The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-07-25
THE OBSERVATORY.

In my last weeks observations |
spoke of passing under one of the
spans of the Victoria bridge soon af-
ter passing out of the Lachine rapid
at Montreal. On those occasions
when l shot the Lachine" | should
have been surprised indeed if some
one had told me that in a few years
l should ride directly over it on a
great railroad bridge. Yet that was
what l did the last time | came
through Canada, for one of the piers
of the Canada Pacifc's great bridge
rests on that green island at the foot
OF the Lachine rapid. The Victoria
bridge was thought to be a wonder
full achievement when it was opened
in 1860; but its construction seems
but 'chiid's play" to the stringing of
renee. Formerly there were DAYS at
a time when forming, or breaking.
ice would prevent ferrying across the
river at Montreal, and when the
Grand Trunk railway preached the
project OF bridging the river it was
the talk OF the day for years. Each
few weeks the papers would have
something about the progress of the
cofter-dam building for the pier foun-
dations, and the illustrated papers
had pictures of the workmen careful
~ preparing the rockIbed of the river
bottom tor the first layer of stones
tor the pier; and as some of them
were completed with their sharp sides
pointing up-river to break the great
ice cakes coming down in the spring,
and it was reported that they had
withstood the shocks of the heavy
ice, the public had confidence that
the piers were safe and the bridge
would be success. As Montreal is
the head of navigation" no vessel
with tall masts would go under the
bridge, and it was only high enough
to clear steamboats,; and when finish
ed the then Prince of Wales, after
wards Edward VII, came to Canada
to open it, and he then made a tour
OF the United States. being every
where greeted with honor In Bos-
ton ne stopped at the then fashion
able Revere hotel; and after his de-
parture the management allowed the
public to pass through the apartments
he had occupied, and nv Boston
cousins told me they saw hunters al
ter menentoes of his visit even in
sspect the waste basket and carry off
ms shaving paper; the British thought
the American enthusiasm over his
visit indicated latent longing for
royalty; while it was simply a curl
osity on the part of the Yankees To
see scion OF royalty just like that
winch led them to circus side-show
aithough everywhere his welcome nv
the public officials was courteous and
hearty, because he was the son Of
victoria. In the winter when navipa-
ton was closed in the St. Lawrence
the Grand Trunk railway sent it's
freight across the great bridge. and
down through New Hampshire and
Name to Portland for shipment to
Europe; and so the Prince of Wales
went from Boston to Portland to
meet the naval vessels which were To
carry him home. The railway from
Boston passes through Lynn, then
the great shoe manufacturing town
or America, and it was noted to the
credit OF the general information Of
the Prince that as he passed through
Lynn ne remarked that This is the
great City of Soles (souls)." DR. O.
w. Holmes calls it
Leather scented Lynn"
| have been led thus far afield be-
cause just after writing about bridges
in general few weeks ago came
across copy of the Engineering
Record for June which tells uhaf
another attempt is to be made To
bridge the "Lordly St. Lawrence" at
Quebec; it will be recalled that a few
years ago the partly built bridge At
that point collapsed and fell into the
river. carrying many workmen To
death. Its failure was owing. II ia
said. to the disregard of the designers
intructions. And now another at.
tempt is to be made. Think of its III.
mensions: 1.-THE Quebec bridge now
under construction for the Canadian