Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27

AT7@r gests to one who r.
~ members it the fri
little bridge across tn
Niagara below the fall
That tiny structur,
three feet wide, with single plank for flooring
flung like q floating scarf across the gres
chasm not far from the point where the water
of the Niagara boil in the fury of the whirlpool
was to the great railroad bridge, its successor
rs q phantom or wraith-a dream of something
that was to be. And vet that frail structur
was q triumph of skill and ingenuity In us gay
and to the engineer who devised ana accom-
plished it belongs the honor Of having pun c w
nrst bridge between the United States anu SaA
ada across the Niagara river.
'.In 1874 Mr.. Chas Il Stuart e. l.. wnle en-
gagged in locating the Great Western railway o.
Canada and what is now the Rochester anu =
Niagara Falls branch of the New Iork Centrai
railroad proposed to connect them by rail-
way suspension bridge over the niagara ri.eI
between the falls and the whirlpool. where tne
chasm was about 500 feet wide and over Zyv
deep. As the project was novel anu U ,r,-
undertaking and generally believed TO De I'M
practicable a circular letter was addressed "
number of the leading engineers OF Anlei iH-
and Europe asking their opinion OF tne uH Ic..1o
taking Various replies were receNeu sD
in open condemnation of the project DINERS
expressive Of grave doubts of its PraereaDhiIy
ard safety at any cost. Charles tIet, IT.,
John A. Roebling. Samuel Keefer ana toward
". Seweu alone favored the project see
Stuarts Civil and Military Engineers vi
America
SATISFIED THAT IT COULD BE DONE
T, 1s15 Cen Smart received the following
letter from Mr.. Charles ENet, IT.:
PHILADELPHIA, October II
-. ..In the case which you have pre-
.srted I can. however, say this much with all
eou6deuce: A bridge may be built across the
Niagara below the falls which will be entirely
seenre and in all respects fitted for railroad
uses 1t viii be safe Ior the passage oi ioeono
tive engines and freight trains and adapted to
auv purpose for which it Is to be applied
To build a bridge at Niagara has long been
fayorite scheme of mine. Some twelve years
ago / went to inspect the location WIN a view
10 satisfy myself Of its practicability and have
never lost sight of the project since do not
know in the whole circle Of professional
schemes a single project which it would gratify
me SO much to conduct to complexion
In 1916 a company was chartered py !he
legislature of New York to construct bridge
over the Niagara river at or near the falls. with
power to connect with any other company lor
that purpose A charter with similar lIoNs
ions was granted to q company In eanada Dy
the provincial parliament and aPPro aJ ~ .ne
made during this and the following year sub
scriptions to the capital stock sufnelent to war
rant the commencement OF tne wore were Sc
cured and soon thereafter Pans ana esumates
ia the directors Of the American and Cana
dan bri,ige companies made a contract with
Charles Ellet jr, for the construction OF rail-
nav and carriage bridge over the Niagara river
two miles below the falls ELLET.
THE FIRST WORK.
Tia .easou was one of extreme severity
Mr.. Ellet rose from violent illness. acute
congestion Of the lungs, in order to fulfill his
Ter out of doors .t-scung in person every por-
ton of his great work. The first difficulty was
20 get anything across across the river. The
banks we're 500 feet apart; the raging torrent
was impossible below. boy was engaged :
fy his kite over the river, and after several
dissppointments a favorable wind carried the
tiny messenger across with Irvine string at
tached. and the first step toward the great
bridges now spanning the Niagara was
accomplished To the Irvine was fastened a
stronger cord; to the cord a rope, which drew
after II a cable made q wires securely bound
together IN a compass no thicker than a man $
thumb This cable passed over wooden scat
foldings where the stone towers were in course
OF construction, and upon it was hung an iron
basket intended for the use of workmen who
were to build the bridge. The first expert
mental test of this novel and apparently pre-
carlous means Of communication was made by
The daring engineer who devised it.
CROSSED IN A BASKET.
NIAGARA FALLS, March IS, lS4a
"CHARLEs B. STUART:
Dear Sir: / raised my first little wire cable
on Saturday and anchored it securely both in
Canada and New York. Today, Monday, 1
nshtened II up and suspended below 1t an iron
basket which had caused to be prepared for
toe purpose, and which is attached By pulleys
playing along the top of the cable.
In this little machiae 1 crossed over to Can
ada, exchanged situations with our friends
there. and returned again, all in fifteen
minutes
The wind was high and the weather cold.
Dut yet the trip was a most interesting one to
me, perched up, as / was, 240 feet above the
rapids, and viewing from the center Of the
river one OF the sublimest prospects which
nature has prepared on this globe Of ours
NY little machine did not work as smoothly
% wished, but in the course Of the week +
VII have 1t 50 adjusted that any body may cross
In safety.
Truly. yours,
CHARLES ELLEr, JR."
TEMPORARY BRIDGE
When the summer opened the stone towers
we're completed on either side; heavy cables
we're carried across by means of the little
basket, which was not discarded until the floor
ing was laid OF the first bridge. that was to re-
place II and serve rs a scaffOlding Tor the men
engaged upon q larger construction adapted
% quite heavy service. Upon the first bridge
LED by her father to the middle Of the river
where, standing on the last plank laid by the
norAmen before going TO dinner, she gazed
INTO the mighty abyss below and around her
and had the first glimpse of the gorgeous spec
Acle OF the falls ever enjoyed by a child
or woman from a bridge across tho Nj
agara- The little walk" was soon replaced
IN Its turn BY slight structure nine feet wide.
intended TO be used as a service bridge" for
the construction Of the main work and also to
give accommodation to foot travel while the
larger work was go ng Finding distrust
on the part OF Iae public in regard to the
strength of this bridge, Mr.. EIlet mount ed
the box Of . carriage one day before the
railing was put up and deliberately
drove the span OF horses across from
shore to shore, returning amid the hor-
riied ordinations of the spectators attracted
by the rumor of what he was doing. From
this time forth no one was afraid to use the
bridge. The spell was broken; the danger was
lsst accidents should occur to the reckless and
foolhardy.
The work progressed rapidly. Inc service
heaAgs vas completed In July and vas used for