The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-31
NEW mayo BRIDGE
Continued from First Page.

again, until now he has finished a
work that no freshet will ever wash
away or even damage.
|. Built to Stay.
Referring to the permanency OF the
structure, Mr.. Smith stated yester-
day that II might surprise the layman
to know that concrete increases In
strength yearly, but does not attain
it's ultimate strength FOR thirty years.
Every pier Of the bridge Is founded
upon solid rock, and bed rock at that,
the inch and half steel rods going
down two feet in the rock to make
security more secure. Every other
pier IL anchored to the solid rock FOR
additional strength.
A few figures will give an Idea OF
the size OF the structure. The bridge
is 1.721 feet long from shore to
shore. or practically the extent OF SIX
city blocks. 1t weighs 72.000 tons,
and is built entirely Of reinforced
concrete.
Between each OF the massive piers
there Is n clear space OF II feet,
which gives space for the small river
traffic underneath. and adds largely to
the beauty Of the structure.
The bridge Is ~ feet wide, with a
roadway "a feet in with, paved with
Belgian blocks, and sidewalks on both
sides, each II feet wide, paved with
concrete.
VIII be Show Place.
Stretching the entire length OF the
structure on each side. II feet apart
are combination light and trolley
posts. OF square design. These will
carry. each, four electric lights, and
also hold the trolley wires for the
street cars. Connecting them all the
way Is a massive concrete railing. two
feet wide. and OF ornate design. Con-
duits conveying the wires water and
gas mains are carried under the con-
crete flooring OF the sidewalks, and
the tracks are laid ready for the cars
to operate. With the lights ablaze'
the great structure will be one OF the
show places Of Richmond.
The moulded concrete posts and
ratings are so smooth and so perfect
and so closely resemble stone as to
easily deceive the layman. who would
probably wager without hesitation
that 1t Is stone. All of the stone used
| in the foundation work as well as
| that crushed for the concrete. came
| from the quarries of / j. Smith & Co..
| in Chesterfield county and on the
Hermitage road, and as the work was
done by Richmonders throughout, the
new bridge is something to be proud
of as 1t Is a Richmond made product
! throughout.
i Mr.. Bowers Good Work.
4 While City Engineer Boiling and his
assistant. NJ. 0. Hankins, had oversight
of the structure on the part of the
city. the real engineering work wa.
done by the resident engineer, Gamble
1 Bowers, who has been constantly or
the Job since the work was started
Contractor Smith paid the young en-
gineer high tribute yesterday after
noon, declaring that In all his expert
ence he had never met NOR
thoroughly equipped or competent man
young or old, and he stated furthe
that Mr.. Bowers clever work and pro
fessional skill had contributed Target.
to the success of the undertaking.
AS for Mr.. Smith. he is too modes
to talk about himself He has beef
builder OF big thngs-an expert Il
concrete and stone construction all hi
iife-and has handled large contract
all over the country. How we'll h
has handled this one needs no furthe