The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-09-15

ability to think and so to utilize the
forces of nature as to cause one stone
to stand upon another with nothing d.
rectly beneath.
A building can never produce the
sense of unity Of the bridge and thus
cap never inspire as the bridge does,
because, while portions of building
may be eliminated and still leave it
building, the elimination Of portion
of bridge means its destruction for
the purposes for which It Is erected.
The bridge occupies thus unique
position among the structures of man,
approached only by the dam, to which,
however, it is far superior, since the
dam always lacks in the sense of self
evident security which the bridge i'm
parts.
Not only is the bridge unique in its
the largest single structure erected by
man and the most costly. 1t Is also
highly important in point Of numbers
and in the investment involved. There
are, for example, some $4,000 metal
bridges in the United States. or one
for every three miles Of railroad, and
they, aggregate 400 miles in length.
representing an investment of $780,
OOO.OOO. or several times the cost OF
the Panama canal. The subject Of
bridges is therefore one which de-
mands the most careful attention OF
all who have to deal with it. 1t is not
a subject which should be reserved to
the officials and engineers in charge.
but is one in which the public should
take an active and decisive interest
When bridge Of any consequence is
to be erected the designs should be
open to public inspection and all OBJ
iections and suggestions should be
dealt with in advance.
The pleasing psychological and aes
thetic effect of bridges has been rec
ognized since the earliest times. but
great bridges are result of modern
invention, being dependent upon the
cheap production Of steel for, their
evolution. since stone bridges have
never been constructed in anything
like the great spans of the modern
steel bridges The railroad, too. has
greatly increased the necessity for
bridges, so that except for the COM
paratively small stone bridges of an.
cient and medieval times, the princi-
pies OF which were early mastered.
bridge building is a modern science.
The success achieved has been little
less than stupendous in a material and
engineering sense, for enormous struc.
lures have been erected which meet
the demands of traffic aud the various
conditions which were presented
In two respects. however. the modern
bridge is for the most part great fail
ure. 1t is neither artistic nor will it
have the long life of the ancient
bridges. The Romans 1000 years age
built bridges which are in use today
but no modern metal bridge. even with
the most careful attention. can be ex-
pected to last even small part Of such
a period. Even if protected from the
action of the elements. the steel which
might then be reasonably expected to
last indefinitely will be subject to crys
Utilization from the effects of vibration
Thus all our steel bridges are tempo.
rary structures. This, however, will in
the most cases prove matter of con.
graduation, as when they pass away
they will be undoubtedly replaced by
more artistic structures. Only oul
stone bridges, however. may be expect
ed to endure into the eras of new races
If such are to succeed US. @