The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-30
EADS AND HIS BRIDGE
Wonderful Work at ST. Louis Which was
Injured by the Wind


Injured by the Wind
St. Louis, Mo, May 29-The Eads, a
portion of which was destroyed by the
cyclone, has long been one of the land
marks of St. Louis, not TO say one OF
the wonders of the world. 1t took its
name from its designer, James B. Eads,
one of the most eminent engineers OF
his time. Construction was begun in
1869 and was finished in 1873 at a total
cost of $9,OOO,O 900.
The superstructure, which was mainly
| composed of steel was supported by
four ganite and limestone piers, resting
on the rock bed of the river, to which
they were sunk through the sand-in
one instance as much as 120 feet-by
the use of wrought-iron caissons and
I compressed air. The sinking of these
| piers was, at the time, regarded as one
Of the most remarkable engineering
| feats ever accomplished by man.
One span Of the bridge was $40 feet
in length, and two tiers were each 5l5
| feet in length. The height of the arches
| was sixty feet, so as to be sufficiently
| high to permit the passage of steam
| boats at all stages OF the water
carriages and one for railways, which
were carried by four arched trusses,
| connected with each other by diagonal
braces, the top and bottom chords of
which were composed of steel tubes six
teen inches in diameter The bridge
was fifty-four feet in diameter. An en-
trance into the City Of St. Louis was
made through a tunnel
In 1873 the war department conveyed
the board of engineer officers for the
purpose of examining the great struc-
ture. The report Of this board was made
in September Of that year and was to
the effect "the board are unanimously
OF the opinion that the bridge will prove
very serious obstruction to the free
navigation Of the Mississippi river"
Numerous changes Were suggested as
remedy for the alleged defects, which
however, were not made and that they
were not necessary has been demon
strated by the twenty-three years Of
constant use to which until yesterday
the bridge has been subjected.
1nasmuch as the st. Louis bridge was
the browning work of James Buchanan
Eads, it may be well in this connection
to give a brief sketch OF this remarks
able man. He was born in Lawrence
burg, Ind, May 20. 1920. and died in Mas
sau, n. p, Bahama Islands, March &.
1887. From his earliest youth he show
Ell fondness for machinery. spending
his spare moments in visiting places
where he could watch the movements
or mechanical appliances. In 1888 he
accompanied his parents to st. I,ouis
and just before landing at the wharf
in that city the steamer on which they
were passengers was destroyed by fire
leaving them strangers in a strange land
and penniless. Young Eads was com
PEELED TO at once go to work to help sun |
port the family, and obtained a clerk /
ship in the dry goods house of Williams
& Durings. While in this employment
he was given access to the library of /
one of his employers and spent his I
nights studying mechanical atnd civil .
In 1888 he became purser on a Mis-
slsslppl steamboat, which occupation
aHorded him excellent opportunity for
studying the details of the construction
or Steamboats, and led him 10 devise
means for the saving of wrecks for,5
along the river. In 1912 he built
diving-bell boat for recovering carpoas
This proving successful he constructe5
much larger boat, with novel and |
powerful machinery, for pumping ont
the sand and water, and lifting the en-
tire hull and cargo.
While engaged in this business he
gained a knowledge of the laws that
govern the flow Of slit-bearing rivers
ana IL Is said that there was not a
stretch in the bed Of the AIississinni
AVER nifty miles long between St. Isouis
ana New Orleans on which he had not
stood on the bottom OF the stream be-
heath his living bell.
Dur4ng the war he was freuuentlvy
consulted by the president and his cah-
net with regard 10 the navigation Of the
over Mississippi and under his CirAc-
non neet of light draught iron clad
steamers was constructed for the de-
ense OF that territory. He conceived the
dea OF building the S.. Louis br;6rA
While employed in saving wrecks hut
ound no means for putting II in.o sx-
,cution until 1867. In the consume
ion OF this work Mr Eads had 10 40
With problems that never before ha5
>een met by engineers. The chief a-oh-
en- was that OF finding a solid fopn5s-
ion upon which II rest the piers de-
tined 10 sustain the mammoth arcbas
nd il was here that his knowledge ~
ne FlNer bottoms stood him in good
tead. The idea OF forcing caisso7s .
through the sand 50 as 10 form Golfer
ans out of which was pumped the
water so that wOrkmen might dig ana !
ay stone inside had up 70 that time :
zen regarded as impracticable. To
i'm. however. no obstacle seemed .n- ,
urmoun5able; he had faith in himself :
M though the engineering world was !
gainst him succeeded in convincing cap 5
.alists % back his Judgment. win the
esuii that the great structure that
vent down before yesterdays gale was
naIiy completed and dedicated 10 Tho I
Se Of the people. After having bzi.lt :
ne bridge, Mr.. Eads turned his a.fen-
ton 70 the deepening OF the mouth o. !
ne Mississippi river. where ne con-
tructed waat are known as Eads iat- s
les.