The evening times., 1900-09-19

QUEBEC, Quebec, Sept. 19.-Greater in
many respects than the wonderful Firth
of Forth Bridge will be the structure
which will span the st. Lawrence River
at this ancient capital and upon which the
preliminary work has already begun
For more than half century such an
undertaking has been under discussion by
the business men OF Quebec, and it was
one of the conditions of confederation that
the maritime provinces should be con-
nected by rail with this city. Plans were
prepared in 1851, and since then dete.-
mined effort has been pat forth with vary
ing success, until finally the Federal Gov
ernment has granted 81 600 900, with
promise that another $1,000, 600 will be
Forthcoming, SHOULD it be required
The total cost of the bridge will be s4,-
000,000, and the authorized capital of the
company, of which Mayor Parent is pIesi-
dent, 81 600 GOO. The Legislature OF Que
bee has appropriated $3.50 900 and the local
city council 5000, ,00o The remainder of the
funds necessary to compete tie work will
be raised by the issue of debentures. All
the contracts for the various parts OF the
big bridge have been made, the Phoenix
Bridge Building Company, of PhoenixyiIle,
Pa. being awarded that for the iron and
steel work, which will weigh about forty
thousand tons. VI. p. Davis, of Cardinal
Ont. secured the contract for the mason
ry work, which is required to be complet
cd in October 1902
The cantiIever span of the new bridge
VIII be about ]. 500 feet long, 90 feet longer
than the Firth of Forth. The total length
of the structure Will be 3 500 feet or a lit
tle more than two-thirds OF a mile Tho
centre span viii be $50 feet above high
water. and the height of the two centre
piers of masonry above high tide Will be
80 feet while the elevation of the cantf-
levers above the top of the masonry will
| be $50 feet. Besides the TWO abutments.
one on either side of the river and the
two water piers az the ends of the great
centre span, there will be two anchor piers,
each 100 feet away from its neighborlng
abutmcnJ and 500 feet from the nearest
deep water pier. The amount of masonry
entering into the construction of the bridge
IS estimated at $1,000 cubic yards, The
piers are TO be of enormous size The
anchor piers are to be finished this year.
! The Two deep water piers Will require
season for each One will be begun IN
May next year, and completed before win
ter and the other Will BE- built in the open
! season of 1862
The huge pneumatic caissoEz. which are
to be constructed this winter and launched
az required. will measure I6S feet by 50
feet. with height of 50 feet. or base
area of Sid0 square feet. requiring fG0e. 900
feet OF timber hoard measurement. for
| their construction. More than $4,000 bar
reis of cement will be required for the
work. and Mr.. Davis contract viii total
$3.50 001. His engineer is 4 ~ Stewart
Of New York city. who has lately been en-
gagged upon Tie new East River Bridge
The Quebec DriAgs is 10 have doubIr rail-
way tracks. besides Toadways for carriages.
electric cars and pedestrians going in both
directions. II will be strong enough to
bear the weight Of as many heavy lOc0m0-
tiyes as can r. crowded upon is. The rail,
ways to use It sill be the Grand Trunk.
the Quebec Central the Great Northern.
the Intsr,OIO1ial, the Canadian Pacific. and
the Quebec and Lake St. John.