New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-24

and all the rest went on to land and 10 luncheon.
must he briefer than the luncheon was. The
pcrfcrvid Scot who called il a Banquet was not
perhaps too perfcrvd 1t began at and lasted
till A. and there were sixteen speeches to 500
guests, and no ventilation Not more than two
Of these speeches. perhaps three, require COM
mcnt The Prince of Wales spoke with that ease
which comes of long practice, and with the slight
but marked German accent which long practice
in English has not entirely removed. His praise
of the Bridge and of its builders was ample. and
no passage was better viewed than that in which
he announced a distribution of dignitcs to the
chief authors and architects of it, The chairman.
Mr. Thompson. becomes Sir Matthew Thompson.
Baronet: Sir John Fowler, head Of the firm of
engineers who designed il, is made n Baronet also;
his partner, Mr. Benjamin Baker is created
Knight Commander of the Order Of St Michael
and ST. George. which makes him Sir BENJAMIN;
Mr.. William Arrol the contractor, is knightcd.
and is hcnccforward Sir William. Sir John
Fowlers speech dealt too much in supcratves;
he might have been content with the culoglcs OF
others upon his own work He did. however, full
justice to his colleagues and TO the workmcn. lie
should. perhaps. be asked TO explain what he
meant when he said that the owners Of the
Bridge have the full value of its cost in the
pended upon It," No part of this discourse was
less to the point than that in which he tried to
defend the bridge as a thing of beauty Sir
John Fowler belongs to profession which has
deliberately renowned all ideas of beauty. and
all efforts toward any reconciliation between
science and art. lie and Sir BENJAMIN Baker are
Jointly responsible for the most unsirhtly and
odous fabric in the world. and to praise II as
work of lovelincss is but to insult tho unhappy
heholder Lord Rcsehery truly and boldly called
il monster: and monster docs not cease 10 ne
a monster because he is n hcnciiccnt monster. HIS
short speech may be cited as a model of what an
aftcr-unchcon speech should he: with its GENIAL
humor and aptness. its fautlcss style. rs fouch
Of imagination. and IFS generous recognition OF
all that is good in work which he must ahhor.
Embedded in the Prince Of Walcs's luncheon
spccch are 70 he found some Of the moro vital
statistics Of the construction Of this l'rdce
These he read from manuscript. They are given
still more compactly and in tabular form on the
card of invitation. and from this | copy them.
in the hope that they may serve MS backbone 10
the loss serious particulars Of which this too
frivolous narrative is chiefly made mp:
Total length of Bridge including approach
viaducts. mile .oO5 yards
Two spans. each LILO feet.
Two spans. each Csc feet
Depth Of main eirdcrs at piers. $50 feet.
Depth of main sricrs at centre, % feet.
Width If Bridge nj piers. 30 feet
Width Of BRIDGE at centre. 3i.j feet.
Clear headwav for navigation at high water.
$50 feet
Deepest foundation below high water 81 feet.
Highest part Of Bridge above high water. 36l
feet
Depth of water in centre Of channel, 2lo :cc'
Weight of steel used in construction. 81 90"
tons.
If these facts and figures be not deemed sum
cicut | NAV recommend 10 the student mono
graph on the Forth Bridge in a recent number
Of Engineering. periodical devoted I" IL
title. wherc he will find most full. lucid. and
illustrated account If the whole matter from the
scientific and mechanical points Of view. II Is
very remarkable number; must have cost some
thousands Of dollars TO produce. and is. | apprc-
hond one more example Of that skill If the
directors in tie art Of advertising 10 winch !
referred above. II does not purport to he an
advertisements Tic largest figure of all remains
10 he stated The cost Of the Forth bri1gc was
rather over seventeen millions Of dollars. and
there are people in the railway and financial
worlds who do not vet sec clearly how tie Bridge
can earn enough to pay even moderate interest
on that large sum. IT, W. D