The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-05-03
ID " L u T HI AERIAL Bird G T.
FamousShuctne Described in an Article To-day by
"The Man About Town"

the Wisconsin shore. The part near
Duluth is thickly built up and is the
site of business enterprises and resi-.
dences. On the bay side are docks
and slips. Farther out the point is
covered with heavy and natural
growth Oh pines and other vegetation
that found lodgment in the water
washed sands. The strip of land is
several hundred feet wide and gives
ample room for a large population.
During the summer season "the point"
is popular resort for camping par
ties and summer homes. Many of Tue
first famiiies or the city have built
handsome camps and cottages on the
point and spend the summer in the
cool of its pine forest growth. me
land is laid off in streets, an electric
car line runs out distance of almost
four miles. The city of Duluth fur
nishes water mains the same distance.
The streets are lighted by electricity
from the city, telephone communica-
ton is enjoyed and the point is in
every way part Of the city.
y D -
But the government canal which IS
four hundred feet wide, separates the
point from the main land and t-.e
great population Of the point and the
numerous business interests must
have easy and ready means Of trans
portation to and Iro. For years tneI
city cared for the traffic by having
oarsmen with row boats to convey
freight and passengers across. When
the canal was improved and widened
regular ferry boats made the trips
across the canal. A tunnel under the
canal was proposed as better meth
cd but finally the Aerial Bridge"was
determined upon and is but recently
in operation. A large car, accommo-
dating passengers and teams, now
travels back and forth across the ca
nal, suspended from track-way bull.
as a bridge span at sufficient height
to permit the passing of the largest
vessels afloat. The structure is five
hundred feet from pier to pier with a
clear span Of four hundred feet above
the canal. Tue top Of the bridge is
one hundred and eighty-six feet above
the water. The track from which the
travelling car is suspended is one hun
dred and thirty-six 1eet from water
level, and the floor Of the car Is about
twelve to fifteen feet above the water
of the canal. The brluge is the won
der of all who see it and it has per
haps more than any other one thing
spread the fame Of Duluth as great
city.
The accompanying cut of the bridge,
while giving an idea of the structure,
fails to convey a correct impression
of its massiveness and beauty. There
is not another structure of the kim in
the world, although the same princi-
pie is in use in one place in France.
Note the size of the people standing
near the bridge and then compare
with the structure. The top OF the
structure is almost twice the height
of the great chimney that formerly
did service at Oskaloosa's old Power
house. The car is operated by elec-
tricity and runs back and forth easily
and quickly, without jar, and the
heaviest of winds Iail to cause per-
ceptible tremor. Even the great
storm of last November with the
wind at seventy-eight miles per hour
failed to move the car to any notice
able extent. Inc Dndge mas certainly
solved the problem of transportation
over the canal. Thousands are &C
commodated daily and the capacity IS
never taxed. 1t will care for all de-
mands that can be made upon it for
years to come.
The man About Town.