Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-11
THE THAMES RIVER BRIDGE.

ITS Formal Opening Yesterday-A
Happy Gathering OF Railroad ON.
clals-Many Guests Enjoy tho Day at
New London-An Elaborate Banquet
ON Beard tho steamer Csnnecticut-
Proportions OF she DraWbfidge and
Its Approaches.
New LONDON, Conn.,, Oct. 10.-The formal
opening of the great drawbridge over the
Thames river at New London took place to-
day. Two elegant special trains were run,
one from New York and one from Boston.
They brought many railroad officials and
other prominent men. Both trains were
elaborate in their appointments and COM
plste in every detail of luxurious comfort and
safety. The train from New York left that
city at 10 o'clock and reached New Haven in
less than two hours. At New Haven the
train took on board President CLARK, Rail-
road Commissioners Woodruff and Hayward,
Treasurer Squires, Superintendent Turner of
the NewYork division, General Ticket Agent
States, Superintendent Waterbury, E. Il.
Tro wbridgs, Isaac Fl. Bromley, jr., Senator
Graham, Corporation Counsel Townshend,
President Osborn Of the Second National
bank, Gov. English, Wilbur F. Day, Henry
y. Robinson and others. They found already
on board General Superintendent Toucey of
the New York Central, General Superintend-
pany, Nathaniel Wheeler, William D. Bishop
and Senator Reed of Bridgeport. General
Manager Miller of the New York, Providence
and Boston, and number of other WELL
known railroad men.
The run from New Haven to New London
occupied but an hour and eight minutes,
and as the train drew into the depot at the
latter city big crowd greeted It.
| After halt of ten minutes the train pro-
ceeded on its way and little later it crossed
the big bridge and went down as far as the
Poquonnock station. There the Boston train
/ was met and she two trains returned to the
bridge. The New York train crossed the
draw and remained on the west side, while
| the cowcatcher of the Boston locomotive ad-
Then tho old boat Groton, which has carried
the trains across the ferry so many years,
came steaming up the river. The signal
was given, the engine on the bridge
began to work and the two million
six hundred Thousand pounds Of iron began
| to swing around. As the Groton passed
through the bridge the band began to play
| "Auld Lang Syne," and the old boat re-"
sponded to its own funeral dirge by toot
| from its whistle. When the boat had passed
back the signal was given, and Simultaneous
ly all the flags on the bridge were unfurled.
| Whistles blew, the Locomotives sounded their
bells and the cheering of thousands of speo.
tators mingled with the reports of cannon all
contributed to a mighty din.
After the ceremonies the New York and
Boston trains returned to the depot
| or Connecticut. While the steamer went out
for course on the Sound an elaborate BAN
/ quet was served.
l. After the banquet there were informal
speeches from the several railroad officials
present and the constructors of the great
bridge. Mr.. Brandegse was the orator Of the
day and caused much merriment by his
natural fow of humor. After . great
deal of calling Alfred P. Boiler of New York,
the designer and engineer of the bridge,
made his appearance before the assemblage
and said that he surrendered the bridge to
the railroads and the public knowing that IL
is an absolutely safe structure.
| A bridge at this point was projected as far
back as 1859, but work was never actually
begun until the winter of last year, when the
railroad companies composing the Shore Line
/ system took the matter in charge.
Considering the nature of the work, 1t is
one Of the most expeditions bridge building
feats on record, having covered a period Of
only sixteen months. The designer and en-
gineer of the bridge is Alfred P. Boiler of
New York.
| Inc prluge mas . oouDl0 TRACK ana ID l, 40
feet long. The swing draw is sos feet in
length and has on either side two symmetri-
cal spans Of $50 and $40 feet respectively.
| The distance between the trusses is 20 feet
the central height of the fixed through spans
As feet, the end height of the fixed through
spans 90 feet, the central height of the draw
span II feet, the end height Of the draw span
rs feet. The clearance Of the bridge above
| mean high water is 80 feet. The depth of
water at the second pier lat mean high water)
| 10 81 feet, at the third pier 55 feet, at the
fourth pier AZ feet. From mean high water
to hard bottom the distance is, at the second
pier, 1876 feet, at the third pier 1870 feet, at
the fourth pier no feet.
The supsrstructure contains c,400 tons of
steel The masonry in the structure amounts
to 8, 500 cubic yards. Under the draw-pier
there are 500 piles; under piers two and
| four, 1858 piles each. The draw in motion
| weighs !, 300 tons. The length of the west
| approach to the bridge is one mile; of the
bridge itself, 27-100 Of q mile; of the east
approach, 1856 miles-making total length
Of 81 miles. The bridge is proportional
for a moving load on each track Of two 49,
ton consolidation locomotives, followed by
| train loads Of 5000 pounds per foot.