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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1887)
WILLAMETTE RIVER BRIDGE AT PORTLAND. ' 21 in the river, at the foot of Stark street tore consist nf , . . This dtitude brings the brid ge seven is oZ feet above bghest point reached by Girder" At the lowest stage of w the river of which there is any record, the exact distant Mwn t- r. rv Thib pier w the rebt fur the west arm of on each side of the center pier'Tono . . and thirty-eight fed; at the Pier a 2 is the one on hlch wlU bgheBt rest the entire weight of the draw. It one hundred and thirty.five fwL On has a foundation similar to the one de- the large octagonal pier will W plnml scribed above, though larger, as greater the turn-table, and on this the draw will strength is required It is octagonal in be accurately balanced. The turn-table, shape, the outer portions being built of consists of thirty-two cant iron wheel, cut stone and the interior filled with each fifteen inches in diameter. Tlnm' concrete. The latter material is as hard wheels are cone-shaped and travel U. as the stone itself and will last as long, tween two tracks alxvo and Mw. This pier is twenty-four feet in diame- The draw can make a complete revolu ter, and rises twenty-five feet from the tion, either to the right or left, nnd han foundation. Pier No. 3 has been con- been so geared that it can 1 oerated structed; in every essential respect, sim- by either steam or hand. The threw ilar to No. 1, and the dimensions are the spans east of the draw aro each two huu same. The foundation of piefr No. 4 is dred and sixty feet in length, and each similar to that of the first From it consists of twelve panels. The end aro rise two large iron tubular piers, each thirty-six feet high, and the centers for. six feet in diameter, and filled with con- ty-three feet The roadway, is twenty crete. Both tubes are securely anchored feet in the clear, flanked on each side by to the foundation by a cluster of piles, a walk five feet wide for edetriai)it. which extend upward into the concrete There will be ample room for laying two some five or six feet Heavy framework tracks for a street railway, without intr fills the space between the tubes. Piers fering with the travel of other vehicle. Noa 5 and 6 are duplicates of No. 4. The floor beams, joista and fiViring of Measuring from the extreme low stage the bridge are of wood, faatened aeenre of the river, the piers stand in the fol- ly together by a complicated syHtera of lowing depths of water: No. 1, sixty feet; iron bolts, rods and supiwrt. On the No. 2, fifty-five feet; No. 3, forty feet; east side the approach is two hundred No. 4, thirteen feet; No. 5, between five and thirty-five feet long, extending from and six feet; No. 6, five feet. the last span to a junction with Water On the west end, the approach of the street East Portland. The total length bridge is one hundred and sixty feet in of the bridge, including approach, in length, reaching from the east line of one thousand, six hundred and fifty feet Front street to the pier situated at the Without a doubt it U the longt and wharf line. The first span is one hun- most imposing structure of the kmd dred and sixty feet in length, and con- west of the Rocky mountain, All the sists of eight panels and the supporting piers are well protected from the. cur. timbers, which are twenty-six feet high, rent and maase of driftwood. The pir. The full length of the draw span is three otal pier is well shielded by the draw hundred and eight feet This' span is rest and on the up-stream si.lH.of the twenty-six feet high at each end and for- tubular pu-r. cluster of "dolphin ty feet in the center. The huge struc- are driven. The draw rest onite of