352 Introduction of the Iron Chain Suspension Bridge , [Dec. 
straction, as compared with those which the genius of improvement had so fully 
developed in Europe, It may, therefore, surprise your readers to be told, that so far 
from it, no attempt was made to bring to the consideration of the question any of 
theresuurces of modern science, or even of the most ordinary mechanical skill; and 
that, content to follow where we should have led, we blindly adopted the above clumsy 
and ill-contrived bridge, and that the six bridges mentioned, as necessary for keeping 
open the communication on the military roads, were all built on this model. In the 
usual course of things, experience at last made us wiser, so far at least as to be aware 
of the great expense of these bridges, both in original cost and repairs ; and also in 
want of durability. About this time, the Shakespearian rope bridge, had attracted a 
good deal of attention, and those who, from travelling in the mountains, bad personal 
experience of the want of bridges, as well as of the greatness of such a want, began 
to hope that such a bridge would be a great boon to these people ; and being, as it 
was said, so cheap, might come even within their own means to erect them in vari- 
ous remote parts of the country. Having also a general resemblance in principle 
to their own rope-ladder bridge, it was thought that they might the more easily un- 
derstand and appreciate such a bridge, than one requiring greater mechanical skill, 
or resources of art less available in their remote situation. 
In a short time, several of these bridges were erected in various quarters, some at 
the expense of Rajahs, and some at the expense of Government; they were considered, 
we believe, to be a decided improvement on the wooden bridge above described; as 
being more convenient, more economical, and less confined as to the limit of span ; 
and in fact, it was generally thought that this was the best adapted form of bridge 
that could be devised for these provinces; and that the introduction of it into such a 
country, was a real benefit- A little more experience showed the fallacy of this opi- 
mon. The durability of the rope was found to be less than half that of timber, while 
the expense of attending to the former, proved to be considerable. An establishment 
was required to tighten the ropes ; to watch that none of the iron-work should be 
stolen, or ropes wilfully destroyed ; and where the nature of the torrent would allow 
it, for taking them down during the dry months. In this latter case., a store-room 
was required in which to lodge the ropes. In considering all these particulars, it ap- 
peared that the difference of expense, which on a first view was 4 to 1, dwindled 
down as low as 8 to 5 ; while the greater security and convenience of the wooden 
bridges, was thought to be more than a balance for this small difference of expense. 
. e Shakespearian bridge began now to be considered only fit for the smaller 
rivers, or for those situations where wood was not to be had ; and for the larger 
spans the sanga was thought best adapted. 
There i were still some who could not but think the sanga or wooden bridge a 
very unskilful structure, and who wondered that European science could devise no 
e . *V r ' . ! e quantity of limber used in these bridges is enormous, and might cer- 
tainly, if judiciously disposed, support four times the weight they are capable of bear- 
mg. is indeed truly surprising that the subject of carpentry and framing of 
timber should be so little understood or appreciated , as to permit of such structures 
eing erec et under European superintendence. It being, however, taken for granted 
wer ? tbe best , wooden bridges, (although the plate and description of the 
lausen bridge, which is in every Encyclopaedia, might have proved the con- 
new Project for erecting bridges of a different material attracted the 
more attention; and this, assisted by thejudiciouspufferyof the Calcutta newspapers, 
Ih £ t" l0 tl,e short lived popularity of the Shakespearian. The late 
1 1 ■ v , c '.' '■‘"■"‘"S at Almdrah, look great interest in the question ; and 
i ir ; i „ . , an account in one of the scientific journals, of a 
S11 o- ‘ | . , e ‘ a : Geiieva, constructed entirely of iron-wire, lie thought at first that 
thprp >11( S e Might lie preferable to any yet tried in the mountains. A gentleman 
npvpr i Vti 6 * wr0 J e *■? Calcutta for some iron wire, to try the experiment ; but I 
thr niniirv*" • * 16 farther, than that it was found too expensive a delicacy for 
tion \t in *? \ v . aei ’ e from the number reqnired,economy was a primary considera- 
so useful the iron ^! iail1 8u spension-bridge was proposed, and this invention, 
mountains r ? genora, l> r applied in Europe, promises to be not less so in these 
requires scarr-nT cconom > , > f ? r durability, and portability, it has no equal. It 
The following- attei ^ 1011 °. r repairs, and is applicable to the largest spans. 
subject in so clear a li/ht' “tw i ^ 1D .f r \ ,ectures ' at ,he Ko > il1 Instimtion, puts the 
<tThe t lat * s * ia P ma ^ e n0 ; ‘P°l°gy tor giving the whole passage, 
nared with 'ordinary* CIICU1 * lstance in these bridges, is their great economy, as com- 
fromthepowerof^ T“ iied insistcnt That economy arises 
variation or oartinl p ension-bndge to vary its curve, so as to adapt it to any 
P cess in its load; in consequence of which, the strength of the 
