Omaha daily bee., 1886-08-23
A NOTABLE BRIDGE.
The First Railroad Bridge in the
Country Being Demolished After
Einy Years of Use.

The First Railroad Bridge in the
Country Being Demolished AFTER
Fifty Years of Use.
Philadelphia Record; After half 8
century of usefulness the famous Colum
bia wooden bridge spanning the Schuyl
Kill river between Rockland and Bel
mont, in Fairmount Park, is to be dis
mantled, and in its place will rise more
modern structure of iron. Aside from
the ancient and picturesque appearance
of the structure considerable interest at.
taChcs to it on account of its historical
Importance and its connection with the
earlier railroad interests of PpnnSyl-
Nania. II was built in 1884 by the canal
commissioners of the state for the phila.
dclphia Columbia railroad one of the
earliest practical steam lines constructed
in PcnnsylNanla, and, in fact, in the
whole United States. This line was
originally projected as n stock company,
but failing to secure sufficient financial
support 1t was taken in hand by the state
OF Pennsylvania, under whose direction
ii was constructed and operated until
sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad com.
pany in lS4!
just previous to the construction OF the
Philadelphia and Columbia railroad the
Union Canal, which was to follow the
east bank of the Schuylkill was pro.
not readily forthcoming, so n lottery for
Its bencnt was authorized by the state.
Work was commenced, but beyond grad
ing the course from Fairmont avenue to
close by the eastern end of the bridge,
nothing was done The line thus pre-.
pared was then utilized by the Columbia
Company, Notwithstanding futile law
suit by the Canal Company for its re.
covcry.
There are many among the older resi-.
dents OF Philadelphia who are able to re.
call the old state railroad by which
travellers went west, starting from Broad
and Callowhill streets. Travel was com
menced several years prior TO the con
struction of the Columbia bridge, pass.
engcrS being conveyed to the east bank
of the Schuylkill by rail and crossing the
river IN boats From the west side the
cars were hauled to the summit of the
hill upon which Belmont Mansion stands
over an inclined plane, II stationary en-
ghe at the top of the hill furnishing the
motive power. Locomotives were then
attached to the cars and passengers were
conveyed across country to Columbia.
The new route adopted by the Penn
sylvania railroad upon its purchase of
the Columbia line rendered the bridge of
no value to the new line, and it was sub
sequently sold TO the Philadelphia and
owners. 1t was then somewhat altered
and improved in order to fit it for the
change in traffic which took place. The
long and gracefully sweeping arches,
which now form Il conspicuous feature of
the bridge, were added, and the entire
structure was strengthened throughout
with iron-tie bolts.
The old wooden bridge is 1850 feet
long and has seven spans With its dou-
Ia n.,ly ~ Il IA l,.,E,
width OF forty eight feet. 1t is built of
white pine, and, owing to the careful
manner IN which it is protected from the
weather 10y an iron covering, it is a
sound to-day as when first constructed
Speaking of wooden bridges, an eNpe-
rlenccd engineer remarked the other day:
at is the popular but erroneous idea that
wooden bridge of such an aye must
necessarily be pretty well dccayed, but if
we'll covered and thoroughly protected
from the weather, such structure will
last I'M almost indefinite period"
The Columbia was the first railroad
bridge of any considerable size ever con.
structed in this country, and it is the
oldest now in existence. There are, how.
ever, several foot and carriage bridges
whose construction antedates the Colum.
bia bridge. The old wooden bridge at
Easton WAS built in 1905, while that at
llalIlSDuIS DGluSc WIS uGSlIOJcu ny IRE,
but with that exception both structures
are as sound to-day as when first erected.
The Columbia bridge has never suffered
by fire and has withstood the floods and
storms OF fifty winters without suffering
any damage. The principal reason for
the demolition of the old bridge is its
scanty width, which will hardly permit
of the passage of the modern passenger
cars now in use.
Strange burdens have been borne
across the old bridge during its hall
century of usefulness. Unnumbered
thousands of foot passengers have
tramped its floor, and vehicles of every
description have rolled along III the dark
and tunncl-like structure. Not only have
freight and passenger trains crossed the
river upon its substantial arches, but
even canal boats have been trundled
across and brought into the very heart of
the city. Until the construction of the
boats were built in detachable sections.
Freight was loaded on these crafts Mt
Pittsburg and other points, and the boats
were taken by land and water to their
destination. At the termination OF the
water routes the sections of the canal
boats were detached and each one run
upon truck. They were then dlawn
from the water and placed upon the rail
road tracks over which they were con-
yeyed to their destination. Freight
loaded upon boats in Pittsburg was often
unloaded from the same vessels in Mar
ket street warehouses.
Rupture radically cured, also pile tu-
mors and tistulm, Pamphlet of particu,
lars 10 cents in stamps. Worlds Dis
nnnsoru Medical Association Ruffn la N