Famous Bridges 13 



it supports. Rarely has such a safe bridge 

 as this been built. Too often in the past 

 the engineers considered the loads then 

 current and paid no attention to those 

 likely in the future. Here the designers 

 looked ahead indeed and if 100 tons can 

 be safely placed on four wheels that magni- 

 ficent bridge will take it. 



In order to balance the arch there are 

 two very handsome granite abutment towers. 

 Here the skill of the steel worker is con- 

 cealed, but it is there nevertheless, for the 

 towers are really of steel, cased in with 

 granite, to give a handsome appearance, 

 and to provide the weight necessary to 

 counterpoise that enormous thrust of the 

 single arch. The towers cover a good deal 

 of floor space, and in addition to providing 

 means for passengers ascending from the 

 quays to the bridge, they are adapted for 

 use for warehousing goods. 



As in most of these structures, the work 

 went on from both sides of the river, the 

 men building outwards at what seemed a 

 dizzy height to the people below. Gradually 



