Accoimt of the Great Suspension Bridge of Frihourg, 125 



The four cables are fixed in chain-pits or shafts cut out of 

 the solid rock on cither side of the river. In each of these pits 

 four cables pass through a vertical cylindric chimney or pillar, 

 which bears three heavy domes resting upon it, and at the same 

 lime abutting against grooves cut with much care in the rock to 

 receive the springing stones. At tlie bottom of the pillars the 

 cables are made fast to blocks of very hard stone which are cubes 

 of 6J feet. The cables, therefore, cannot slide without lifting 

 the whole of these enormous buildings, strengthened as they are 

 by their connexion with the solid rock. 



M. Challey began this work in the spring of 1832. He 

 brought out of France with him only a foreman who had assist- 

 ed him on former occasions, and engaging in this arduous enter- 

 prise with the inexperienced workmen of the country who had 

 never seen a suspension bridge, he completed the work in spite 

 of all these difficulties; and on the 15th October 1834, ^^m 

 pieces of artillery drawn hyjbrty-two horses, and surrounded by 

 SOOJpersons, crossed the bridge, though they united in one body 

 as well on the middle as at the ends of the roadway. Nor was 

 the least appearance of derangement of the structure discovered 

 on the closest examination. Some days after the whole inhabi- 

 tants of Frihourg and its suburbs passed over in procession, so 

 that there were no fewer than 1800 persons on the bridge at the 

 same time ; and all classes of travellers, mercantile and curious, 

 have since united with the natives of the Swiss Cantons in testi- 

 fyingltheir entire satisfaction with the bridge. Although the 

 severe proof to which the constructor of this work subjected it, 

 by loading the roadway with about 20 lb. on each square foot, 

 did not take place till the month of October 1835, yet it may 

 safely be said that the colossal bridge of Frihourg was completely 

 finished in two years and a half. The whole expense was only 

 about L. 24,000. 



The] only bridge which can be compared for its dimensions 

 with that of M. Challey is the Menai or Bangor bridge, which 

 joins the Isle of Anglesea to tlic mainland of England. The 

 largest vessels sail below it with full canvass set. It was con- 

 slructed by the celebrated engineer Telford ; but the Menai 

 bridge is only 550 feet in length, while the biidge of Frihourg 

 is 871 feet. The roadway of Mr Telford's bridge is about 106 



