SCHUYLKILL PERMANENT BRIDGE. ^5 



thoaeh he was convinced that the whole success of the 

 enterprise depended upon, and required, the attempt. 

 Some idea of its magnitude may be formed, when it is 

 known that 800,000 feet (board measure) of timber, 

 were employed in its execution, and the accommoda- 

 tions attached to it. Sufficient in quantity for a ship 

 of the line. 



But it was soon discovered that the expence of erect- 

 ing a stone bridge, would far exceed any sum, the re- 

 venue likely to be produced would justify. For this 

 reason alone, no farther progress was made in the stone 

 bridge plan. And though some other drafts, among 

 them a very elegant one by Mr. Latrobe^ were present- 

 ed, the board of Directors were under the necessity of 

 returning them, as being objects, however desirable, 

 too expensive to be executed with private funds. It 

 was therefore concluded to procure plans of a bridge, 

 to be composed of stone piers and abutments, and a su- 

 perstructure of either wood or iron. Mr. JVestoii at 

 the request of the President and Directors, sent from 

 England (after viewing most of the celebrated bridges 

 there, and adding great improvements of his ovvii,) a 

 draft of an iron superstructure, in a very superior stile; 

 yet with his usual attention to utility, strength, and 

 csconomy, accompanied by models and instructions. 

 Although highly approved, it was not deemed prudent 

 to attempt its execution. Ail our workmen here, are 

 unacquainted with such operations ; and it was thought 

 too hazardous to risque the first experim.ent. 



The castings can be done cheaper here, than in En- 

 gland^ and with metal of a better quality, though the 

 amount of the erection would in the whole, far exceed 



