Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1905-05-02
SPANS THE MISSISSIPPI.
Opening of the New Thebes
Bridge.

AT cost OF Cnree ana One-halt
million dollars and three years time,
the new Cotton Belt bridge over the
Mississippi River at Thebes, Ill.,, was
opened to traffic April 18.
Ten years ago the construction of
such bridge would have cost prob
ably million dollars more. The
Thebes bridge being a combination
of the best points of the three ac-
cepted styles of bridge engineering,
is unlike any other in this country,
and improvement of method has
materially reduced its cost. The
plan involves what is known as the
fixed, through the cantilever spans,
and the bridge is as substantial as it
is possible to make it.
1t is a double track structure and
its location is particularly fortu-
nate one, owing to the high bluffs on
each side of the river which obviate
the necessity of the usual long ap-
proaches.
The bridge consists of a continuous
steel structure Of five spans. The
central, or channel span, is 671 feet
long; the two spans on either side of
the channel span are 521 ft. 2 in.
long; the two end spans are 518 ft. 6
in. long; the two fixed spans on
either side of the channel span are
rs feet high between centers of
chords; the suspended spans are 55
feet high between chords at the
center; the distance center to center
of trusses is 80 feet. There are ap-
proximately $4,000 tons of steel in
the structure.
The six main piers supporting the
steel superstructure are founded on
bed rock. The total height of the
structure from the bottom of the
lowest foundation to the top of the
highest point of the superstructure
is 231 feet.
The bridge is approached at both
ends by concrete arches. There are
five 65-ft. arches in the East ap-
proach and six 65-ft. arches and one
l00-ft. arch in the West approach.
! The concrete approaches are of Port
land cement. Its total amount is
estimated at $4,000 cubic yards. The
roadbed on both approaches is
double track, ballasted and 85-lb.
trails used.
The total length of the bridge
proper, including concrete ap-
proaches, is 1907 feet. The total
length of the entire construction, in
cluding earth approaches. is AT
miles.
The completion of this bridge does
5 away with the Cotton Belts car
ferry transfer at Thebes, and will
? enable passenger trains to make an
: hour quicker time from st. Louis to
2 Texas. 1t will shorten freight sche-
: dulles five hours.
The Cotton Belt has spent $780,
600 in terminal improvements at
- limo, just west of the bridge on
the Missouri side, and owns all ter
minal facilities and track connec-
/ tions on that side Of the river.
This bridge puts the Cotton Belt
at the front among the important
] lines from st. Louis to the South
west. The management will at once
inaugurate new fast freight SER
vice between Texas, Arkansas,
Louisiana and st. Louis. Through
freight from st. Louis to Texas will
be delivered in much shorter time
than has ever before been attempted.
In anticipation of heavy traffic, the
company is preparing to double
track the line from the river to a
point 60 miles west. The fact that
the Cotton Belt already has the
lowest graded line to the Southwest
and has been newly laid with rs and
85 pound steel rails will make this
road a vital competitor for South
western business, and is certain to
make strong showing in future
earnings.