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Article CEREMONY OF OPENING WEARMOUTH BRIDGE; ← Page 2 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ceremony Of Opening Wearmouth Bridge;
wish to have a more ample detail of that splendid day , Ave refer to the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , Vol . II . p . 406 , where they -will find the account more minutely marked , and the general sensibility of the occasion more distinctly recorded . We may here content ourselves with observing , that the magnificence of the ceremony , the immense multitude of spectators , the hopes and fears , the Avishes and doubts , attending such a wonderful attemptgavealtogetheran impression
, , , and sentiment that cannot easily be eifkced . From such an auspicious beginning , the structure began to arise , in continual gradation . . Two A-ast and massy piers 'reared their ponderous heads on either shore . Frames of wonderful construction were , Avithout impeding the navigation , deposited in the bed of the river ; over Avhich the opposite shores of the WEAR were , for the
first time , embraced by the groat platform of timber , that Avas for a while- to support the future Bridge . In September , 179 ? , * the first block of iron Avas laid ; and by an as' . cnishing powei of perseverance , Avhich reflects the highest credit on Mr . WILSON ( the Architect of the work ) . and the workmen under his direction , the whole of the six ribswith all the blocksbraces ,
, , . bars . & c . Avere thrown across the river , being a span of 23 6 feet , its the -incredibly short space of ten days . From this period the Avork extended and advanced . Under the vi gilance and skill . of such an table superintendaiit , no advantage of time or season was unemployed . Every day increase and improvement were observed ; not in one piace only , as in common Avorks of art—but , like an operation of
nature , all branches of the system distending and expanding together—¦ the whole fabric swelling and maturing , in every part , to fulness aud completion . In this stage of our narrative , we may be permitted to pause , and , for a moment , take an accurate view of this truly original and stupendous structure ; the principle of which may , perhaps , be best shewn in the Avords of the Patents , ivhich Mr . BVRDON has obtained for constructing similar works in England and Scotland .
Mr . Bunnox ' s ' invention consists in applying iron or other metallic ' compositions to the purpose of constructing arches upon . the same ' principle as stone is now employed , by a subdivision into blocks f easily portable , answering to the keystones of a common arch ; which ' being brought to bear on each other , ;^ . ives them all the firmness of ' the solid stone arch ; whilst , by the great vacuities in the blocks , ' an 1 their respective distances in their lateral positionthe arch be- '
, ' , comes infinitely lighter than that of stone . ' FIG . I ,. ( see the Drawing ) represents one of the Blocks of Cast-iron , Avhich is 5 feet in depth from A to A , and 4 inches in thickness , having three Arms , B , B , B , and making a part of a circle . The middle Arm is : feet in length from B to C ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ceremony Of Opening Wearmouth Bridge;
wish to have a more ample detail of that splendid day , Ave refer to the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , Vol . II . p . 406 , where they -will find the account more minutely marked , and the general sensibility of the occasion more distinctly recorded . We may here content ourselves with observing , that the magnificence of the ceremony , the immense multitude of spectators , the hopes and fears , the Avishes and doubts , attending such a wonderful attemptgavealtogetheran impression
, , , and sentiment that cannot easily be eifkced . From such an auspicious beginning , the structure began to arise , in continual gradation . . Two A-ast and massy piers 'reared their ponderous heads on either shore . Frames of wonderful construction were , Avithout impeding the navigation , deposited in the bed of the river ; over Avhich the opposite shores of the WEAR were , for the
first time , embraced by the groat platform of timber , that Avas for a while- to support the future Bridge . In September , 179 ? , * the first block of iron Avas laid ; and by an as' . cnishing powei of perseverance , Avhich reflects the highest credit on Mr . WILSON ( the Architect of the work ) . and the workmen under his direction , the whole of the six ribswith all the blocksbraces ,
, , . bars . & c . Avere thrown across the river , being a span of 23 6 feet , its the -incredibly short space of ten days . From this period the Avork extended and advanced . Under the vi gilance and skill . of such an table superintendaiit , no advantage of time or season was unemployed . Every day increase and improvement were observed ; not in one piace only , as in common Avorks of art—but , like an operation of
nature , all branches of the system distending and expanding together—¦ the whole fabric swelling and maturing , in every part , to fulness aud completion . In this stage of our narrative , we may be permitted to pause , and , for a moment , take an accurate view of this truly original and stupendous structure ; the principle of which may , perhaps , be best shewn in the Avords of the Patents , ivhich Mr . BVRDON has obtained for constructing similar works in England and Scotland .
Mr . Bunnox ' s ' invention consists in applying iron or other metallic ' compositions to the purpose of constructing arches upon . the same ' principle as stone is now employed , by a subdivision into blocks f easily portable , answering to the keystones of a common arch ; which ' being brought to bear on each other , ;^ . ives them all the firmness of ' the solid stone arch ; whilst , by the great vacuities in the blocks , ' an 1 their respective distances in their lateral positionthe arch be- '
, ' , comes infinitely lighter than that of stone . ' FIG . I ,. ( see the Drawing ) represents one of the Blocks of Cast-iron , Avhich is 5 feet in depth from A to A , and 4 inches in thickness , having three Arms , B , B , B , and making a part of a circle . The middle Arm is : feet in length from B to C ,