Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-04-24
NEW YORK

| wrote. last week OF the -teteS kaph
wires In this city, and from them turn 10
that greatest OF all wire works the Brook
lyn Bridge. went down 10 see this
splendid piece Of engineering. but As 10
was not opened TO the public did not cross
IL. However, did the next best thing
that i took ferry boat, At the foot OF It's
New York pier. sn1 crossed the East River.
This gave a splendid view OF the structure,
both in crossing and returning II Is
probably the best way TO obtain a good
view OF the whole structure, as ferry
boats DO not travel with remarkable rap
idity, and YOU msy examine u, 1t leisure.
one cannot realize how large and high the
span is, until he sees some large vessel pass
beneath it, As the vessel approaches, IL
looks A. though It's maSts would strike
the cable. When directly underneath, YOU
see twenty, thirty or forty feet between
the top mast, and the bridge. Then IL
height above the river begins 90 dawn mp
on YOU. have condensed the following
from q New York paper, sud doubtless il
will De more interesting snd accurate than
anything | can write. TO- H. "
Up TO last week the expenditures showed
a total Of Sl4, as, eos. Olthe cost BROOK
lyn has paid $1,000 900, and New YORK
the other 5000, GO. The lighting ap-
psrstuS is 10 cost $4,000 If accepted and
there are 10 be seventy lights Of 1000 can
die power each. When everything Is done.
the round figures $4,000, 900 Will come
near enough % express the cost what j.
there 20 show for 10: \ graceful seem
ingly slender suspension bridge between
two stone towers, high enough ID
be seen from afar NJ the Hudson or down
the BAY OF over in New Jersey. IL j. no.
so slender as IL seems. The network 'i
bracing Is such IS 20 make the structure
a. immOva ble as though II Were one soiN
bar OF steel resting on the massive towers.
The four great cables are themselves made
20 act s. STAYS hy the iuwsrd curve given
them by the hundreds Of steel wires that
suspend the fOur-tOu fiOOr beams. one O!
the engineers SAYS. you may load he
bridge with locomotives from anchorage
20 anchorage. and vet not use more thao
twO-thirdS OF the tensile power OF the
great cables. They viii last more thAn
ten centuries.
Construction begun January ., l>,'.
First rope thrown across the river August
"a, ls76 Depth Of the New York iouudt-
ton below high water mark. - feet 50
inches; % Brooklyn foundation - feet
Height OF towers above high wSter mars
- feet. Height OF roadway I'm ihe clear
in the middle ~ the East River 1855 feet
Grade OF roadway, feet 3 inches o. lN
feet. Length 90 the main or river span.
l.595 feet inches length ~ each land
span. $50 feet; length OF New York APP
proach. 90 feet inches length ot
Brooklyn approach. 81 feet making a To-
al length OF . ,y~9 lcct-SO that u Will take
an ordinary walker about fifteen minutes
20 cross H. Length OF each O. the four
great cables. S.5-> feet inches diameter
10 81 inches number Of steel galvanized
wires in each cable. =. asa weight OF each
cable 500 tons. or ,Sp0,O Vr Weight or
OF steel in the suspended suPcr>;ructure,
10000 tons.
The following diagram by the Herald
represents sectional view OF the road
bed Of the bridge. The promenade Is 10
De elevated above the railroad for the
greater part OF the distance, but AZ each
approach this condition will be reversed,
the promenade running down 10 the
level Of the rOSdways, and the railroad
being elevated - lessen the grade and 20
enable the fOOt-trsveiers 10 pass under