THE GREATEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which is now nearing completion (says the American Exporter), spanning the arm, of the sea which separates New Yoik from Brooklyn, is without ilonbt the boldest under •taking in the way of a bridge structure ever attempted . As a work of engineering skill it rannot ho fully appreciated without knowing something of its magnitude and the uses for which it is designed. The total length of this bridge is 59S9ft, ami width SOft. The central or river span is 1595 ft, being 000 ft greater than the now A’ilest span. This is suspended from four great cables, 15J inches in diameter, tunning over two towers, one on each side of the river, 27S't in lieight above high-water mark. These cables are each composed of 5290 parallel (not twisted) galvanised oil coated wires closely wrapped into a solid cylinder. The clear height of the bridge in the centre of the river span is to ho 135 ft. The construction of this bridge was commenced
Jannary 2nd, 1870, ami its builders are now laying the roadway wires. It is now csti
mated that it will not lie finished before ISS'2, and that it will cost when completed at least 18,000,000 dollar*. The original estimate of cost eras 0,(>00,000 dollars, and upon this hypolhe.-is its construction was begun and carried on until now its lowers are the most prominent objects seen by incoming mariner. The time for counting the cost or weighing the wisdom of the two cities engaging in such a tremendous enterprise is now past, and whether the advantages that are to accrue to the public will bo adequate to iho cost of the work c not, it must be finished. Then America may with good reason claim the greatest bridge in the world—a bridge that engineers and strangers will regard with wonder and admiration. The object is to open up communication between New York and Brooklyn for the passage of the street cars, road vehicles of every description, and pedestrians, so as iv relieve New York of its overerowde 1 population.
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Bibliographic details
Dunstan Times, Issue 955, 6 August 1880, Page 3
Word Count
350THE GREATEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD. Dunstan Times, Issue 955, 6 August 1880, Page 3
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