The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-14

feet. The two center pieces. as Is the
custom with most of the ornamental
bridges Of the world, are by far the
heaviest. When complete, they will.
carry four granite columns, around the
top Of each Of which will appear clus-;
ter OF electric lights On the front OF;
the two center piers is a massive
granite carving representing in the one
case the seal OF the city OF Boston car.
ried over the prov OF galley, with
dolpfa heads and other accessories, and
in the other case the corresponding seal
OF the city Of Cambridge.
ssIt Is characteristic OF tile ne " attitude
Of many public servife NJ corporations
toward aesthetic considerations that the
architectural quality Of this bridge
which, within a few months will be
opened to the public has been made
possible largely through the public
spirit and liberalty OF Boston's street
car system, the Boston Elevated Rail-
,waytit Company The contribution or
the elevated company. which will make
use of portion Of the bridge as offering
Square. enabled the erection Of r. strlc-
ture involving the expenditure OF two
and half million dollars very con-
siderable sum In the building of
bridge, and one that would have been
beyond the means of the, suburban city
OF Cambridge. If the expense had sinp-
ly been shared with the city OF Boston
According to the bill which apportioned
the expenses It was provided that the
Boston Elevated Railway "shall pay
toward the construction OF said bridge
such proportion thereof as shall be rem
dered necessary by reason of It's being
of additional size and strength for the
use Of the elevta ted road. This quota
has made possible an attempt to pro-
duce something as fine rs any modern
European bridge.
or the four car tracks occupying the
middle Of the structure two will be
given over to trains on the new RAPID
transit line that is to be begun between
Boston and cambride soon after the
completion Of the bridge. These will
be on grade across the bridge being en-
closed from the trolley car tracks by an
iron fence. The middle section where
the IL" tracks run Will be nm open
trestle. which is much more sa tisfactory
in a climate subject to snow and Ice:
From tho Boston side the trains will
come out of a subway sklrtng the
northern side OF historic Beacon HILL,
and on reaching Cambridge they will
either again descend into q subway Or
continue at the elevated level en- route
to tho shaded precincts OF Harvard Uni
versity.
Boston Bridge will DO In America,
Europe is filled with bridges which
combine high degree OF iartistic quality
with perfect usefulness. Not that the
continental countries are altogether
lacking In examples OF ugliness and In
congruousness. Perhaps one OF the
~. ~, Ic t1,ot ~ fho o16aQt
Of all existing stone bridges, the Ponte
Rotto In Rome, anciently known MS the
Pons Aemilus, begun In 179 3, c., and
completed in about forty years, Half
of this bridge was carried away by n
food IN 1851. It was at that time re-
built from blocks of stone from the
Coliseum, but the medlneval builders
we're less skllful and for second time
part OF tho bridge was swept away. It
remained for many years with one end
hanging in the air, much like the an-
Client bridge over the Tiber just before
IIoratius quit holding It against NIL COM
ers. To-day. however, an iron truss COM
pletes the span, thus combining The solid
beauty Of the ancient Roman architec-
ture with the limit of modern ngliness,
For the most part however,, European
bridges of this generation have been de-
signed with some reference to their sur
ro,lndings and are seldom conspicuous
" unattraotive. Across the sen Mt
Parts are 80 important bridges. hardly
any one of which Is less imposing than
the best vet completed In America,
These include the most celebrated of MI,
the Pont Notrc Dame. erected in 1900,
and the latest OF all to he built, the Ex-
position Bridge Of 1000, the artistic
CHARACTERISTICS of which were n source
OF inspirations to thousands Of visitors
at the last great Parts exhibition Many
Americans at that time perceived the
possibility Of good hridge-bnilding in
accordance with modern methods. Tho
new West Boston Bridge will be
pioneer in giving EXPRESSION to, that
perception.
Cholly--"I'd nevah marry q woman who
was more elevah. than myself. y. know. !