Montreal. 67 



bored several inches into each block, and the interstices 

 between the rivet and the block made one solid mass by 

 means of molten lead. The two centre piers are each 18 

 feet wide — the centre span 330 feet wide, and each of the 

 other spans 242 feet. The total length of the bridge is 9194 

 feet ; the centre tube 60 feet from the surface of summer 

 water ; the aggregate length of solid abutments 2600 feet ; 

 iron tubing 6594 feet ; cost of the bridge $6,300,000. The 

 floor of the bridge rises one foot in 112 from extremities to 

 centre. 



Every tourist ought to visit the bridge before leaving 

 Montreal, and if possible go through it on foot. The in- 

 terior, 'when viewed by the dim light of a lamp or lantern, — 

 the opening by which you entered growing smaller and smaller 

 in the distance as you approach the middle till it only shines 

 faintly like a pale blue star, — the hoarse rumbling and vibra- 

 tion caused by the slightest sound, striving for escape from 

 its hollow prison, — inspire a feeling almost of awe and 

 reverence. To look from one of the openings in the centre 

 piers on to the St. Lawrence rushing past in one grand 

 stream far below, sweeping under the bridge in eddies and 

 whirlpools, or bursting into little spirts of angry foam as they 

 touch the sharp edges of the masonry — to look along the 

 sides of the iron tube, which taper away at each end in the 

 distance till it seems a mere reed of metal, one cannot but 

 be astounded not only how such a design was ever carried 

 out, but how it could ever have been conceived as practicable. 



The Grand Trunk Railway is entitled to notice in 

 connection with the bridge, both on account of its magni- 

 tude and importance. Portland, New York and Boston by 

 its means are brought into daily communication with Mont- 

 real ; while to the West, unbroken connection with the 

 Western States, and every place of importance on the lakes, 

 is afforded. The village of Point St. Charles, the original 

 depot of the Grand Trunk for the city, has entirely grown 



