The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-26
QUEEREST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD
Now Being Built Across the Seine at
ROuen. FRANCE

New York, June 25.-The Herald thus
describes the newest-fangled thing IN
bridge architecture:
There is now in process of construc-
ton at Rouen, France, a bridge that,
when completed. will be the oldest
structure for the purpose that ever
genius conceived.
1t is a bridge for the transportation
Of people. and yet not a soul will pass
over Il. 1t will carry crowds across the
Seine. and yet its great Orders VIII feel
the foot OF no man except the workman.
1t will be the highest bridge over the
Seine, and those who make use of 1t will
be nearer the water than the passen-
gers over any bridge that spans the
river referred to.
The structural plans OF the bridge,
which are now being carried out, pro-
vide for the building on either SIDE of
the Seine, a, point near the central
district OF Rouen. OF two diminutive
I.iffel towers. Diminutive is used ad-
visedly, but each tower will be 175 feet
high.
From the apex of each tower heavy
Of these ca les will be tested until II
fully proves that it would support with
safety the weight of 5000 persons. That
this is very necessary will be seen when
the purpose Of the bridge IS realized
These chain cables will sustain a mar
row bridge, which IS 20 be suspended $50
fee; from the surface OF the water
Upon this bridge three lines OF railroad,
narrow gauge. will be laid. The con-
struction OF this trio Of railroad tracks
Will be in the same style as that which
obtains on the ordinary steel suspension
bridge.
On each OF these tracks will run a
skeleton carriage. or platform on wheels.
Directly these carriages will not convey
a single passenger. Indirectly it is be-
lievei they will carry annually more
than 1.00.o00 persons. not one Of whom
will ever step upon the spendidly con-
s,ructed conveyance.
Steel cables. endless, Will pass over
driving wheels at each end Of this giant
bri5ge. and by means OF these the skele-
ton carriages will be moved from side
20 side OF the structure. The power 70
move these cables will be electricity.
and the speed al which the carriages
will be run VIII be az least twenty miles
an hour, and they may go ten miles bet
ter.
Dangling from the skeleton platforms
or carriages mentioned will hang steel
cables stretching down TO the surface
Of The Seine below. Four OF these haw-
sers will hang from each carriage. and
each four Will be strongly attached 70
what the French call a sransbor5eur,
which means in English a slung car
rage These will be very large affairs.
each capable % carrying 500 persons.
vehicles drawn by horses and several
horse cars, or tram cars. as they prefer
10 call them n France.
When the platforms. $50 feet up. move
along the Steel rails upon which they
slide from tower 20 tower. the carriage
below. filled with freight and humanity.
will move az an equal rate o. sp5ed. The
carriage Will be about eight feet above
the water. and the chances are that il
will have a pendulumisiic motion which
may be very affecting 70 some people.
after The same fashion as are The swell
.ng waves.
Each carriage is % De - feet wide and
81 fee, in length. /: Is 70 be built %
STEEL. 50 arranged, o. rather built. ina;
Il through some untowari reason the
cables were . give way. OF. ike the
Gecon's oae-hoss shay. he overhead
machinery should 60 20 pieces all az
once and nothing frs. i; would foa.
gently on the surface o. tAe xa:e. af;st
the splashiEc caused by SIS eigh1-too:
fall had taken place.
The totsI COS. OF his queer bridge and
- a,teaian; rarsphernalia VIII D. sSo1.-
oeo.
TIE man who p,aane. the bridge has.
oddly enough. KEEP; his identity a Sc
crc;- Win :hs, 1--we % sensation xhich
caaractsrizes TIE Frsnchnan Re has de-
;e-miaei thss his name shall 10; De an
noancei un:.l ID. bridge Is open . The
public