Bridge Bridge troduce improvements, and the construc- bridge across the Menai Strait, and contions of Perronet (Nogent-sur-Seine; necting Anglesey with the mainland of Neuilly; Louis XVI bridge at Paris) are North Wales. This is known as the masterpieces. Within the last half cen- Britannia Tubular Bridge. The tubes tury or so the use of steel and iron, the are of a rectangular form, and constructed immense development of all mechanical of riveted plates of wrought-iron, with contrivances, and the great demand for rows of rectangular tubes or cells for the railway bridges and viaducts have given floor and roof respectively. The bridge a great stimulus to invention in this consists of two of these enormous tubes department. or hollow beams laid side by side, one for Stone bridges consist of an arch or the up and the other for the down traffic series of arches, and in building them the of the railway, and extending each properties of the arch, the nature of the about a quarter of a mile in length. materials, and many other matters have Other tubular bridges of importance are to be carefully considered. It has been the Conway Bridge, over the river Con found that in the construction of an arch way, an erection identical in principle the slipping of the stones upon one an- with the Britannia Bridge, but on a other is prevented by their mutual pres- smaller scale; the Brotherton Bridge over sure and the friction of their surfaces; the the river Aire; the tubular railway bridge use of cement is thus subordinate to the across the Damietta branch of the Nile, principle of construction in contributing which has this peculiarity, that the roadto the strength and maintenance of the way is carried above instead_of_through fabric. The masonry or rock which re- the tubes; and the Victoria Bridge over ceives the lateral thrust of an arch is the St. Lawrence, Canada. In many called the abutment, the perpendicular respects this structure is even more resupports are the piers. The width of an markable than the Britannia Bridge, bearch is its span: the greatest span in any ing supported by twenty-four piers, and stone bridge is about 250 feet. A one- nearly 2 miles in length, or about five and span bridge has, of course, no piers. In a half times that of the bridge across the constructing a bridge across a deep stream Menai Strait. A girder railway bridge it is desirable to have the smallest possible across the Firth of Tay at Dundee was number of points of support. Piers in opened in 1887, being the second built at the waterway are not only expensive to the same place, after the first had given form, but obstruct the navigation of the way in a great storm. It is 2 miles 73 river, and by the very extent of resisting yds. long, has 85 spans, is 77 ft. high, surface they expose the structure to and carries two lines of rails. shocks and the wearing action of the Suspension-bridges, being entirely indewater. In building an arch, a timber pendent of central supports, do not interframework is used called the center or fere with the river, and may be erected centering. The centering has to keep the where it is impracticable to build bridges stones or voussoirs in position till they of any other kind. The entire weight of are keyed in, that is, all fixed in their a suspension-bridge rests upon the piers places by the insertion of the keystone. at either end from which it is suspended, The first iron bridges were erected all the weight being below the points of from about 1777 to 1790. The same support. Such bridges always swing a general principles apply to the construc- little, giving a vibratory movement which tion of iron as of stone bridges, but the imparts a peculiar sensation to the pasgreater cohesion and adaptability of the senger. The modes of constructing these material give more liberty to the archi- bridges are various. The roadway is sustect, and much greater width of span pended either from chains or from wireis possible. At first iron bridges were ropes, the ends of which require to be erected in the form of arches, and the anchored; that is, attached to the solid material employed was cast-iron; but the rock or masses of masonry or iron. The arch has now been generally superseded most notable examples are the great canby the beam or girder, with its numerous tilever bridge over the St. Lawrence at modifications; and wrought-iron or steel Quebec, 1800 feet in length, and the is likewise found to be much better Forth bridge in Scotland, the three cantiadapted for resisting a great tensile strain levers of which measure a mile in length. than cast-metal. Numerous modifications A new material for bridge building is conexist of the beam or girder, as the lattice- crete, now taking the place of stone and girder, bowstring-girder, etc.; but of these iron in arch bridges. Among notable ex none is more interesting than the tubular amples of this type may be named that or hollow girder, first rendered famous over the Wissahickon ravine in Philadelfrom its employment by Robert Stephen- phia. The Cincinnati bridge over the son in the construction of the railway Ohio has a span of 1057 feet. A suspen It was a similar