18 New Bridge over the Mdssi at Hyderabad. [Jan. 



Of the progress of public works at Hyderabad, we have now an 

 opportunity of judging from the account of the completion of a hand- 

 some stone bridge over the Massi river, communicated by Captain 

 James Oliphant, the engineer who erected it, to the British resident 

 at the Nizam's court, which has been obligingly put into our hands for 

 publication. We regret, that we are unable to add any particulars of 

 the river itself, or of the precise situation of the bridge ; but we believe 

 that it lies on the high road between the residency and the city. 



" The first stone of the bridge was laid on the 15th January, 1829. 



According to the original plan, there were to have been eight arches, 

 semi-elliptical, each 56 feet span, and 18 feet rise. The piers 10 feet 

 wide, the breadth of the bridge 24 feet. 



Eight arches were fixed upon, because by this division of 

 the channel, the best foundations were obtainable for the piers; 

 and the chief reason for the general preference of an odd number of 

 arches was inapplicable, as it will be seen by reference to the plan, that 

 the strength of the current is not in the centre of the channel, but at 

 the arch next the abutment on the left bank. 



By October, 1829, the whole of the piers had been raised above 

 what was then considered high-water mark ; two arches had been 

 finished, and a third was almost completed, when the river rose to the 

 extraordinary height shown by the dotted line in the elevation : the 

 piers were destroyed, and the third arch fell in, the centering having 

 been carried away. 



The sudden shock must have been a severe trial to the neighbouring 

 arch ; but it stood firm, nor on examination did it appear to have sus- 

 tained any damage. 



In consequence of the disaster, the work was discontinued ; and 

 nothing was done till it was recommenced 14 months afterwards, on 

 the 21st of December, 1830. 



The engineer, having been alarmed at the height to which the river 

 rose in the floods, determined to deviate so far from the original plan 

 as to give two feet additional rise to the two centre arches, and a pro- 

 portional increase to the adjoining ones ; and instead of makino- the 

 approach on the left bank solid, as he at first intended, to provide ad- 

 ditional water-way by throwing an arch across the ravine. These alter- 

 ations were carried into effect, as shown in the plan. 



The arch under the approach is the arc of a circle of 63 feet radius • 

 its span 77 feet, and rise 16 feet; breadth of the road-way 30 feet. 



The piers and arches throughout are composed of squared granite 

 stone, brought from a distance of from four to five miles. The spandrels 



