The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-24
THE GREAT BRIDGE.
WORK PROGRESSING RAPIDLY AND
WITH GREAT SATISFACTION.
The Second -Caisson Almost Ready for
Launching Delayed on Ac-
count of High Where the Lum-
Der, Stone and Ironwork Come From.

Work on the great bridge across the
Mississippi at this point goes bravely on.
The caisson on the Arkansas side has
been completed for some time and the
second caisson, on the Tennessee side, is
nearly ready for launching. The caisson
on the Arkansas side is sunk iifty.fve feet
below the level OF low water and the top
OF il is now thirty-one feet below the
water line at its present stage. The new
caisson will be sunk 100 feet below the
level OF low water and will not be put into
position until the river falls several feet.
In is intended to sink the present caisson
about 500 feet distant from the Tennessee
bank; and owing to the swiitness OF the
current this will be no easy task.
The caisson under construction on this
side, and which is awaiting launching is
magnificent piece OF work. 1t is 92 o
long, AZ feet wide and, when completed, 1t
will be 90 feet high. Just now it is twenty
feet high and will be completed after
launching. The caisson is built OF pine
timber twelve inches square. The base
ment is OF iron and forms what is called
the "cutting edge" upon which the tim
Der are laid crosswise about twelve inches
apart, tho intersticesto he filled later on
with cement Under the woodwork are
four working chamber" -vacuums large
enough 10 accommodate about forty men.
From each OF these working chambers an
iron shaft shoots up through which the
pumping apparatus will work. Another
large shaft goes down through the center OF
the structure, and this will be the great
highway between the upper world and the
under world when the caisson is sunk.
This mass OF woodwork will not lie on
the bottom. II will be sunk to the bot
tom and then the sand and earth will be
pumped from under it and IL will be sunk
in the hole thus made by its own weight.
Men will be sent down in this-down be-
meath the water; down beneath the pro-
fundity Of the majestic Mississippi; down
in the earth where the air which they
breathe must be pumped down TO them,
and the light which Eliminates the cham.
beers must be manufactured above and
sent down on wire.
An APPEAL reporter crawled in under
the new caisson as it stands on the bank
ready for launching. His feelings we're
not the pleasantosL Surprising the frame
work should give way aud the monster
should slowly sink in the riyerl Suppos-
ing the under.pinning should fall and
carry one down into the mud and water
beneath an avalanche OF IRON and timber!
And this is only while the crib is on shore.
When IL Is sunk under the water the trip
below will be the more dangerous. When.
ever the subject is to be written from the
ground up" there will DO splendid
chance for Sub" TO secure an assign
ment.
The 100000 feet OF lumber for the
bridge comes from Mississippi; the iron
work comes from Memphis, save the
heavier parts that come from Chicago and
81. Louis. The rock comes from Liihonia,
Ga. There are $50 men constantly EN-.
ployed on the works. Two steamboats,.
two tugs and seven coal barges are in use
and several other barges are in course OF
construction. The company has its own
shops, makes it, own electric lights and
has It's own planning mill. Everything
works smoothly aud with the regularity OF
clockwork.
The masonry Is immense. Rocks three
feet vide, three feet thick aud seven feet
long, and weighing from three TO six tons,
will be used and piled upon the caisson
when that structure is sunk until IL
touches firm earth. The limestone, which
will be used under the water, comes from
Bedford, Ind. Granite will be used
wherever the rock will be exposed TO the
air.
The undertaking is a hcrculcan one, and
its completion Is looked forward TO with
much anxiety.