The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-11-18
KEEPING THE BRIDGE IN ORDER.



Superintendent G. @. Martin, speaking
of the work of keeping the bridge in repair
and accommodating the thousands who use
it, said: :" In our engine room we have
two 300-horse power engines, one of which
is always at work, and q chief engineer with
three assistants. One of the latter is al
ways on duty, and all are practical mechan-
les and were selected solely with reference
to their qualifications. The chief engineer
has general supervision of all the, rope
drawing machinery, which has now been
in use over two years. On every Sunday
morning, between and o'clock, -while
the cars are being drawn by locomotive,
the cable, which is seven stranded and over
II, 900 feet long, is carefully examined
throughout its entire length. II is moved
slowly over the grooved wheels ON which it
runs, and is closely examined both by sight
and by touch of hand, in order that no de-
feet may pass unnoticed. Although ii has
been in use more than two years, il has
never been frayed or stranded, and is now
in as good working condition as ever. A
written report as to the condition of the
cable is sent to me once week.
" Track inspectors go over the railroad
every day, looking closely at all the rail
points, the bolts in the fish plates at the
joints, and the wear and tear of the rails.
They examine closely to see that none OF
the spikes that hold the rails have become
loosened, and closely inspect the grooved
wheels which carry the cable, to see that
they are in perfect order and well oiled.
& As 10 the cars, they are inspected every
day by competent mechanics, to see that
both the hand and the vacuum brakes, with
which they are provided, are in perfect or
der. No car goes out of the yard without
this inspection, the necessity for which will
be apparent when it is known that the safety
of thousands Of passengers depend upon the
proper performance of the brakes The
wisdom of having a double brake system
was demonstrated on Monday last, when q
car lost its hold ON the cable and was
brought to standstill by the use of the
vacuum brake We have thirty cars, and
Mt what we call the rush hours twenty-seven
are always in use.
Once every month the attachment of
the cables at the anchorages, ms well as the
saddles at the top of the tower, are care
fully inspected. II there be at any point
tendency to rust, the wire is repainted, and
thus the moisture that causes rust is efIeetu-
ally kept out There is constant daily
supervision of the painting on the trusses,
floor beams and other parts of the structure,
and wherever the paint has been rubbed off
by amy means it is Immediately replaced
The whole bridge is to be reprinted next
year. a4.
+" There is not an hour OF tbs day or
night when our workmen are net on the
lookout for flaws or imperfectionS in the
thousand and one parts that go to make up
this great bridge. Every man is instructed
to watch carefully at all hours for defects
of any sort, and thus the stranding Of
wire or the loosening of a bolt could scarce
ed to me and repaired. The cable is as per.
feet to-day as it ever was, and seems to show
few signs of wear.
{" In the matter of lighting the bridge
We early took the precaution to provide
double supply. so that under no circum-
stsnces could the bridge ever be in total
darkness. We have eighty-two electric
lights arranged in two circuits, every other
light being on an entirely independent cir
cult. Thus, should an accident happen to
one of the dynamos, only one-half of the
lights would be extinguished, and the
others would fairly illuminate the struc-
tIre."