Niagara Suspension Bridge.

PrinterPrinted by E.B. & E.C. Kellogg American, 1840 - 1867

PublisherPublished by E.B. & E.C. Kellogg American, 1840 - 1867

PublisherPublished by D. M. Dewey American, 1819 - 1889

Dateprobably 1855

MediumLithography; printer's ink and watercolor on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 8 1/16 x 12 3/16in. (20.5 x 31cm)
Sheet (height x width): 9 15/16 x 13 7/16in. (25.2 x 34.1cm)

ClassificationsGraphics

Credit LineGift of Samuel St. John Morgan

DescriptionTwo steam engines, each drawing a train of railroad cars, approach each other from opposite sides of a suspension bridge. Simultaneously, a stagecoach drawn by two teams of horses crosses the bridge on a lower level. Buildings, some of them apparently houses, are near the bridge abutments on either side. Two people stand in an open grassy field on the left side of the river. Rocks and trees are in the left foreground. Dense trees line the right side of the river. Mist rises from a large waterfall in the background.

Object number1956.83.17

InscribedOn recto, lithographed title beneath image, "NIAGARA SUSPENSION BRIDGE. / John A. Roebling, Engineer and Architect. Cost about $500,000." Additional text beneath image: "Length of span from centre to centre of Towers 800 Feet / Height of Tower above rock on the American Side 88 " / " " " " " " " Canadian Side... 78 " / " " " " Floor of Railway...... 60 " / " track " Water........ 258 " / Number of Wire Cables.......... 4 " [sic] / Diameter of each Cable....... 10 1/4 ins. / Number of No. 9 wires in each Cable..... 3659 / Ultimate agregate strength of Cables.... 12,400 tons / Weight of Superstructure....... 800 " / Weight of Superstructure & maximum loads....... 1250 tons / Maximum weight the Cable, & stays will support.... 1300 " / Base of Towers...... 16 ft. sq. / Top of Towers..... 8 ft. sq. / Length of each upper cable...... 1256 1/2 Feet / " " lower " ......... 1190 " / Depth of Anchor pits below surface of rock 20 to 30 " / Outside width of Rail Road Floor...... 24 " / Inside " " " ........ 22 " / Total length of Wire in Miles........ 4000".
On verso, in pencil: along right margin, "E.L. Pitts / 1857 [or 1837?] / Yates / N.Y."; lower left, "consv CPC 1987" and accession number; lower right, "Dwr 22".NotesSubject Note: The Niagara Suspension Bridge was completed in 1855.

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