The times., 1899-05-08
THE VICTORIA BRIDGE.
Famous Engineering Work Trans
formed to Modern Form

formed TO Modern Form.
Clontreal Correspondence New York Tribune)
The Victoria tubular bridge, which on
its opening forty years ago was regarded
as one of the engineering wonders of the
world, has under the Transforming touch
of present-day engineering been changed
into thoroughly modern truss bridge.
with an immense increase in its capacity
for handling business. When Mr.. Hays
came from the Wabash road about three
years ago and essayed what then looked
like the hopeless task of rescuing the
Grand Trunk from its era of chronic defic
its he early located the Victoria Bridge as
one of the weak points of the system. The
traffic demands of the present had far out
grown the facilities that in 1889 were more
than ample.
The tubular bridge, designed by Sir
George Stephenson and built by the ia
nous Brassey. five years being taken up
in its construction. had but one track, 9G0)
feet long. inclosed in a huge tube having a
diameter of fifteen feet. To prevent the
possibility of disaster il was operated on
the block system, by which no two trains
could be on the bridge at the same time
In consequence there was always a conges-
tion OF trains at each end of the bridge, re-
sulting in much loss and annoyance. Mr..
Hays satisfied himself that the twenty-five
lulluc1Se piers ouppOll Tue super
structure were capable of carrying a much
greater burden. and then gave contracts
for the remodelling of the bridge at a cost
of 81 500 900. This great work, after two
years of labor. is now virtually completed.
The great tube of painted iron spanning
the st. Lawrence-long one OF the great
sights of Montreal-has given place to the
open appearance OF the ordinary railway
truss bridge The roadway consists of a
double track, one for outgoing and the
other for incoming trains, and alongside
is a driveway for vehicles and a footpath
for pedestrians. These additional feat
ures have been added in repayment of
public subsidies, and will prove of enor-
nous benefit to the farmers living on the
other side of the river from Montreal, who
have hitherto been able to reach the city
only by ferry in summer and the ice
bridge in winter. The footpath is not
likely to be much patronized: wo-mile
walk at the elevation OF the bridge would
prove a chilly enterprise in winter and
an uncomfortably warm one in summer
time. The railway company is also under
obligation TO give electric cars access to
the bridge when demanded. The trolley
cars will run on the railway tracks.
The bridge from shore to shore is
9.iSi feet in length. II is divided into
twenty-four spans of 2i2 feet each, with a
centre span OF 800 feet. The bridge leaves
the abutments "a feet above the water and
gradually rises until in the centre it is
60 feet above the surface of the st. Law
rence. This is sufficient TO permit passage
way to the large river steamers. The piers
on which the bridge rests are soldily built
of stone, with a wedge-shaped water
cutter pointing up stream. This was the
device of the engineers to prevent the
bridge being damaged by the great ice
shoves which take place each spring, and
it has proved successful. SO solidly built
are these piers that, though the weight
upon them. by reason of the change In
the superstructure. has been increased
from 5000 tons to $4,000 tons. they are
easily equal to the demand made upon
them.
The bridge has a headway of twenty
feet, and presents an imposing appearance
from up or down the stream. The change
is also much appreciated by travellers. for
it was dismal enough business passing
through the tube. Ii was to ell intelts
and purposes a tunnel. broken here and
there by small grated openings, and as the
trains ran very slowly nervous women and
children found the ordeal somewhat try
ing enc.
The making over of the bridge involved
great deal of hard work. 1t had been put
together to resist the ages and al that
they might bring and the task OF dismant-
ling the tube took weary months. The
huge old fashioned rivets. much larger and
longer than those ROW employed for SINH
lar purposes. had been driven home so
thoroughly that their removal made large
demands on the skill and patience of the
workmen. However, they were gradually
pulled out; the great rusty iron tube was
split up the middle, loaded section by Sec
ton on to fatcars and carried away to be
dealt with as scrap iron
The bridge is now to be known as the
Victoria Jubilee Bridge. as the work OF
renovation was begun in 1897. the year Of
the diamond jubilee of Her Majesty. When
the improvements have been completed
there will be a formal opening. at which
directors from England will assist. The
word opening will. however, be mis-
nomer for during the whole of the time
that the bridge was being made over trains
ran much the same as usual, the long st
stoppage being for period of twenty-four