Clinton bridge-1865

CLINTON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/3/2010 at 07:40:36

Dubuque Herald, March 26, 1865

The bridge recently built across the Mississippi River at Clinton, Iowa, for the use of the Northwestern Railway is 3,650 feet, or more than three-fifths of a mile long. Of this distance 2,800 feet is between the Illinois shore and the Iowa shore. The bridge east of Little Rock Island consists of 14,000 feet of piling and seven spans of 200 feet each. West of Little Rock Island the bridge consists of three spans beside the draw. The draw is 800 feet long over all, and is built of iron. The abutment and one of the piers are founded on rock, a second pier is founded on piles, and a third pier and the draw pier are built upon cribwork, resting on loose sand. These cribs are sunk in water thirty feet deep. The large crib is 400 feet long and 44 feet wide on the bottom. The draw turns on a pivot in the center and when open leaves two clear passageways for steam boat, 123 feet each. The draw weighs about 825 tons.