Evening star., 1900-11-08
19c. Aprons, 1Oc.
BRIDGES AT NIAGARA.
Danger of the Work on the New Ap-
prOaches at Goat Island.

From the Rochester Democrat
1t is doubtful If more dangerous and in
teresting piece of bridge construction has
ever been done at Niagara Falls than the
building of the new concrete arches be-
tween the mainland and Goat Island The
point where operations are being conducted
is right over the upper rapids, where the
waters dash furiously, as though hungry
to sweep a human being down through the
rapids and over the American fall. This
interesting work is only 800 feet back from
the brink over which so many have been
hurled to death. and the workmen have to
use the greatest care that they may not
fail into the forty-mile current of the fas-
cinatng waters
These new bridges are being built on the
state reservation lands. and the work is
under the supervision of the state engineer
department. All summer long it has been
necessary to use temporary wooden
bridge only six feet wide in passing to and
from the shore of Goat Island. The old
bridges have been closed to pedestrians,
well as carriage travel and it is many
months since an ambitious Niagara hack
man drove fare about the island. 1t is
doubtful if the bridge will be opened this
fall. The commissioner of the reservation
will take steps to hurry the work much
as possible.
When the new bridges are completed they
will add materially to the beauty of the
view looking from the mainland to Goat
Island. They will be of concrete, but faced
with stone in all parts and Will have
every appearance of beautiful rustic stone
structures. The bridge from the mainland
to Green Island will have length of 81
feet. 1t will have three spans. Surmount-
ing the structure there will be an iron rail-
ing of appropriate design.
Between Green Island and Goat Island
the second bridge will be located, and it is
now well under way. This bridge will be
Of the same style Of construction, but will
not be quite so long. From shore to shore
1t will be 19s feet. 1t will also have three
spans or arches
The water over which the bridge is being
built varies in depth from six tc twelve
feet. and the current has a wonderful force
In its hurry to plunge over the falls and
bury itself In the waters of the gorge
Right In this current the contractors are
forced to sink cofferdams in order that the
bottom OF the river may be reached for the
construction of the piers. 1t has been
found quite a task to shut out the waters
of the rapids, for the pressure all about is
awful. However. 1t has been DONE and the
concrete for the piers Is placed in a prac-
ucaliy dry coferdam, the water that does
enter being pumped out by electric motors.
The concrete Is mixed in mixers operated
electrically. Men working in the water
have life lines about them, and all about
the dangerous points lines are stretched
and life buoys floating to catch any work.
men who might be unfortunate enough to
slip Into the water.
The consulting engineer Is r. s. Buck.
who has won fame in connection with ali
the Niagara bridges, and D. d. Waldo of
Medina is his assistant. While carriages
have not been allowed to cross to Goat
Island, the reservation van service has been
maintained in order that aged people might
have some means of travelling about the
island. All the vans and horses used in
this island service were taken over before
the bridges were commenced