The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-21
STEEL BRIDGE SPANS wATEREE.
Camden Celebrates Opening of Fine
Structure.

camden, sept. 16.-The barbecue
celebration, hela here today, to mark
the completion and opening Of the
bridge across the Wateree River, was
the greatest event of its kind ever
held in Kershaw county. The people
of Kershaw county responded we'll 10
the invitation Of the city Of Camden
to attend and between four and five
thousand were present. Right well
did the committee In charge Of this
celebration do It's work and every
thing passed off in splendid style.
"A steel structure that will stand
until doomsday" are the words used
by the firm Of architects here, who
designed and supervised the construc-
tion of the Wateree bridge. at Cam
den. the crossing over the river In
Kershaw county, In describing the
mass OF steel upon a rock foundation
that spans the river.
Rising from the ruins of the memo
rable flood Of 1908. the new bridge
is indeed a work Of science. and that
never again will the distance between
the two banks be swayed apart, is
the belief Of those who built this
giant bridge. Three feet higher than
the old wooden bridge, the new bridge
will be able to breast the fiercest
storms and flood waters that might
rage in the old Wateree.
In 1908 there was a wooden struc-
ture at practically the same point
spanning the banks Of the river. Then
came that rush Of waters that carried
the bridge away and came very near
resulting in the loss of life. But for
the heroism Of a negro who risked
his own life. one of those who were
crossing the bridge when it went down
would have been drowned.
Voting bonds In the sum of $4O,-
900. the people Of Kershaw made the
new bridge a possibility. The work
was commenced about one year ago
and has been completed.
The bridge is second only in length
Of its span to one bridge in this coun-
try east Of the Mississippi. The only
other bridge having longer span is
that in Waco. Tex. The wateree
bridge Is 375 feet In it's span.
The excavation for the bridge was
made forty feet below the earth.
Piers OF concrete were driven to solid
rock foundation. The concrete piers
were first placed on top Of this rock,
although at first there was talk of
putting In piling.
The height from low water to the
floor CT tho bridge Is 40 feet. From
the floor TO the crown Of the arch is
SO feet.
The bridge IN designed to take the
heaviest load possible to be driven
over 1t, as much as a Attention steam
roller can be driven over the bridge
with safety.
The floor system Is of wood. This
Is the only wood In the whole struc-
ture.
The plarks are eight inches with
spaces between for ventilation and
darinage.
The arch Is of steel and riveted to-
gether. The load is transmitted ver-
tically because Of the construction.
Fifteen to twenty regular men have
been at work on the bridge for a
year, while during the construction
OF the steel work. there were brought
South a number Of men to do the
riveting.
The bridge was designed by Wilson
& Sompayrac. architects Of this city.
Prof. F. III. Colcock. head of the de-
partment of mathematics at the Uni
versity OF South Carolina, was resi-
dent engineer for the last few months
OF the work. Previous to this Mr.,
Hook, of Clemson, was resident engi-
neer for the concrete work and still
later Capt. Dwight, Of the c. N. and
L. was the resident engineer. imme-
diately before Prof. Colcock took
charge.
There is no further chance for
danger from high water" said a
member of the engineering firm to-
day" The bridge is so constructed as
to withstand any flood or high water.
1t is three feet higher than the old
bridge and Its strong structure makes
the danger from flood improbable. II
Will stand until Doomsday."