The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
NIAGARA'S NEW BRIDGE.
TIE GREATEST ARCH IN THE HIS
TORY OF STEEL CONTRADICTION.

TORY OF STEEL CONTRADICTION.
n Will strcich sac Feet In Ono Clear Span ana
Replace the suapension RriaEe, which us
- Lcsa Thnn Ten Years Oid. but Hnsunlctent.
NIAGARA FALLS. Doc. 25.-All tho false work
preparatory to tho erection OF what 10 destined
10 DO the greatest steel arch bridge 10 In posi-
tion, and soon tho erection OF steel will begin
and DO continued throughout the winter, In
order TINT the proposed new structure may be
finished for the expected heavy travel OF next
summer. This steel arch is to DO built across
tho Niagara gorge on the site OF the uppcr sus-
pension bridge. and its span will bo the greatest
In tho history of stool arch bridge building AZ
compared with Il, tho now steel arch recently
completed for tho Grand Trunk Railway, tive
miles below. will appear very short.
At tho point where tho arch is to stnnd the
cliffs arc 1893 feet apart, and the suspension
bridge now resting there seems but n slender
thread from bank to bank. The abutments for
the bridge stand close to tho waters edge on
either bank. There are four in number. two on
each side, and tho distance between tho NOM
bcrs Of tho pairs is sixty-scvon fcct. These
nbutmentsw erc built two years ago, as IL was
thought that tho new arch would DO completed
long ere this. but tho condition of the monetary
and steel markets was not such as to inspire the
company to proceed with the great and costly
work until now.
In tho construction Of tho abutments much
caro- was taken to make them most substantial
The loose earth and rock Of the slope Of the
banks was excavated until q solid rock founda.
ton was reached. This rock was then cut away
in step form and on tho foundation 30 created
another foundation Of concrete was built.
Through this mass Of concrete four long, heavy
iron rods were run and securely fastened. their
tops. projecting several feet above the face Of
the concrete mass. 1t was on this concrete that
the stone work Of tho abutments was built, the
four rods and four others running through the
stones In order that they might DO held So
curcly. Tho tops Of all the eight rods project
above the tops Of the coping stones in order
to afford q fastening for tho bed plates of
tho legs Of tho arch. Of which each abutment
will support one. The stone used In building
the abutments are all very large. and derricks
Of great strength were employed In letting them
oyer tho cliff. to the point Of use. Tho north
river. stands very close to the portal Of the
Niagara Falls Power Company's tunnel, and in
order to protect it q strong retaining wall has
On the Canadian side the centre of the now
emit suspension bridge, but on the New York
State side it has been found necessary 10 carry
teo ssn ~ the e i saspeh nS she b sGSsa N n t osaeer re ssns
portal: From rom these abutmeats or skewbaekS
length Of the arch proper will be no less than
$40 fcet. Tho shore ends OF the arch will b0
c tf9n,p efne to the cliffs by trussed spans of boar.
Unlike the railway arch. this latest bridge
will be- about SO feet. About % feet OF ito
centre will be taken up with double trolley
elevated. The width Of the suspension bridge
three times as wide. 1t is estimated that over
1000, 900 pounds Of steel will be used in its con.
construction as the railway arch.
The bridge S which viii be superseded date:
81 The earlier 'I Bridge gear in !"s steel aH'H wa:
commenced. Shafts were sunk for new and
s she s%o a adSisionsi cables sq saE sS su ths stF the adj o.
ditional weight Of the snpcrstructure as well as
the The wider nieE fioo E.v Two ga, gangs Of men en- worked 9rEsd day
diameter were put in each cable and placed in
position. when the suspenders for supporting
foot sections. were built out from each end until
they me-, in the centre and were there con.
night Of June II, 1855. that the last portion Of
made with the new trusses. thus giving n double
roadway from end t9 end. the original structure
having boon only wide enough for carriages to
On Dec. 10; ISIS. the bridge was pronounced
were congratulated by press and people for
having built q structure which, apparently, was
f fffs' Mss l ts s' 'ssn for . m sss1s: 6 bst tn, Rs' night fsi 1T e.
Jan. $40. 1899, the Niagara gorge was visited
Dy one OF Inc most severe wlnQ Storms ever
known, 1t came up out of the southwest. and
Fall through The gorge. 1t caught the bridge
full on the side. and hour. after hour the great
structure swung to and fro. Throughout tho
night tho storm rnged. In the morning a strange
sight was revealed. Down in tho gorge, on the
debris slopes of the bank, the beautiful bridge,
which had been admired by Thousands, lay bot:
torn upward. The storm had lOosoned it from
some of the suspenders. and the continued
blasts set. it in motion until its own weight
nided in ripping it from nll the suspenders. and
it dropped into the gorge. The last man TO
cross II was DR.. John Hodge. who passed over
from this city 10 the Canadian side to visit q
very sick patient; That portion OF tho fallen
greater part is still hidden beneath the RAPID
waters OF the deep and dangerous gorge.
Within forty-eight hours after tho bridge was
swept away the directors had met and ordered o
new STRUCTURE; patterned after the. ono do
stroyed. On May z. 1889. this bridge was
II is this bridge that Is now TO give way TO the
second arch across the gorge. it being less than
ten years old. but quite Inadequate TO the de-
mands OF the times sincc the trolley has become
such an important factor in taking people from
point 10 point about the Falls.
When the suspension bridge Is taken do Rn 1t
Is to be rebuilt on the site Of the old suspension
wind storm on April 10. 1864. and never re-
built. Many Rochester people will remember
having seen this grand old wreck swinging
across the gorge Just before Lewisi on is reachod
ON the gorge road. or New York Central. 1t IL
one OF the famous landmarks OF western New
York. but. like the other famous bridges of the
Niagara gorge. its ond is near.
HOESE RAILROAD " MINTJULEPS