The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-27
RAPID BRIDGE BUILDING.

Some time ago the English govern
ment found itself I'm great hurry 10
have bridge buift over the Atbsra
river I'm the Soudan. IL applied to home
engineering firms ana got figures but
was confronted by the statement thai
the work could not possibly be COM
pleted inside of gwo years. Bids were
then asked from American companies
ana very different propositions We're re.
ceived. The Americans. accustomed ap-
parently 20 doing business differently
thought SIX or eight months would do
The Englishmen said false work would
have TO be used in the erection Of the
structure. The Americans said no false
work was needed. The Pencoyd bridge
works OF Philadelphia received the con-
tract They easily fulfilled an promises.
as is shown by the following record
breaking schedule OF the work
Jan. First oablegram received. ask
ing for price and delivery ON seven l50-
foot spans. narrow gauge railway. Am
erican standards. Answered giving
pIsce. with promise of seven Heelsa-
livery in New York. Possibly six. Sent
standard plans.
Jan. 13-Cable received. givir, infor.
nation that no false work would be
allowed in the river. and that tho
trusses must be designed as Cantlevers
for erection purposes.
Jan. 14-Answered, agreeing 10 change
plans AMI asking for train load to pre-
pare estimate on this basis. as stand
ard plans could not be used
Jan. l6-Cable received giving train
lead.
Jan. 2O-Answered by cable. giving
quotation based on this loading aud
caBtiever erection
Jan. Specifications received at
Pencoyd. Order for bridge received at
Pencoyd.
Jan. Information received at PEN
coyd changing span lengths 10 AZ feet
and pins and giving other important
data.
Jan. 27-stress sheet made and sent
for approval
Jan. 2S--General drawing and
sketches under way
Jan. 3l-Shop drawing commenced
Beb: 2-orders received for cast-iron
caps for piers.
Feb. l0-Shop drawings finished
Feb. 2-l1-Matsrial ordered.
Feb. 3-2l-Materidl received.
Feb 6-Work commenced i'm temple
and bridge shops.
f b. 1890 0nclusive) Works closed
six days on account Of blizzard.
March Total structure shipped
from Pencoyd.
March 22-One-half shipped from
New York
March 30-Final shipment from New
York.
April 21-Erection crew sailed from
New York
April 26-At 2:9O p. M received cable
10 replace one chord section twenty-five
feet long: weight 5000 pounds
ApiTl 2'-Shipped at a. m. from
Pencoyd teighteen hours).
June 20-Enough material arrived pt
site Of the bridge to commence rec.
tlon.
June 27--All material R4d ar
rived.
Aug. i9-Bridge completed. Time of
erection. eight and one-half weeks. To-
tai time from receiving ORDER % CONF
pietion, six mor-hs and tWenty-sT
days.
The bridge was erected by native
worklnen under. American supervision,
the American party consisting or six
mon. owing 10 the iateuse heat m"
progress Or The work was much slower
than II ,"ould have been had "a wealth
s' conc y ons been otherwis The bl DE
Z as been built TO carry "A railroad now
IN course OF conStruotiCn. n WAS fr.m-
ally opened for traffic by Lord kitch-
cner on Aug. 26. This performauCe has
been the subiegt or unlimited discus
son on both sides of the Atlanti.. and
has gone far toward proving IN super
iority of the American iron and 50 80
In lustries.