The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-02-10
Rel Air Notes.

/ AbCA nAE
Mr.. Silas b. smith, late SecontsLieutenant
| Of Company d, First Maryland Regiment, re-
turned to his home in Bel Air on last Thurs
day evening.
Mr.. Isaac Amos, of Bel Air, who has recent
ly been assigned as United States Storekeeper
at the Sherwood distillery at Ctckeysville, is
quite sick.
Master Howard Nelson is confined to his
bed with heavy cold.
The new banking firm of Smith, Rouse and
Webster opened on Monday. The first de-
position was MIR. George F. Burnley, Of Ores
well.
Mr. Abram =. McCombs, senior editor of
the Hare dc Grace Republican, was well
come visitor to The 4Egis Office OH Wed
nesday afternoon.
Mr.. Edward c. Hanway, is lying very III at
Forwood's Hotel.
Mrs. Mary Evans Mr.. Edgar d. Evans and
Miss Jessie Evans, who have resided in Har-
ford county for several years, will leave Bel
Air tomorrow, Saturday, for New Orleans,
La, where they will make their future home
Miss Jessie Reckord is visiting friends in
Westminster, Md.
List of uncalled for letters remaining in the
Bel Air postoflice: Mr.. W. Dale Brougher,
MIR. Smith Walter.
-----<-S-S
A Marvellous Engineering Feat.
We have received the following act CUNT Of
an extraordinary engineering feat from dr.
q. Selwyn Colburu, who is connected with
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Jersey
City, New Jersey. Mr. Coburn is son of
Rev. L. A. Colburn, rector of Holy Trinity z.
4. Church, Churchville. Ihe extract is Fl ON
the Ne,rrk Duly 1dre,tiser of JanuaryG.
stFrom a layman's standpoint as well ss
from an engineers standpoint, peculiar, in
genious and unique piece of bridge work is
being done at New Brunswick, n j., wb ere
the bridge builders of tho Pennsylvania K all
road Company, under the general supervision
of Master Carpenter George Mershou, and the
management Of William K. Mershon, OF \ ,w-
ark, are replacing disabled a"bri' tge
with a new one without the slis htest delay To
either passenger or freight tra1ii:.
About three years ago the bridge OF re
Pennsy Ivania Railroad over the RarItan riI er,
having been found too light to bear the he IVY
rolling stock that has been gradually ubst.l ut
Ell for the OH equipment. WAS replaced i'll Its
entirety by new bridge without the stopp'n
or even slowing up Of u single train. his
feat OF engineering was successfully accUm-
p!ished by the mechanics now engaged III
building the new drawhridge. When 1t is
considered that no part of the new bridge was
in any way like a par, Of the bridge remov Ell,
the difficulty of such work is apparent and
the ingenuity more praisewortuy.
The bridge SD replaced consists OF five spa ms,
each 155 feet in length. Probably not one in
a thousand parsons who crossed over The
bridge daily, knew Of the work being in ro-
gress. The draYbridge that is now in cou rse
OF erection is entirely different from the one
that has been removed. The draw rests
circular granite pier built in the middle of the
Delaware aud Raritau Canal.
The first step in the erection of the draw
bridge WAS the building of false work with
heavy timbers to carry the tracks during ;he
progress of the work, and false work at
right angles to the bridge proper on which to
build the new bridge span. The weight Of The
moving trains haviEg been transferred to che
false work or trestle, the removal OF the Did
iron dra"bridge was quickly accomplished.
The grders for tho new bridge, of wb lch
there are four, or one under each rail- for / he
whole length Cf the draw-span of l54 feet
were specially made by the New Jersey s eel
and Iron Com pany, Of Patterson, and weigh
about twelve tons each. The entire ew
drawbridge will weigh over two humid ed to Hs,
yet 50 well is The weight distributed that wien
all is ready to turn the new draw into place. it
is expected to balance SO that q mans wei: hit
will turn the scale. Little, II any Of he
weight will rest on the tracks at each end, .x-
cept when trains are passing over.
The Delaware and Raritan Canal will oIsen
about March 4Jh, and week previous to lat
time the new draw bridge will be completed.
When the word is given the temper iry
trestle and false work will be fastened to h!-w-
sers, aud with locomotive attached will he
quickly pulled down and the new draw swung
into place and pu: in continuous servi &c.
This feat will no doubt be viewed By number
Of engineers aud railroad men Of note"