Famous Bridges 17 



a success. In the 'eighties a scheme was 

 submitted by Fowler & Baker, which seemed 

 to meet all objections, and the work was 

 sanctioned, though not before several rival 

 schemes had been considered and turned 

 down. It seemed obvious to the assessors 

 that the only kind of structure which would 

 meet all objections was one of the cantilever 

 type. This meant a steel bridge, with a 

 great height, in order that a warship, with 

 her towering masts, could go safely below 

 it. There were two deep water channels 

 to be left unobstructed, and over these came 

 the greatest spans, each of 1,710 feet; in 

 addition, there were two other spans each 

 of 689! feet. In addition to these there 

 were fifteen short approach spans to the 

 four greater ones; these were of 168 feet 

 each, resting on granite piers. Then, to 

 give access to these, came four granite 

 arch spans of 57 feet each, and finally 

 four of 25 feet each. Adding the total 

 spans together the huge length of 2,765 

 yards is obtained, thus constituting the 

 greatest bridge in these islands, and one 