span which fell in 1916, Protograph from Underwood & Underwood THE GIGANTIC CANTILEVER BRIDGE WHICH SPANS THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER AT QUEBEC The great center span, 640 feet long and weighing 5,600 tons, is being hoisted into place to complete the structure. The completed bridge is the largest of its type in the world. It cost $16,876,000, is 3,239 feet long. 88 feet wide and 163 feet high It carries two railroad tracks, a driveway for vehicles and two concrete foot paths. carrying 90 men to death. from the base of rail to high water level. Bridge Bridgeport sion-bridge of great magnitude, connecting bridges. Within recent years, concrete the city of New York with Brooklyn, was has come into considerable use in building opened in 1883. The central or main arched bridges for cities and important span is 15951⁄2 feet from tower to tower, country roads, a splendid example being and the land spans between the towers the arched bridge over the Wissahickon and the anchorages 930 feet each; the ap- Valley, in Philadelphia. Railroad bridges proach on the New York side is 2492 feet also are often built of concrete, among long, and that on the Brooklyn side 1901 duct in Northeastern Pennsylvania. them being the famous Tunkhannock viafeet, making the total length 5989 feet. Since its completion three other great Bridge, a game of cards for four per bridges across the East River have been ner sons, differing from whist constructed, the Manhattan bridge, total (q. v.) (1) in that no trump is turned, length of roadway 6855 feet, width of the dealer naming the trump after exambridge 122 ft. 6 in.; cost $26,000,000; the ining his cards, or leaving it to his partWilliamsburg Bridge, 7308 feet long, 118 because only three players actually ento declare; and (2) particularly ft. wide, and on October 1, 1915, the steel gage in playing the hand, the cards of arms of the bridge spanning Hell Gate, on the dealer's partner being exposed as a the East River, New York City, were dummy hand and played by the dealer locked and the largest self-supporting in conjunction with his own. The scorarch in the world, under erection since ing also differs from that in whist; each the beginning of the year, was completed. trick in excess of six counts, with spades The bridge forms a link in the chain of as trumps, 2 points; with clubs, 4; with construction connecting the Pennsylvania diamonds, 6; with hearts, 8; with "no and the New York, New Haven and Hart- trumps," 12. These values may be inford systems. The span of the bridge is creased by "doubling" and "redoubling." 1016 feet, 10 inches. The entire weight A game consists of 30 points, not counting of the loaded bridge is 38,000 tons. The honor scores, which vary in value with load carried per lineal foot is twelve tons, the trump declaration and the relative while the dead weight per lineal foot is distribution of the honor cards between twenty-six tons. The bridge was designed the two partners who hold a preponderand constructed under the charge of Gus- ance of honors. A grand slam (taking tav Lindenthal, at a cost of $12,000,000. all 13 tricks in a hand) also counts 40, The Cantilever Bridge is built on the and a little slam 20, in honors. A rub principle of the bracket, or fixed base of winning 2 of the 3, adding 100 points to ber consists of 3 games, the partners support on which the structure is sus- their honor score. The honor score is tained. Of this type of bridge a notable example is that which crosses the Firth which applies to the trick score only. fected by doubling or redoubling, of Forth in Scotland, it being one of the largest bridges in the world. Its total not length, including piers, is 8296 feet, or a Bridgeman (brij'man), LAURA, a blind deaf-mute, born in little over 11⁄2 miles, while its two main Hanover, N. H., in 1829; died in 1889. spans are each 1700 feet in length. An- When two years of age a severe illness other splendid example of this type is the deprived her of the senses of sight, hear great railroad bridge over the St. Law- ing, and smell. She was put under the rence River at Quebec, notable for the care of Dr. Howe, of Boston, and the disasters attending its erection. A large history of the methods by which she was part of the structure fell in 1907, causing gradually taught to read, write, and considerable loss of life. In 1916 the con- eventually perform most of the ordinary necting span, while being lifted into place, duties and even some of the accomplishslipped and fell to the river bottom. In ments of life, is a very interesting one. 1917 a new span was successfully lifted or BRIDG NORTH, into place and the construction of the town of Shropshire, magnificent structure thus assured. England, 19 miles s. E. from Shrewsbury, in the art of bridge building belong to the Bridgeport the capitals of Fairfield Some of the most striking developments on the Severn. Pop. (1911) 5768. United States, where an enormous rail Bridge'north, a road system, traversing a country of great Co., Connecticut, 58 miles N. E. of New rivers and ravines, has given an active York, on an arm of Long Island Sound, impetus to the art. The