The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-03-16

metropolis. From the time of the settle-
ment of the country, western New York,
Pennsylvania and the southern and west
ern part Of the country have had no rail
communication with the New England
states, except by an indirect route via
Albany. The Hudson river extending in
a north and south line has been an inn
passable barrier. But a vast increase OF
wealth, and new methods Of construction
and advance In the science OF engineering
are at last about to overcome this obstacle
At Poughkeepsie there Is being built a
bridge which IS designed to throw trains
direct from New England to the west
without ferriage, and without the neces-
sity Of going north 20 Albany and then
south again.
This bridge is the modern cantilever
pattern. AT Poughkeepsie the river is
uniformly deep and a little over half q
mile wide. This is favorable, inasmuch
a the channel for boats is broad, and but
a small proportionate space Is taken up
by the four piers, which are erected on
solid stone foundations at intervals Of 500
feet. These, with a s-uperstructure on
each, resemble tho letter r in form.
From both ends Of the horizontal super
structure truss work is built out until the
two sections meet in the center.
The approaches to the bridge are in
themselves no unimportant specimens OF
engineering skill. On the west side a
viaduct over 1000 feet long extends to
the hills Of Ulster county, where hum
dreds Of men are engaged In leveling a
way; while on the east side, far above the
roofs Of the houses for half a mile, a via
duct leads into the town of PouRhkeepsie.
For years the great suspension bridge
at Niagara was the American engineering
marvel. To this a few years ago was
added the second bridge at that point
further up the river. Now there is a third
bridge over Niagara, and, like the Pough-
keepsie bridge, 1t is q cantilever. The
view from these bridges is wonderful.
But when trains begin to run across the
Hudson river at PonghSeepsie, the view
obtained win be almost Is grand as the
one at Niagara.
Fancy the grandeur of the scene to a
locomotive engineer, taking q train from
the Poughkeepsie station on to the bridge.
Pulling over the viaduct he may look
down at the chimney tops, the roofs of
the hcuses,-Rnd men end vehicles moving
like figures below. Directly before him
is the straight track, the rails eonYergina
to O point among the hills on the other
side, Far TO the northward lies the blue
ridge Of the Catskill mountains. To the
south Old Storm King lifts It's head to-
ward the clouds, the little village Of Corn
wall nesting at his base. As few miles
beyond, West Poiut-gr0und made classic
by the deeds Of the many incipient heroes
who there received their ltraining--lies
directly across the river, which seems sud-
denly to end. Underneath are passing
and repassing the white sails Of river
wind-craft, and all other manner of water
vehicle, from the putting little tug drag
ging acres. OF barges, to the swift passen-
ger steamei cutting the waters with her
white PROV, and moving majestically
under the power Of her ever fitting walk
ing beam.
Surely this is an age of wonders, and
in no way IS this more remarkably dis.
played thar in bridge building.