The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-04
TIE MEMPHIS BRIDGE.


MEMnns Tenn, sept 3, 1883.
To The Editor OF Tho Appeal.
Having noticed In the issue .. September |, Of
both our morning papers The ira 0nchc and THE
ATEAIa u cut OF the railroad bridge 10 DO built
over the Mississippi river at this point and there
being such u wide difference between the two
Illustrations / take the liberty OF asking YOU
through your columns for the satisfaction Of other
interested parties us well as myself, who have
asked me 50 repeatedly, which Is the bridge as Is
To be- So. please De- Kind enough 10 answer the
following questions.
!. Is the drawing of tsr 'r,road bird zoe 10 be
built across the Missssippi river from Fort Pick
criug to West Memphis, which appears In THE
ArrrALoi the lsi instant, u correct cop, Of the
engineer dmNugsu the bridge Is to be built2
3 Was the wording under the cut authorized by
Mcssr, Morrison n Corthcll the engineers who
planned the bridget IA. :. MATiS,
OF Martin q Chnmhctllu, Ciyil Engineers and
Architects.
To these inquiries WG reply
/. Yes.
., Yes. In ora 10 give the people Of
Memphis and tho region roundabout a
true idea Of the appearance Of tho
bridge that Is to be thrown across tho
Mississippi river at Memphis, from Fort
Pickering 10 West Memphis, by the
Kansas City 4 Memphis Railway and
Bridge Company, one OF the editorial
stan Of TnE ArPEAL went 10 Chicago,
arriving there Friday, the 2l.h instant.
lie called ut the Office Of the en-.
gnccrs, Mcssrs. Morrison 4 Corlhcll, Sat
urday morning, and met Mr. Corthcll.
TnE ArpEALs representative stated his
purpose 10 him, but as Mr.. Morrison was
IN the Eist il became necessary 10 COM
municalc with him 10y telegraph. An
answer was received Saturday night, stat
ing that he would consult with Gen. Net
Teton, in Boston, on Monday. Gen.
Ncttlotun was thnn tclegriphcl lnl Mon
day evening u reply was received up.
proving the proposition, ~ agreed upon
by Mr.. Corthcll and Tur ARREARS roprc-
sentative. Upon the receipt OF this, three
blue prints one showing the longitudinal
section, another the cross section and tho
third the perspective aud location Of picrs
were given TuF ArrEALs representative.
The delay made a sketch almost impossi-
BILE because II wisncccSsiry that the COM
pco cut should leave Chicago Tor Mem
phis by o'clock Thursday afternoon, but
one OF the best artists in Chicago was sc-
cured, and by working night and day lac
had the sketch completed and ready for
tho ctchcH at 4 O'Clock Thursday
morning. The latter went nj their
task with great energy and gave il 10 TUB
ArrTu's representative just twenty min
u,cs before the train started Tor Memphis
The difficulty under which the artist Ia
borcd was the necessity OF composing a
graphic whole ont Of the three vicWs, but
lee accomplished his task with cx,morl-
nary accuracy. The bridge, therefore, rs
TuE Arrr,L gave Il, WIS ~ Il nov exists
In the minds Of the engineers, the truss
being On top. Tho engineers desired that
ruE ArrK,L should state, a. Il did, that
there might ", some notifications II the
plan. II wnsat the suggestion NJ the engineer
that tow was shown ~ passing through
the long span. and steamer through the
middle one 4 mow accurate prc,'utl-
ton II the appearance Of the bridge, rs
derived from the dii, 81 lhc blue prints
themselves, could not have been made
The cosl Of the enterprise To Tur Arrru
WIS yuy grcat. but It hns the supreme
satisfaction oi knowing that ~ picture OF
tho bridge was faithful AMI authoritative
and will stand.