St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-02-04

Special to the Times Democrat.
Chicago, Jan. 29.-Prcsident Harrison
has lust signed a bill which authorizes
Chicago men to construct over the Miss
issippi river, at New Orleans, the larg-
est cantilever bridge in America. Sur
veyors and engineers will leave the city
at once to begin preliminary operations,
and within tlnee years the S5,000.00O
structure will be ready for traffic. The
plan is one in which all the railroads in
the South are interested, and the con-
tract has been given to Corthell u kar-
ner, civil engineers, with offices in the
Masonic Temple here. The bridge will
have many stupendOus dimensions. 1t
must be built of steel, with three I'M
broken and continuous spans between
the river banks, as defined by a medium
stage Of water, and with bnt two piers
in the liver The length OF the main
channel span will be 1895 feet, and the
two side spans will be 157 feet long, with
the lowest part of the upper structure
not less than IS feet above the extreme
high water mark.
This will make the bridge itself but a
few feet less than half mile in length.
Being a sufficient height to allow the
largest river steamers to pass under il,
the approaches will each be at least a
mile long. Thus from end to end the
giant affair will be two and one half
miles in length and unequaled this side
of the wonderful Firth of Forth bridge
on the east coast OF Scotland, which has
three spans of ITO feet each. 1t will
put away in the shadow the structure
over Niagara, in which the centre span
is bnt 119 feet, and will be approached
by no other cantilever undertaking in
the Hudson at Poughkeepsie.
The exact location of the bridge will
depend upon the findings of the men
who go to-day to make the borings to
| discover where the best foundation can
| be secured. The charter granted by
Congress provides that one approach, if
| practicable. shall be within the city lin =
| its of New Orleans.
! In case it is found the sub stratum
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, since then it
would possibly interfere with the ocean
vessels. The place now practically Sc
lected for it is at Nine Mile Point, and
not far from Carrolton.
There is a gradual rise to The banks
at this particular spot, a 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 depot. 1t ia
expected the new depot will then be
made union station for all roads en-
tering the Crescent City.
The bill which the President signed
gives the right Of way to the Southern
Bridge Railway Company, Of which
Elmer E. COthell, of this city, is presi-
dent. The secretary and treasurer is
Arthur McGulrk, of New Orleans, and
Edgar II. Farr-r, Of the same place, is
the vice president, while Mr.. karner
holds big block of the stock.
The act of Congress provides hat all
railroads on either side of the river shall
DO entitled to equal rights and privil-
eges relative to the passage of railway
trains upon the payment of reasonable
compensation. The project, so Mr.. Kar-
ner said tonight, is hacked by the rail-
roads, but especially by the Illinois Cen
trail and the Southern Pacific. The rail-
road companies believe the bridge will
pay for itself in Il few years, since it
will do away with the transfer boats,
now the only means Of crossing the
river.
There will be no fcUtUays or road
ways for wagons. 1t was originally in
trnded'to have these, but the location
Of the bridge SO far from HE centre OF
the city would make them ui little value
The contract calls for the construction
OF hGomS, dlkes, piers and other appli-
anCes for the guidance Of RATS, lows
and steamboats, Huder the bridge