The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-10-06

after a careful inspection and discussion of
their respective merits the Hawkins com
pany took the honors, and were awarded the
contract The seleCtmen and bridge com
mittee received counsel and professional
advice from Charles II. Clark, b. e., State
Engineer. Mr.. Clark had been duly an
pointed engineer by the legislative bridge
act. Mr.. Clark is the Oldest practical bridge
engineer in Vermont; he is the chief bridge
engineer of the Central Vermont system,
having been connected with railroad and
highway bridges for over 40 years The
construction Of the North Hero bridge com
menced in June, 1885, under the manage
ment of Manager George Ayers; Prof. Il. Il,
Jennings, G.. f., of Springfield Mass, being
the consulting engineer and designer. The
work of constructing the substructure was
rapidly pushed The plan of construction
called for 475 lineal feet of stone approach
on the east side, and $50 ineal feet of stone
approach on the west side, and $50 lineal
feet of iron bridge, with draw span Of 1876
feet, supported on high piers of cut stone
masonry the cut stone piers being supported
by cribs of large size. The building of the
immense cribs is worthy of MENTION as they
consumed over 100000 feet of timber,
which was l2x12, and 30 to AS feet in length.
The largest crib was 81 feet high, 30 feet
wide, and 80 feet long, firmly locked or
fastened with cross timbers every 6 feet
The cribs were filed with 5000 yards of
Isle La Motto stone. None of these wooden
cribs come to the top of the water, so the
visitor can see nothing of this vast amount
OF material. Wood cribs under water are
in existence in Rome at the present day that
were built over 1000 years ago. So there
can be no doubt as to the permanencv of
the foundation cribs of the North Hero
bridge. The cut stone masonry is done in
such workman-like manner that we doubt
if it is excelled in New England Those
that think nothing is done durable in this
country should inspect these massive but
tresses and piers. The super-structure-
that is, the bridge proper-is constructed of
the best wrought iron mo cast iron being
used.) The style of connection is the En-
glish system, the riveted lattice, which
makes "a most solid bridge. This system of
connection is the same as used on all En-
glish railway bridges, and is the one thing
that Americans can well take pattern of
The other system that is sometimes used on
bridges is the pin and link connection. The
weight of the bridge in this case is sustained
wholly on pins varying in thickness from
one inch to two inches. If one pin should
break with train of cars moving over, or
loaded teams, the chances are that the
whole span would collapse. With the RI
veted lattice, this danger is obviated, as 80
riVets could be removed without danger
RlYeted connections are made with rs Bur-
dens best iron rivets; each bar of iron in
the bridge is securely riveted, and in $50
feet span as many as 100 rivets are used
making the whole one solid super-structure,
with no rafting of loose pins, or bolts or
nuts to get loose. With these brief facts the
people can understand that they are paying
for a good bridge, at North Hero, and it
being Vermont enterprise everyone should
be interested in the progress of this work.
and as Vermont is prolific in bridges it may
interest her people to know that the longest
iron highway bridge in Northern New En-
gland, if not in all New England (the North
Hero BRIDGE was built in St. Adams, Yer
mont, and a superb structure il is with
trusses over 20 feet high, and roadway of
II feet. 1t is ample for all time. The draw
span turns on table, giving boats chance
to pass through two passages, each 96 feet
wide. This famous bridge will be open for
travel Nov. 1st, 1886. A collector of tolls
will be duly appointed, and nominal tolls
will be collected. The receipts will go to
the town of North Hero, who will hereafter
have full care, and pay for the maintenance
of the same.