The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-14
THE BRIDGE BEAUTIFUL
is NOW THE IDEAL
American Have Awakened to the Importance Of Better
Looking Brdges-On the Site Of the Ugly Structure
Immortalized by Longfellow a3Nobe Example OF
Modern Architectural Skill is Building

il b Z ( ~
Especial Correspondence to The Times
Dispatch.) 5{l
BOSTON, MASS, May 1s.-The Unlteu
states is filled with the wonders of the
bridge builders art-giant structures OF
steel that overstretch mighty rivers and
arms OF the ocean, bridges tina lit 70
ht mammoth ships 90 nder BRIGGS ss !
SO high and so peculiarly constructed
that ships can pass beneath them with
out lifting, trestles that are flung from
mountain side to- mountain side, span
ming deep canyons, cantilevers over re-
sounding cataracts. bridges of immense
size and little bridges OF signs. Only
one kind OF bridge has up TO this time
been conspicuously absent from the
North American continent. That Is the
bridge beautiful.
Not absolutely, perhaps. is American
bridge building TO be condemned on
esthetic grounds for. although q major
ity of the structures spanning rivers
and estuaries in this country have been
built with regard only to utilitarian
considerations, some few are artistic
enough to compare favorably, Il not
with the best examples OF ancient work
n1anship, at least with the severe but
generally well proportioned creations
with which French. German and Italian
y
their rivers A German commissioner
appointed some % years ago by his
government to look into the railroad
system OF the United States reported
among other things: In America pub
s. lie works are executed without refer
encc to art. Yet the nineteenth CEN
fury witnessed the erection IN this
country OF so noble structure as the
arched High Bridge which carries Gro
~ T., ay,,oH t..
siye and not embarrassing Cabin Johns
bridge near Washington, famed until
very recently rs being the largest single
arch bridge in the world; the Eads
Bridge across the Mississippi at St.
Louis. representing striking and gen
orally pleasing combination of masonry
and ironwork, and many minor struct-
ures OF distinct artistic merit. Even
the all iron bridge. in the hands of some
engineers who are willing to look az
their work rs an architectural PROPOSE
ton. has proved to have an attractive
ness OF Its own. though beauty Of the
highest type 1t can never possess.
Among the older bridges of the country,
those especially involving stone work
OF tho colonial and revolutionary
period. there are many that are truly
notable in appearance.
Again, tho community OF the greater
boston, WnlCn neretololc, tliuuSH SUI
piled with a multitude of smaller
bridges more or less architectural
merit, has had no large bridge COM
parable in popular estimation with
some Of tho big spans OF other Amerl-
can cltles-such as the two great sus-
pension bridges over New York's East
River-has now very nearly completed
one OF masonry md steel which will be
Of distinctly monumental character
making an important part of the land
scape OF the Back Bay and giving M
mean and squalid approach to Harvard
university, This work has lately been
hailed by a writer In the Century Maya
zine as unquestionably the most artis-'
tic American Bridge yet designed, It
will be one OF the most conspicuous
features Of the ornamental basin which
on a larger scale than Hamburgs cele-
brated Alster Basin Is ching created
out OF the salt water estuary whore the
Charles River broadens before flowing
into the ocean. 1t has also a senti-
mental significance. for 1t takes the
place OF the ugly, insignificant pile
bridge which Longfellow immortalized
by standing on It at midnight. and
which, If he followed the dictates OF his
artistic tastes. he probably ran away
from by daylight,
III the building OF the new bridge "a dis
tinct effort was made to secure beauty
OF line and mass and to avoid the mis-
take which was committed when the
low, strIngy and unimposing Harvard
Bridge was thrown across the Back Bay
about mile to the south, Given
wide stretch of water with. on the one
sido a hill covered with high buildings
and on the other an esplannde soon, to
DO lined with apartment houses or pos
s!bly with educational institutions. the
bridge must be massive to create any
positive Impression at all, and certain
swelling bisness Of effect II what City
Engineer jackson, OF Boston, and Mr..
Edmund NJ, Wheelwrlght, former city
architect. who drew the plans, evidently,
had In mind The bridge Is composed
Of ii spans of steel arches with graceful
curves between 70 piers Of granite. the