho opposite end
which is resisted b; the counter*eicht. The
ss:s: i .,e5s ,s$s s@ Psss; IL: e.
high; Each of these towers supports a cantiever
500 feet 2 SIG inches long. One end of each
tower rests upon au abutment at tho edge OF the
bluff, while tho other end extends out over the
river The shore ends of the cartilevers arc
! anchored TO the abutment masonry or anchorage
piers aud both river arms are connected by an In:
| termediate span of 100 feet. which is SUSPENDED
from the extreme ends of the river arms. The total
length Of the bridge proper is $40 feet inches
between the centers of the anchorage piers; the
heightrom surface Of water to base Of rail is 239
feet. The towers braced steel structures. con.
| tanning four columns each. which arc made MP Of
with horizontal struts and tie RODS. The
| batter of the columns at right angles
the center line Of the bridge Is l., $. aud oaral-
10 number. 90 feet apart between centers: tho va
rious members being connected with steel pins *
inches, 81 inches, and '5ss inches in diameter.
lever trusses over the towers is Sc fee and at the
shore ends 81 feet. and at the river ends rs fest
The lower chords and centarposts are made Of
plates ard angles rivited together ard latticad tho
intermediate posts being of IL by l5-inch chan
neis, lsttcel Tho upper chords of the cantiaevers
are s inch bars, the shore arms having A
compression member is inches deep COM
posed Of plates and angles packed between the
chord bars. The shore ends Of the cautievers are
to the abutInent masonry which serve as anchor
ages and also rockers to allow for expansion and
contraction Of the shore arms produced by changes
| sided for at tine connection Of the intermediate
span with the river ends of the two ,cauti!evers.
to its own weight, a.freieh1 train on each track at
| the same time, Weighing ono ton per lHeal foot,
viii, each train headed b. two 76-ton consolidation
| engines. with factor Of safety of 5. The wind
bracine has been proportional for pressure Of 30
pounds per square foot. on surface twice the area
Of one face of the truss, plus of floor system
plus the area of side Of train taken 10 feet YER
| lical height