St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-02-04
THE PROPOSED BRIDGE
AT NEW ORLEANS.

President Harrison has signed
the bill which authorizes two Chi
cago men to construct over the Mis-
sissippi river at New Orleans the
largest cantilever bridge in Amer
lea. Surveyors and engineers have
begun operations, and within three
years the s., 900, 600 structure will
be opened for traffic.
The plan is one in which all the
railroads in the South are interest
ed, and the contract has been given
to Corthell and Karner, civil engi-
neers. The bridge will have many
stupendous dimensions. It must
be built of steel, with three unbro-
ken and continuous spans between
the river banke, as defined by .
medium stage Of water and with
but two piers.
The length Of the main channel
span will be 1895 feet and the two
side spans win be 7S5 feet long with
the lowest part Of the superstructure
IS feet above the extreme high wa
ter mark. This will make the bridge
itself but few feet less than half
q mile in length. Being Of sufficient
height to . allow the largest river
steamers to pass under it, the ap-
Fproaches will each be at least .
mile long. Thus from end to end
the giant affair will be two and .
half miles in length. which is nearly
as long as the great Memphis
bridge.
There will be no footways or
roadways. It was originally i'm
tended to have these, IS was the in
tention in the Memphis bridge, but
the location Of the structure 80 far
from the center Of the city would
make them Of little value. The
contract calls for the construction
Of booms, bikes, piers and other
appliances for the guidance Of RATS,
tows and steamboats, under the
bridge. It is also unnecessarily
specified that the work must begin
within two years and end within
five.
The building Of this mighty piece
Of engineering is an undertaking Of
more than ordinary daring. It will
be necessary to 60 down at least
$50 feet for the foundation Of the
two river piers. The engineers
who built the Memphis structure
went down lO8 feet, using pneu-
matte caissons. These are only
available to . depth Of ITO feet, at
which depth the pressure is so great
men cannot work under it.
Thus some other equally expen-
sive device must be used. Mr..
Corthell will personally direct the
the work.
The exact location Of the bridge
will depend upon the findings Of
the men who 60 to make the borings
to discover where the best founda-
tons can be secured. The charter
granted by Congress provides that
one approach il practicable shall be
within the city limits Of New Or
leans.
In case it il found the substrata
near the city is not sufficiently firm
to support the immense piers, it is
allowed to locate it not more than
five miles above the city, but under
no condition may it be built below
the city, since then it would possi-
bly, interfere with the ocean vessels.
The place now practically selected
for it is 1t Nine Mile point, and
not far from CarTollton.
There is . gradual rise to the
banks at this particular spot, .
fact which will materially help the
construction Of the approaches.
From the east approach Of the
bridge . joint railroad will be built
to the new Illinois Central railroad
depot, now building in New Orleans.
As it is, the new depot will not be
made . Union station for al roads