Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-06-21
A WONDERFUL BRIDGE.
The LARGEST Suspension Bridge in the
World.


o. Rush, Los Angeles engineer, a
right-of-way across Goat Island and
permission to utilize a portion OF
land in the Preside reservation, the
arst tangible step was made toward
the execution of plans for spanning
San Francisco bay with $26, 200. 900
suspension bridge to be the longest
in the world.
If the House likewise approves the
bill, and it becomes law, Rush will
Immediately lay before the munich
palities of San Francisco and Oak land
his proposition for financing the en-
terprise as outlined to and endorsed
by the leading commercial bodies of
The bay cities.
This provides for the organization
of joint corporation to operate and
control the property-San Francisco,
Oakland and Rush to own one. third
each.
Rush's plans for the construction
of the bridge provide for assurance OF
twenty-year bonds with the fran
chises, right-of-way and other privi-
leges as collateral. He says he has
assurances from two European finan-
cial syndicates that they will take
up the entire issue.
The bridge as planned will be nine
and a half miles in length. The bay
will be crossed from Lombard
street, near the base of Telegraph
Hill, to the north side OF Goat Island
which will be traversed and thence
to the fats near Emeryville. The
bridge will be suspended $50 feet
above the water level, thus admit
ting vessels without interruption OF
traffic. To make the approaches a
moderate grade. the bridge will, it is
planned, be extended over Lombard
street to Van Ness avenue where the
passenger terminal is proposed to
be erected. and thence on to the
Preside where the freight terminals
are planned, permission for which
was given by the Senate.
On the Oakland side it is proposed
to make the terminus near the race
track.
The plans provide for four tracks
for steam railway purposes. four
tracks for electric traction cars. two
automobile and vehicle ways and pc
destrian walks and observation paths
on either side of the structure. The
railway tracks will be operated un-
der a common user plan, the revenue
from the bridge being derived from
a fixed toll for vehicles. Whether
toll will be levied against pedestrians
is a detail not yet decided.
The engineering feature Of the
bridge would be the construction of
the eight piers from which the Sec
tions, each 2,23O feet long, would be
suspended.
Rush has invented o method which
he says is patented and declared feas-
ible by eminent engineers. This is
to build steel and concrete caissons
in q drydock each measuring approx
imately 1925 by 225 at the base and
tapering upward to a height of $50
feet. When completed each would
weigh 10000 tons.
The next step. according to Rush's
plans, would be to fill and seal
series Of twelve steel tubes each 32
inches is diameter with compressed
air. This he figures, would give the
hollow pier or caisson a buoyancy OF
100 tons. The plan is then to
tow them to position and settle them
in the mud by allowing the COM
pressed air to escape. The weight
of the caisson will plunge it deep in
the mud and the water and mud will
be pumped out, allowing the work
ers to eXcavate down to bedrock,
which is estimated to be about 14O
feet below the surface of the water.
After bedrock had been reached the
caissons will be fillded and will form
pier rigid enough to stand any dis
turbance.
The superstructure will be built
upon ten flexible steel cables each
twenty inches in diameter, it is
planned.
He has devoted three years to the
furtherauce of his enterprise. He
has appeared before the Chamber of
Commerce of San Francisco, the
Chamber of Commerce of Berkeley,
the Merchants Exchange OF Oakland,
the Realty Associations of Richmond
and of Oakland and outlines his prop
osition, he says, and received the un-
qualified Endorsement of all these
bodies.
Rush is extremely pleased that the
Senate acted favorably on the bill,
giving him the concessions which
have been denied others. The bill
was introduced by Senator Works.
Il have received assurances that
the House of Representatives will
also approve the bill granting me the
necessary right of way" says Rush.
If the House acts favorably on it