BRIDGES, IN THE UNITED STATES. (Various Authorities.) THERE are several fine bridges across the Mohawk river. That of the Cohoes, completed in 1795, is 1100 feet long, 24 feet wide, 15 above the water, and rests on 13 stone pillars. The expence of building it was about 12,000 dollars. The Schenectady bridge, over the Mohawk, is nearly of the same length. The Cayuga bridge, across the mouth of the Cayuga Lake, destroyed by the ice, in 1807, was a mile in length, and cost 20,000 dollars. Across the Mohawk river, fifty miles above Schenectady, there is a bridge of one arch, of which the chord is 80 feet. Another at Utica, of a similar construction, 120 feet in length. THE POTOMAC BRIDGE was built under the direction of a company, or board of commissioners, and the funds were raised by a subscription consisting of 2000 shares, at 100 dollars per share. The expences of the work amounted to 96,000 dollars, and consequently the real value of a share was forty-eight. The bridge, which is covered with planks of white and yellow pine, is a mile in length, and is supported by strong piles, from eighteen to forty feet, according to the depth of the water.* A neat railing separates the foot from the horse-way. By means of a simple crank and pulley, the draw-bridge, for the passage of vessels, is raised by the force of one individual. HAVERHILL BRIDGE, is a noble structure of wood, consisting of three tripleframed arches, built on three strong piers of stone, and one abutment of the Bradford side; of a draw, near the Haverhill shore; a fourth pier; and a straight bridge, extending from that pier to the northern abutment. The three principal piers are each forty feet square; with a This bridge was partially destroyed by the British, but has since been re-established. defensive pier to each, extending fifty feet further up the river. The defensive pier is built of stone, with a casing of timber, fortified strongly at the ridge with iron. Each of these piers contains four thousand five hundred tons of stone. The fourth pier is wholly enclosed with timber, and filled with stones; and has a defensive pier annexed to it also. The draw is thirty feet in length; and is easily raised by means of a lever, elevated upon a post on each side of the draw. The bridge is connected and strengthened overhead by arches extended equally with those below, and united side to side. These arches are sufficiently elevated to allow the most bulky load to pass under them. The chord of these arches is one hundred and eighty-two feet, and the perpendicular height. There are two passages over the bridge each fifteen and a half feet in the clear. : THE WIRE-BRIDGE, NEAR PHILADELPHIA, is supported by six wires, each 3-8ths of an inch in diameter-three on each side of the bridge. These wires extend, forming a curve, from the garret windows of the wire factory to a tree on the opposite shore, which is braced by wires in three directions. The floor timbers are two feet long, one inch by three, suspended in a horizontal line by stirrups, of No. 6, wire, at the ends of the bridge, and No. 9, in the centre, from the curved wires. The floor is eighteen inches wide, of inch broad, secured to the floor timbers by nails, except where the ends of two boards meet: here, in addition to the nails, the boards are kept from separating by wire ties. There is a board, six inches wide, on its edge, on each side of the bridge, to which the floor timbers are likewise secured by wires. Three wires stretched on each side of the bridge, along the stirrups, form a barrier to prevent persons from falling off. The floor is 16 feet from the water, and 400 feet in length.-The distance between the two points of suspension of the bridge is 408 feet. The whole weight of the wire is.... -wood work 1314lbs. 3380 Four men, it is said, would do the work of a similar bridge in two weeks of good weather, and the whole expence would be about three hundred dollars. THE PRINCIPAL BRIDGE in the United States, is said to be that which was built over Charles river, between Boston and Charleston, in the year 1786. This structure is fifteen hundred and three feet in length, being built on seventy-five piers, and having a draw of thirty feet in width. The abutment at Boston to the old landing is forty-five feet and a half, and that at Charleston, from the old landing is a hundred feet. Each pier consists of seven sticks of oak timber, united by a cap-piece, strong braces, and girts; driven into the bed of the river, and secured by a single pile on each side, driven obliquely to a solid bottom. The piers are also connected to each other by large string pieces, covered with four-inch plank. The bridge has a gradual rise from each end, so as to be two feet higher in the middle than at the extremities: it is about forty-three feet in width, and on each side is a passage six feet wide, railed in, for the safety of foot passengers. Forty elegant lamps are erected at suitable distances from each other, to illuminate it when necessary. The draw is constructed on a capital plan: the machinery is very simple, and it requires the strength of two men only in raising it. The floor on the bridge, at the highest tides, is four feet above the water, which generally rises about twelve or fourteen feet. "This bridge," says Dr. Morse, "was completed in thirteen months; and while it exhibits the greatest effect of private enterprize within the United States, it is a most pleasing proof how certainly objects of magnitude may be attained by spirited exertions." BUJUCO BRIDGES. SOUTH AMERICA. (Modern Travels.) W WHERE rivers are very narrow with high banks, the bridges constructed of wood, consist only of four long beams laid close together over the precipice, and form a path about a yard and a half broad. Any of the natives, on foot or horseback, will pass these bridges without any apprehension. Where a river is too wide to admit of a beam laid across several bujucos, a kind of thin elastic cane, are twisted together, so as to form a large cable of the length required. Six of these are stretched from one side of the river to the other, two of which are considerably higher than the other four. On the lower, four sticks are laid in a transverse direction, and over these, branches of trees: the two uppermost are fastened to the others in the form of rails; as otherwise, from the continual swinging or oscillation, passengers would be exposed to no small danger. These bujuco bridges are only for men; the mules swim over the rivers; their burdens being taken off, they are driven to the water considerably above the bridge, in order to allow for their being carried a good distance down by the velocity of the stream. In the mean time the Indians carry over the loading on their shoulders. Some rivers, instead of a bujuco bridge, are passed by what is called a tarabita This machine carries over both passengers and and cattle; it is only a single rope made of bujuco, or of thongs of an ox-hide twisted together, about six or eight inches in thickness. This rope is extended across the river, and fastened on each bank to strong posts. On one side is a kind of wheel, or winch, to straighten or slacken the tarabita to the degree required. From the tarabita hangs a kind of leathern hammock, capable of holding a man, and suspended by a clue at each end. A rope is fastened to each end of the hammock, and extended to both sides of the river, for drawing the hammock to the side intended. A push at its first setting off sends it quickly to the other side. Two tarabitas, one on each side of the river, are necessary for carrying over the mules, and the ropes are much thicker and slacker. The creature is suspended and secured by girths round the belly, neck, and legs. The mules, accustomed to be carried over this manner, never make the least motion; though it is with great difficulty they are at first brought to suffer the girths to be put round them. PART III.-CHAP. IV. AMERICAN VARIETIES. Prevailing Religions, Singular Customs, Rare Phenomena of Nature, Remarkable Events, Mechanical Inventions, Extraordinary Men and Women, &c. &c. Sovereign Being! Thy power all wise shines in the glitt'ring star, Or sparkles in the fructifying dew; Is wafted on the soft odorif'rous breeze, Or on tumult'ous tempests pinions borne, O'er ocean's deep, or deserts vast: Nor heard, in earthquake's all portentous roll, Nature INANIMATE resounds with thee, While LIFE in state, or form unknown, or seen, EDITOR. PREVAILING RELIGIONS IN AMERICA. RELIGION OF THE INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA. ACCORDING to some, the Indians have the most sublime notions of the Deity: others find them grovelling in the basest superstition; and, if the suffrages were taken, we fear, that the latter would constitute the majority. 'The Indian,' says one, 'considers himself as a being created by an all-powerful, wise, and benevo lent Manitto; all that he possesses, all that he enjoys, #6 Being or Spirit.' |