main characteris- with a large coasting trade, but chiefly These tics of American bridges are simplicity supported by its manufactures. and boldness of design and the reduction include the large sewing-machine factorof the number of members by the use of ies of Wheeler & Wilson Co. and Elias open trusses composed of simple systems, Howe, large cartridge, ordnance, and thus reducing the resistance to wind pres- graphophone works, etc. It has a consure below that usual in European siderable coasting trade. Pop. 102,054. Bridges Brief Bridges, October 23, 1844; and with the view of establishing a comROBERT, poet laureate of Eng- Worsley contained valuable coal mines, educated at Eton and at Oxford; then munication between these and the town studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's, of Manchester, at 7 miles distance, he London. He is the author of various es- employed Brindley to construct a navisays, plays and poems. gable canal, which, after having encoun(brij'et), the name of two tered much opposition and ridicule, was Bridget in the Roman Catholic triumphantly carried through. He was Church. The first, better known as ST. the chief promoter of other excellent BRIDE, was born in Ireland about the end works of the same kind. He died in 1803. of the fifth century. She was exceed- See Brindley. ingly beautiful, and to avoid offers of Bridgewater Treatises, ae, the marriage and other temptations implored series of God to render her ugly, which prayer was outcome of the will of the Rev. Henry granted. An order of nuns of St. Bride Francis, Earl of Bridgewater, who died sum of £8000, was established, which continued to flour- in 1829, bequeathing a ish for centuries. St. Bride was held in which should be paid to the person or great reverence in Scotland.-The second persons chosen to write and publish 1000 ST. BRIDGET, or more properly Birgit or copies of a work on the power, wisdom, Brigitte, was the daughter of a Swedish and goodness of God as manifested in the prince, born about 1302, and died at Rome creation. The result was eight works on in 1373, on her return from a pilgrimage animal and vegetable physiology, astronto Palestine. She left a series of mystic omy, geology, the history, habits, and writings which were pronounced inspired instincts of animals, etc., which at one The by Gregory XI and Urban VI. Her time enjoyed great popularity. youngest daughter, Catherine, was also names of the writers are Dr. Chalmers, canonized, and became the patron saint Dr. Kidd, Dr. Whewell, Sir Charles Bell, of Sweden. Dr. Roget, Dr. Buckland, Rev. William a city and Kirby, and Dr. Prout. port of entry in New reins by which a horse is govJersey, situated on both sides of Cohansey Bridle (bri'dl), the headstall, bit, and Creek, 38 miles s. of Philadelphia. It is erned. Bridgeton (brij'ton), often written Burling the trade center of a large agricultural Brid'lington (usually pronounced and region, fruit-canning being a large industry; has also wire, nail, and glass ton), a town of Yorkshire, England, works, etc. Pop. 14,209. agreeably situated about a mile from the (brij'toun), the capital sea, 37 miles N. E. from York, with a Bridgetown of the island of Bar- considerable trade. Pop. 14,334. Half a waters resemb ling those of Scarborough and Cheltenham. bados, in the West Indies, extending along mile from Bridlington is Bridlington the shore of Carlisle Bay, on the s. w. Quay, a favorite sea-bathing resort, and mineral coast of the island, for nearly 2 miles. having also Its appearance is very pleasing, the houses being embosomed in trees, while hills of moderate height rise behind, studded with villas. Bridgetown is the residence of the of the Windward governor-general Islands. Pop. about 22,000. Brid❜port, a seaport in Dorsetshire, between England, the rivers Bride or Brit and Asker, which unite a little below the town, and form a (brij'wą-tér), or BRIDG- safe and commodious harbor for small Bridgewater WATER, a municipal vessels. There are manufactures of shoe borough and port in the county of Somer- thread, twine, lines, sail-cloth, fishingset, England, on the Parret, which is nets, etc. Pop. 5919. navigable as far up as the town for small Brief (bref), which comes from the vessels. A considerable shipping trade is Latin brevis, short, denotes a carried on, chiefly coastwise. Bricks are brief or short statement or summary, made here in great quantities, especially particularly the summary of a client's bath bricks. Pop. (1911) 16,802. case which the solicitor draws up for A brief may chusetts, 27 miles 8. also mean, in law, an order emanating of Boston. It is an important educa- from the superior courts. A papal brief tional town, and has large foundries and is a sort of pastoral letter in which the machine shops and other industries. Pop. pope gives his decision on some matter 9000. which concerns the party to whom it is FRANCIS EGERTON, addressed. The brief is an official docu Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massa- the instruction of counsel. Bridgewater, DUKE OF. an English ment, but of a less public character than nobleman, born in 1736. His estate of the bull. |