Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-09-12

about sixty people each, which travel
at tie rate of twelve miles an hour,
passing given point ct intervals of
a few minutes. There are now four
distinct roads, all operated by one
corporation, known as the Manhat-
tan Company. The long and mar
row conformation of the city renders
comparatively few lines necessary.
Their average length is ten miles.
The equipment of the elevated iail-
ways is excellent. The cars resem-
bic very much ordinary passen-
ger coaches in outward appearance,
but are somewhat smaller. Tie
seats are covered with brown leather
or heavy cane, and are placed two
by-two at each side of the aisle, ex-
cept at the ends, where they are ar
ranged longiiudinaly around the
the car. The stations are elegant
specimens of architecture, construct
ed almost wholly of iron. The aver
age length of the platforms is 1870
feet, the width IL feet and the
height 20 feet. The passengers
reach them by three short flights of
steps, with landings, covered by pa
vilion roofs and lighted at night by
suspended gas lamps. At the head
of the steps thele are balconies, from
which the passenger enters ticket
office leading to the platform, and
at each side of the entrance is a
waiting room. These rooms are fin
ished in black walnut and yellow
pine. affording an elegant contrast
of colers. The platforms are COW
cred by pavilion roofs, the lines of
which are picturesquely broken by
wrought-iron crestings and finals,
which give the whole structure a
graceful appearance. The fare o.
oil the roads is 10 cents, except be.
tween the hours of 4:30 and 730
morning and evening, when it is re-
duced to five cents, to accommodate
the working people, remarkable
instance of the concessions which
monopolists sometimes make in the
interest of the public. While the
nominal speed of the cars is limited
to II miles per hour, the actual rate
is about 80 miles between stations,
large portion of the time being
consumed in stoppages. Trains are
controlled by atmospheric brakes
and are operated by electric signals,
and can be brought to halt within
distance equal to their own length
when running at full speed. There
is no ringing of bells or shrek OF
whistles to distract the people, but
the train slides noiselessly along,
the Joy and pride of all people who
are averse to the joiting motion and
snail-like speed of the horse car and
omnibus.
Another grand feature of the me-
tropolis, the most prominent land
mark by land Or water. is the Brook
lyn Bridge, structure which con-
sumed thirteen years in building
and cost over $lG,OOO,OOO. The
central span of the bridge isl ,595
feet long, the spans on each side
from the towers TO the anchorage
are $40 feet long, besides the APP
proaches from the termini, making q
grand total of nearly 5000 feet.
The width of IS feet includes path
way for foot passengers of 13 feet,
two railroad tracks and two wagon
tracks. The distance from high wa
ter mark to the floor of the bridge in
the center of the middle span is 1875
feet. The central span is suspended
from four cables of steel wine 16
inches in diameter which are assisted
by stays, the cables having q defsc.
ton Of 12S feet The towers rest on
a rock foundation 80 feet below the
surface of the water. The towers at
the water-line measure 1874 by Sc
feet. and at the cornice 12O by 40
feet. The total height above water
of each tower is 2S6 feet. The ap.
breaches on either side are supported
by iron girders and trusses, which
rest at short intervals upon piers of
masonry or iron columns. the
streets are crossed by stone arches
at such elevations as to leave them
unobstructed. The bridge has, so
far, not paid expenses. The charge
for foot passengers is one cent, and
the rate by the cars is five cents.
The view from the bridge is indis-
cribably grand. The grea. city lies
far beneath the beholder like some
great medley of ruins, without order
or system, and extending till it
blends with the horizon in the far
distance.
High Bridge, which spans the
Harlan river at One Hundred and
Seventy.Fifth street, is another not
ed specimen of engineering skill.
1t is l AGO feet in length, and is sup
ported by fourteen arches, resting
an solid granite piers, the crown of