32 A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



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The Schauffhausen bridge (which is now destroyed) 

 much eulogised in Europe, was by no means equal to 

 that on the Schuylkill Any candid and intelligent ar- 

 chitect, on inspecting the drafts of the one, examining 

 the other and the principles of both, would give a de- 

 cided preference to the latter. The design of this is 

 more simple, its strength is greater, its parts are better 

 combined, and more assistant to each other : and there 

 is no useless timber, in any part. 



The timber of which boih the frame and the cover are 

 composed, (the roof, of cedar excepted) is of the best 

 white pine. 



The flooring of the platform is doubled, and in the 

 whole 5 1-2 inches thick. The under course oi white 

 pine, 3 inches thick, is permanent, and well spiked and 

 secured. The upper course is of sap pitch pine, slightly 

 attached (2 1-2 inches thick) to be renewed as often as 

 worn, either partially or generally, and with this the joints 

 are broken. This mode of planking has been found, on 

 the floating bridges, highly advantageous and economi- 

 cal. The under course admits of two or three removals 

 of the upper, which wears before it decays. The floor- 

 ings of wooden bridges are generally of single planks. 



The exterior of the cover is handsomely ornamented 

 and painted. The under w^ork imitative of stone, is well 

 executed, by dashing the paint while fresh, w^ith sand 

 and stone dust. This is performed with so much ease 

 and cheapness, that it is hoped it will introduce a like 

 mode of ornamenting and protecting the surface of other 

 wooden elevations. All apprehensions of scaling by 

 frost, are proved to be imaginary. 



