New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-31
THE LAST ARCH IN PLACE.
GREAT NEW BRIDGE OVER THE HARLEx
HOW THE LAST LINK WAS PUT TX PLACy-AccCRAcy
or THE WORK.

HOW THE LAST LINK WAS PUT TX NPLACy-AccCRAcs
OF THE WORK.
The success that attended the swinging OF the
first great steel arch of the new Manhattan Bridge
which spans the Harlem River at Onehundrcd- and
ejghty-frstst. was repeated yesterday III the case
Of the second huge metallic parabola which con-
meets the two banks of the river, and forms tho
basis of support to the portion Of the br :se de
rectly over the water. In this respect 1t may lie
termed the main or central arch, though as
matter of fact it is no larger than its companion
which spans the New York Central Railroad tricks
and the roadway along the east bank. This span
was completed about two months ago.
But besides being tho water span, the arch
swung yesterday was also the only one remaining
unfinished the seven smaller arches having peen
closed some time ago. Hence the satisfaction fell
by the contractors was intense, seeing the hnai
section slide perfectly into its place, and the
ponderous mass of steel swing free from the
scaffoding, and become selfsupporting. All tho
really difficult and complicated portion OF the
structure may now be considered as hnisheds
What remains to be done-putting up foor PILLARS
laying the roadways and sidewalks, erecting the
railings, cornicing7 and finishing up the masonry
portions-consists comparatively speaking, OF mere
matters Of detail and with the Increased force OF
men that will now be put on the stone work.
these things can be finished within few monthss
PUSHING THE WORK VIGOROUSLY.
From the beginning OF the undertaking the COM
missioners, Messrs. Brown, King and Lorillards
and the contractors have avoided all that formal
ceremony which usually marks the various stages
of public works of this kind. As soon as the
contracts were signed work was begun withous
any fuss or delay. The was tho case with
the piers and the stone and steel arches; as soon
as they were ready for the keystones, or tho
keg segments, these were put in without any
speeches or the least formality The only persons,
aside from the worSmen, who were present yes
terday, were Watts Cooke president Of the Passa'c
Rolling Mill Company, of Paterson, which has
the contract for the metallic part OF the work;
j. l. Lecrs, to whose engineering skill the success
of the work Is largely due; Mr.. Iardley, the su-
perntendent of construction; Engineer Carl Guyicr.
one Of the engineers OF the famous ST. Louis steel
bridge; George Devin the Commissioners q S. IN IN
St. John Clark, two Of the rolling mil companys
engineers, and few interested citizens
The steel arches are composed OF SIX massive
ribs, made up of steel segments riveted together,
and ranging in width from eighteen feet and six
inches at the end of the work to fifteen feet, the
size of the key segments The average weight OF
these segments is about ten TONS but they are
handled with as much ease, apparently, as mason
displays in handling bricks. The end segments
Of the ribs those resting on the pisTs are no'Ssea
set with traveller" All six ribs are carried
together up to the centre. until the two arms OK
eacn I'D are Sfpdrducu Dy tuc space ouhtcchV ~.
the two key segmcnts This point was reached
in the progress of all six ribs on Thursday.
DROPPING IN THE CENTRE sEGMENTs
Early yesterday morning jackscrews were SEQ
under each point of the ribs, that is where they
came in contact with the tmbers of the false work
or scaffoDling. Then the centre segments were
hoisted up from the float that lay
moorcd in the river underneath. Before
letting them down into their places the screws
were turned sufficiently to raise each rib about an
inch or So When this had beep done, the key
segments were lowered and fastcnod temporarily
into place. Then the screws were turaed down
until the segments came tight together and COM
pleted an arch Of enormous strength. In every
instance the segments fitted perfectly. Some idea
of the accuracy displayed by the engineers may be
inferred from the fact that the entire arch, which
was to be sos feet long did not vary onceighth Of
an inch from the length called for in the plans
regarding it.
The floor work will probably be finished by
June and most of the masonry by August, but
the contractors seem to think that the bridge
will not be in shape for formal opening before the
fall No date has yet been fixed for that event,
but it is intended to make it a memorable oc-
cason, one entirely worthy Of the splendid struct.