The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-13
PAGES IL TO 90.
ACROSS NIAGARA'S GORGE.
BICYCLE TRACK FROM THE UNI-
TED STATES TO CANADA.
GORGE.

Two Arches Connect the Two COun@
tries-The Lower Platform Devot-
ed 10 TrOlIeys, Carriages ana
Whee1men-The Finest Steel
Bridge Ina the World.
New York. June 11.-Aug. the Pennsyl4
vania Steel Company, working under the
instruction of l.. l.. Buck, win complete
the new steel arch which has been sprung
across Niagara's gorge.
The new bridge Is directly upon the site
of the old suspension bridge and takes
the place of it. The suspension bridgs
has been gradually removed, and the new
steel arch will be built without in any way
interfering with traffic. To accomplish
this without interfering with public
travel has been one of the most diflculu
tasks ever accomplished In engineering.
but 1T is now nearly done. and In thres
months bicyclists will ride across the falls
as easily as though a track had been bulls
for them by nature
When the old suspension bridge was
built, in 1918, there was considerable DIFF
flculty in locating it. Roebling, the build-
er of the Brooklyn bridge, finally located
est and opposite cliffs nearest of a hight.
AS the old bridge was made of wooda
hung from stone towers, It was necessary
that the opposite sides should be nearly
even, in order to make the work as sub
stantlal possible. At length a place
was found where the cliff on the opposite
sides Of the gorge rose nearly at the same
angle, and where the space between the
two sides was not too great. Here the
bridge was built, and after eight years
of hard work 1t was completed and dedi-
Gated. The old stone towers stood from
1856 until 1886 when they were renewed
with steel ones.
The new bridge Is about 600 feet long
from pier to pier, or perhaps an eighth OF
a mile. It Is a little longer than the reg4
ulation city square. but sprung as It Is
thousands of feet above the water It seems
much longer to those who take the trip
across It.
The bridge Is IN two platforms. Ths
upper one is to be devoted to steam cars.
This is tho most important one for ID
carries the heaviest weight and greater
engineering skill was required to build it,
1t Is formed by a large. steel arch, from
which uprights are built On these up
rights the road bed is laid, and across
this roadbed goes all the railroad traffic
that Is carried on between Canada and
the United States There is a double
track laid and cars can pass and repass
without interfering with each other.
The lower platform Is much lighter
structure, as it is built only for trolleys
and such pleasure vehicles as carriages,
afo QQg "a n w
will traverse the bridge for the benefit of
pleasure-seekers There are strands Ito
feet IN length thrown out from each side
of the gorge. These have uprights upon
which the platform or bridge rests.
In locating the abutments on the New
York side IL was found that they could
be very well built into the Clinton lime
stone which forms a rock on this side.
But on the Canadian side there was no
such safe foundation and 1t was found
necessary to lay a heavy deposit of con-
crete into which the abutments are built
To make the bridge perfectly safe the
abutments are situated half way up the
slope, between the top and the waters
edge and again there Is a very strong an
chorage or fundation upon the top OF the
bluff
The platform which is devoted TO trol-
leys, carriages and wheels Is expected 10
be OF more benefit to Niagara than the
upper platform, upon which the locomo-
tive and passenger cars run. OF late, since
Niagara has been turned into commercial
streams, the sightseeing industry has suf-
fered somewhat; but 1t Is thought that
with the increased facilities for seeing the
falls, this wonderful work OF nature will
return to all its old-time popularity. Not
that II has suffered from lack OF VISITORS
but Il is a fact that for the last three years
Niagara has not increased In summer
traffic in proportion 70 the great building
up OF the country. This new bridge now
adds a feature which is the most remark
able OF anything Of Its kind In the world
and which Is not equalled or Appropriated
by any similar structure. Bicyclists Will
throng there TO see this great new Won
der.
The rapidly with which the work ia
being carried on speaks wonders for the
skin of the engineer and the company
In charge OF It, Although the old tow
ers and parts of the old bridge were
used, Il was not until April that the new
steel arch was sprung. Since then tho
work has gone on so fast that II viii
surely be completed by the first OF Au-
gust, and perhaps before.
Already the bicycle companies are forc-
seeing the immense popularity of the
bridge as a bicycle path, and they ara
locating their enops all around eacn end
OF the bridge. They contemplate charg-
ing so much for the use OF a bicycle for
round trip across the bridge and back
Another company will rent a wheel for =
half hours use on the bridge. The trolley
has observation and picnic cars.
TO make the bridge more. impressive as
a marvel OF nature and engineering there
are some facts that should be known
about II. The cost Is not computed yer,
but, as the old suspension bridge cost $780,
900, this will cost at least twice as much.
II contains 100000 pounds Of steel plates
and columns. 100000 pounds Of steel In
the form OF pins and bars and 5000
pounds OF wrought iron. II Will hang
with It's lowest arch go feet above this
water. James Barton.
THE Birmingham gun trade has not
been 80 active for ten years as II II now.
Ia o. nlnlna IhnI nnn thinning "a firm han