The morning times., 1896-02-14
NIAGARA'S NEW BRIDGE.
cnt Suspended Structure.
(Bufralo EXpress.l

tBuIdlO EApfeSS.l
Within the next SIX or eight months the
new, or upper suspension, bridge at Nj
agara Falls win be replaced with modern
bridge of wholly different construction.
The bridge will be /, ,240 feet long, and
will be eretcd on the present site Of the
new suspension bridge. Tie ceuter of the
bridge on this side OF tLc river will be
few feet west OF the center OF tie present
bridge. This arrangement il necessary, ow-
ing TO the great width of the bridge, in
order 10 avoid piacing the piers too close to
the outlet Of ihc Niagara Fails Power Com
pany's great tunnel. on tie north, or Cana
dian, end the center of the new bridge
will correspond exactly with the center of
the present structure.
Il win be a steel arch bridge, wholly con-
tained within Itself, and win be free from
all cables, suspension, guy or otherwise. 1t
Will consist OF a main arch span $40 feet
long and two shore spans. The span On the
American side wilibe 100 feet long and that
on the Canadian side go feet in length.
The arch span will consist of an open par2-
bolic rib % feet in depth, with rise of 1O5
feet at the center. The distance between
heskewbackS, or courses ofmasonry which
of the river, is 6S feet inches. The skew
backs are embedded in great bodies of
cement stepped into the solid rock, and as
the weight Of The bridge falls in lateral
direction, the foundation is as solid as rock
can make it. The skewbacks on the Ameri-
can side are ready for the iron, and opera
tions on the Canadian side are being ener
getically prosecuted.
The total width of the floor of the new
bridge will he z6 feet in the clear. OF this
% feet inches in the center will be given
up to a double track for electric cars, 8
feet on either side for carTiageways, and
3 feet 8 inches outside the carriageways
for sidewalks. Although il will be an ex-
eee edingly heavy structure, its great length
aud general dimensions viii dwarf the pom
derous steel beams and give the bridge q
light and pleasing effect. The engineers
revised esiimates-ihe bridge originally
was designed for carriages and pedestrians
only-are yet incomplete, but it is known
that something over 10000 pounds OF
steel viii be required in the construction OF
the new bridge.
Undoubtedly there are plans well under
way for a scheme of electric railway con-
nection between the sightseeing trolley
systems ofthe American and Canadian sides,
but thus far nothing has been made public
by the parties most deeply concerned. The
ultimate completion OF loop line by means
OF another bridge across the Mia CARA River
at Lewiston, is known to be one Of the
fondest desires of Capt Brinker and those
interested with him in the "Great Gorge
Route" The difficulties in the way will
now easily be overcome. 1t is said that the
necessary charter has been obtained from
the United States government, and an appli-
cation will be made to the Canadian Parla-
ment for similar authority at its next ses-
sion. The round trip over the new bridge
in fun view of both great cataracts, along
theCanadian bluff, oyerQ Queensto wn Heights
TO Queenstown, across another bridge at
Lewiston, and along the Gorge Road to
Niagara Falls, is the scheme.
Only one contract has been let for the
construction of the new bridge, that for the
masonry. Officers of the bridge company
arereticent as tofurther progress, although
they express the hope that the new bridge
will be ready for traffic by next fall, at
the latest.