The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-03-16
PONTOON BRIDGE.
Some Facts and Figures
From the Muscatine. UOwa) Journal

announced in glowing terms and with
2rOfuse illustration the building and
successful operation of "the largest
pontoon bridge in the world" across
the Missouri river at Nebraska City,
Neb. Muscatihe has ielt an unusual
interest in this rOject and much pride
i'll its reported successful outcome for
reasons OF special character. First.
the patentee and builder, Colonel S. N.
Stewart, ia a son of the late w. II
Stewart, of this city, for many years
president of the Muscatine County
Agricultural Association. AS bashful.
barefooted boy he roamed Muscatine's
streets, here he grew up, and from
here he went forth at the age OF seven
teen to battle bravely and honorably
for his country.
Second, Muscatine is itself, ,as regards
a large share of its retail trade, situated
similarly to Nebraska City, and labors
under the same disadvantages that
were SO seriously felt at that place
before the completion of the bridge.
The question has therefore presented
itself many times to Muscatine mer-
chants-lt pontoon bridge can, as re,
ported, be so cheaply and successfully
and swift flowing Missouri, why not on
the broad and placid Mississippi. Is it
not possible that at last the problem
has been solved and that bridge for
which Muscatine has 80 long and here
tofore vainly sighed, is at last within
reach-a tangible, genuine and praeti-
secure and that quickly?
In ho rs nnooihln nf fhrntn NJ
some light upon these questions of 30
much general interest and moment to
all Muscatine, and with curiosity keen
ly alive to see bridge OF SO much
novelty, that it has already attained a
world wide notoriety, Journal repre-
sentative visited Nebraska City, OH
Wednesday last.
1t might be we'll to say at the start
that 'the largest pontoon bridge in the
world" is much larger and more majes-
tic in appearance when viewed in the
minds eye at a distance of over three
hundred miles, than when seen in
reality. If Muscatine people can
imagine simple "a foot wide side
walk resting lightly on top of the
water, stretching from the ferry dock
at the Muscatine levee to that on the
| Illinois shore, with a break about half
way across, in the shape of V, extend
ing for several hundred feet down
stream, they will have an excellent
idea of Col. Stewards bridge. AS seen
from the magnificent $600,000 steel
railroad bridge which is crossed in
entering Nebraska City, one involunta.
rily exclaims sis that all3" So simple
does it all appear that the wonder is,
| (Which closer inspection only enhan.
ces.) "Why in the world did mt some
body think of that a long while ago?" "
Sure enough! and so says Col. Stewart
who takes no credit to himself for ap.
plying the simplest principles to prac.
tical utility
| Entering the city, the first conversa-
ton overheard at the hotel is that of an
enthusiastic citizen, who declares mosl
emphatically, that "the pontoon bridge
did it,"
"What?"
"What! Look here, gentlemen, dc
you see hat mile of cedar block paving
going down there on Main street
DO you see the sewerage system gOins
in all over town? Do you see the new
water works, the new business blocks,
the new stores, the new industries, the
new stock yards, the new $l25, ,00(
public building, the
'Hold on, my friend, / though
Nebraska Citizens always told tht
truthih
"Weli, so they do, and if the pom
toon bridge did not do quite all of that
it did more towards il than any ont
thing ever secured by Nebraska City
and that's the truth.
Walking three quarters of a mil
down the river bank from the business
part of town the bridge is reached
Though not yet 9 O'Clock team aitel
, team is crossing or seen in the distanc'
approaching. One man is in attend
ance, who, when not collecting toll, il
busily engaged in working at his trade
(shoemaking) in little house at th'
Nebraska end of the bridge. The cur
rent is swift and looks omlnous anC
ugly. But the bridge sits lightly OIL
the surface OF the stream, supported il
every inch of its entire length by tn,
bouyant water. The heavily loadet
. teams "a dozen of them at time, i
may beg drive fearlessly on to tht
bridge. There is no swaying, no vibra
ton, and so little give that one scarcel.
notices where the light and shallow
{ scows which compose the bridge, arr
Joined together. 1t is marvelous-th
simplicity of the practical utilization O
the great natural bouyancy of water.
-
, The bridge is extremely simple il
, construction. 1t consists OF light scow
about II by % feet, very shalloy
(being not over Is to 20 inches deep
decked over and drawing scarcely NOR
/ than two inches of water. Thes
1 scows are placed closely side by sid
, and hinged together by patent appli
ance, thus forming nearly solid con
. tinuous bridge, over which teams ca
3 drive as fast as they wish to 90. Fo
1 a pontoon bridge sits on top of tn
2 water, and is supported at every inch
b. the river being all back to bear it VI
e The bridge is held in position by stee
n wire cables, anchored on the shores
p and reinforced for some distance froI
4 the shores with piling. The scows ca
: be strengthened by having the bow
,. iron clad and the bottoms doubled wit
4 oak. The length of the Nebraska Cit
T. bridge is l,074 feet. Its total width
$ 244 feet, consisting of a roadway
feet wide, and two footwavs-On on
: side 81 ieet wide aud on the other
feet. The V draw is, like the enlir
n bridge, extremely simple, and is
= wonderful harnessing of natures fore
I to do mans work. The closed ell
extending down stream, it is Onl
necessary to remove the clamps at tn
D apex, Tor the current itself TO quickl
open the draw. The -;wo ends thu
separated are connected by sunke
steel wire cable, and when the boat o
S raft has passed through, the ends O
= the V are quickly drawn togethe
e again by means of Il capstain, operates
by one man.
SOME QUESTIONS.
, How about high and low water?
The approaches are made to conform
to high water. The bridge rises ant
falls with the water, and scows can b
taken out or put i'm as needed.
Is there any danger OF the bridg
! siuking?
"If you should scuttle every boat il
this bridge it would require over 10
tons load to sink it. You can't sim
: it,"
How about floating ice, trees, &c?
All ordinary floating ice and tree
; slide right under the bridge. In tn
, spring when the heavy ice goes out tn
bridge should not be in the river.
: INTERRUPTION OF TRAFFIC.
e "Right there is the great objection il
= many minds. If YOU must harbor tn
{ bridge in winter are YOU not nearly q