Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 158, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1915 — ARCHITECTURAL SKILL SHOWN HERE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ARCHITECTURAL SKILL SHOWN HERE

One of the greatest pieces of engineering of modern times is slowly nearing completion in New York city. It is a giant steel arch bridge, with approaches and several miles of connecting raised track which will make possible the running of through trains from Boston and New England through New York city to the South and West without the necessity of ferrying as is now the case. The giant span is being erected over Hell Gate, and when completed will be the heaviest and longest single-span steel arch bridge in the world. Only five bridges will be longer, and they are not arch bridges. Eighty thousand tons of steel will go into the arch, which will be I,o'oo feet long between abutments. Four tracks will run over it, and each foot will be capable of supporting 8,000 pounds more than either the Manhattan or Queensboro

bridges, and 21,000 more than the famous Firth of Forth bridge in Scotland. Some of the pieces 6f steel weigh 200 tons apiece, as much as the ordinary 200-foot railway bridge weighs when complete. When completed, the bridge with its approaches will cost close to $30,000,000. It was designed and is being constructed under the supervision of Gustav Llndenthal, former bridge commissioner of New York city under Mayor Low. The drawing also shows part of huge arch under construction. There are 30,000 tons of steel in the portion beyond the abutment. From the ground to the superstructure above the abutment is a distance of 275 feet It will have to be built 15 feet higher before the work is completed.