Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-12-13
THIRD EOlIl0l.|C, s, middleton
All RlGhl NOW.

All Might Now.
1t 10 no secret that the new tnachin-
cry for turning the draw OF tie new
bridge over the Christiana at Market
street did not work in Q satikfactory
manner when put in motion, AID there
were even some grave apprehension ON
the part Of some people, but none on
the part Of the contractors, thstiit mizht
fail to accomplish the purpose Intended,
But IL is o matter of pleasure to state
now that there remain no grounds for
approximations or doubts, al having
been removed by the successful start
ing OF the not intricate but ingenious
apparatus last Wednesday, since which
time 1t has been working With the
greatest ease, and the ponderous bridge
has been moving in itsprescri led orbit
like thing Of life.
The reason why it did not work In .
satisfactory manner before was because
a part of the old hand machinery was
used, and this involved.a difficulty In
bringing the new and old machinery
into harmony with each other, and whom
that was done there existed no farther
trouble In turning the bridge. Mr..
Baker, the mschinist, in fact the partial
inventor Of some OF the machinery; Mr..
Morrison the efficient engineer end prac-
teal machinist in charge Of tho bridge;
Mr.. Adams, the builder Of the boiler,
the Committee Of the Levy Court,
and all interested and concerned are
delighted with the successful working
of the draw. By this new appliance OF
machinery, Mr.. Morrison is enabled to
move the draw from and to its position
In two minutes and half, considerably
less than half the time il took TO turn
it by hand machinery.
Mr.. Morrison, who has charge Of the
machinery now, and who will after the
25th of March have full charge Of the
bridge, with the privilege Of naming
his assistant, is a capable gentleman
for the position. He il an engineer VI
some thirty years standing, a good part
of which time he was an engineer on
the P, w. &c b. Railroad. As an en-
gineer he has gained such thorough
practical knowledge of machinery, that
It is very doubtful If q more competent
gentleman could have been selected for
such an important position.
TO none Is more praise due than TO
the firm of G. w. Baker & Co.,
the machihists on French street below
Third. The engines and turning gear
we're not only built by this firm but the |
designs and drawings for the same
originated with the firm for the especial
purpose Of turning the bridge. The |
machinery consists of pair Of beau |
tifully designed verticle engine cylin- /
ders, 7x10, with reverse gear, % that /
they will run either way by simply |
pulling lever. In the main shaft and /
between the engines are fixed two
grOoved fractional gears which con
meet with corresponding ones on the
back. These gears are made to work in
eccentric boxes, connected with which /
is lever for throwing them in and out
of gear, rs required when turning the
draw In order 10 overcome the inertia. |
The other lever is for raising and low
ering the wedges which keep the bridge
in exact position, without moving one
way or the other. Connected with this
part of the machinery is an indicator,
which the engineer keeps his eye upon,
marked open and shut. The finger of
the indicator when opposite "open"
shows that the wedges are drawn, aud
that it is time to etart the other ma
chinery for starting the draw. When
the finger is opposite shut" 1t indicates
that the bridgeis ready for travel.
On the other end of the shaft carry
ing the large and main fractional gear
is fastened a beveled pinion gearing
into wheel carrying vertical shaft
TO the main driving mechan.l
ism, composed Of several large shafts,
spur.wheel aud pinions sufficient TO
reduce 800 revolutions Of the enRinesl
to one complete revolution Of The 0raw,
or TO $50 revolutions TO half revolu
ton of the draw, which is equivaleutI
to moving the draw of and on once.
The firm found the old machinery to-
which they were to attach the new
machinery quite inadequate for their
purpose, and this caused them r great
amount OF trouble to strengthen, in
order TO make IL work in satisfactory
manner without replacing 1t with new
machinery, which they did not agree TO
do.
The firm Of G. W. Baker & Co. look
upon their work with a considerable de-
gree OF pardonabls pride, as some of the
designs were entirely new. There IL
only one other drawbridge worked
upon the same principle in this section
OF the country, and that one Is tho
draw across the Scbuylkill al the foot
OF Broad street, but the machinery in
the Wilmington draw bridge, includes
msny designs and improvements over
the Broad street draw.
The firm say they are now prepared |
to give bids on contracts of This kind
and that some bridge builders have
already commenced to negotiate with |
them in that line.
Upon the whole the people Of Will
mington, and indeed the people of New
Castle County are To be cor gratulated |
Tor having first class bridge across |
the Christiana the Levy Court for |
building the best bridge for the County, |
the firm of G. W. Baker 81 Co. for |
their success In moving the draw with |