The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-11-06

San Francisco proudly admits
that 1t Is taking the celebration
seriously, as Is tn enation, for the
bridge, with the one being built
across the Golden Gate, possesses
strategic advantages that are Of
utmost importance TO. the United
States.
The four-day celebration will be
participated In by ell elements Of
California life itself, by various
western states, and the United
States will be symbolized with the
presence Of q part Of the Pacific
fleet.
The formal opening OF the
bridge, several months before the
time estimated by the engineers,
is the result OF nearly three years
OF the most intensive engineering
construction under the great ham
dicaps and difficulties. The ofiicial
ground breaking ceremonies were
held in February, 1888, and today
the bridge Is ready for Its formal
opening TO traffic on November IL.
During the celebration, II is esti-
mated that Mt least 100000 persons
will cross the bridge.
Oakland 70 Start Early
AS far as Oakland Is concerned,
the celebration will start one day
earlier 10 make II coincide with
Armistice day.
The span ranks as the greatest
bridge structure In the world, eX-
tending more than miles. In re-
atty, II consists OF two bridges with
the Yerba Buena Island In the
center OF the San Francisco Bay,
as a stepping stone for It's contin-
uation on TO Oakland.
For the spanning Of the main
part OF San Francisco Bay, be-
tween the city OF San Francisco
and Yerba Buena Island. dis
lance OF about two miles, two great
suspension spans were necessary,
meeting on an anchorage In the
middle OF the bay. The towers for
these two spans rise some $40 feet
above the level OF the bay and sink
to rock bottom about 235 feet be-
low water level,
The cables on which the bridge
Is hung are 20 inches In diameter.
About 10000 miles OF steel wire were
used In spinning them.
From the end OF these two sus-
pension structures on Yerba Buena
Island, traffic passes through a
500-foot tunnel, only TO be resumed
again on the second section OF the
bridge, between Yerba Buena Is
land and Oakland.
One Cantilever Span
There the type OF bridge changes
entirely from the suspension TO the
cantiever form OF construction,
The cantleVer span Of l,400 feet
ranks as the largest IN the United
States, although one across the ST.
Lawrence at Quebec Is 1900 feet
long and another IN Scotland on
the Firth Of Forth bridge has two
cantileyers OF i7l0 feet.
The bridges will have peak
clearance over the waters OF the
bay OF 2i7 feet, sufficient TO per-
NIT OF the passage OF the greatest
Of ocean liners.
The bridge Is double decked, the
upper roadway being given over
entirely TO automobiles with i've
tralllc lanes. The lower deck will
have three automobile lanes for
heavy trucks and two tracks for
I'M .rurban trains,
ihe total cost OF the bridge has
been approximately $78,000,000,
II Is estimated that II will have
an annual capacity OF $4,000 900
commuters and 100000 trucks
and automobiles. The bay ferries
now carry some four and a half
million vehicles annually.
The formal opening OF the
bridge will start with the barrier
breaking ceremony early In the
morning OF November II. In the
afternoon, the Pacific coast yacht
regatta will be held In the bay In
the vicinity o! the famous Yerba
Buena shoals which are being
brought above water level for the
site OF the 1886 exposition.
Later there will be a flight OF
planes, fish boat races,
air races, merchant marine life boat
races, flrebo Recommendations, sea
scout races, while In the evening q
brilliant fireworks display will sig
nalize the permanent illumination
OF the bridge.
Pageant Is Arranged
On the following day San Fran
cisco will present pageant. Floats
will depict the past and present of
the bay region In which almost
every county Of the state will par
ticipate.
Saturday night the third OF the
four day celebration will witness a
pageant depicting al lof the most
romantic and celebrated bridges OF
the world.
On Sunday, the last day Of the
celebration, special services will be
held in all churches OF the city
Market street, the main artery Of
San Francisco, will be decorated
in a silver and rainbow hued scheme
an elongated bridge, and
with eight silver bridges spanning
the street at Its most important
points.
A sister bridge across the Golden
Gate, which will be the longest
bridge In the world. Is
being rushed TO completion for for
NAL opening In the early part OF