The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-25

of Monterey, thus saving thousands of
lives and millions of dollars worth of
property. After the flood had receded
nothing remained of the little burg
on the south side of the river, op-
posite Monterey, and for some dis
lance on the north, yet high and dry,
without a crack, stood the two con-
crete arches as firm as the Rock of
Gibraltar.
The Bridge as Constructed.
A year ago last April the Topeka
Bridge and Iron Company signed a
contract to construct a two-arch con-
crete bridge across the Catarina river
at Monterey, Mexico, using the Lutin
patent INSTRUMENTATION rods en-
bedded in the concrete arch and
anchored securely in concrete at either
end of the bridge.
The concrete foundation was placed
six feet below the level of the river
bed on solid rock. Approaches were
built using stone masonry for. wing
wasls- AS suDerstructure to the
bridge, concrete market house 220
feet long was built which was used
as stores or market walls, like the
old Gordon bridge of three centuries
ago. The length of the bridge proper
Is one hundred and seventy feet.
The market house or super-struc-
ture extends beyond the ends of the
bridge and was supported by the ap-
proaches. When the flood reached
1OuleT6N the approaches ana WING
walls were washed away leaving the
concrete mass intact. The north end
of the bridge house now extends TWEEN
ty feet from the end of the bridge
without support other than the
strength of the concrete.
Flood Like That of Niagara.
The flood was the worst ever ex-
perienced in Mexico" said A. ]. Cole,
of this city, secretary and treasurer
yhar1
James d. Schuyler, an American en-
Sineer, who accompanied President
Taft to Panama, learned the details
OF the deluge, he estimated that the
amount of water that came down the
channel of the Catarina river and
surged against the bridge was greater
than the amount of water that pours
over Niagara Falls, by $4,000 cubic
1eet per second. The debris piled up
on the west side of the bridge for a
great distance, clogged the archways
and wall of water seventeen feet
nigh, battered away at the structure
but still the bridge stood. When the
water reached the driveway through
the building some damage was done
oy tree trunks and telegraph poles be-
ing thrown against the thinner walls"
h V. Leason, of Topeka, engineer
Tor the company. was on the ground
when the bridge was built and per-
sonally directed the construction of
the work he had planned.
The Secret of Its Strength.
The secret of the success of orr
bridges" says Mr.. Leason. sis this.
We use iron rods for reinforcement.
The concrete work is bound togethar
with continuous rods three quarters
OF an inch in diameter on ordinary
work, sometimes using five-eighth and |
on heaVy work. rods an inch in dia- |
meter. These rods are firmly anchor
ed at the end of the structure. laid
at the top of the concrete crown a |
third of the way over, dipping to the
bottom surface of the arch at the CEN |
ter and back to the top surface on
the opposite side of the bridge. The
RODS are placed a foot apart, and even
closer lengthwise of the structure.
II Is all in placing the reinforce
ment In such a manner as to meet
the highest tension of the arch. That |
we nave succeeded in doing and that |
Is the reason our bridges have stood
the tests every time.
contractors Were SkepticaI.
When I went down to Mexico to !
oegln the work" continued Mr.. Lea
son, the Mexican contractors and a |
Few or the Americans were doubtful
II we could put in a bridge over that
river with but a thirteen-inch crown
mat is the thickness at the top of
the arch. But followed the plans and
exactly regardless of
their advice or circumstances. The
were fearful of the task
ana experienced considerable Diff