Brooklyn BridgeBrooklyn Bridge

►►Location: Manhattan and Brooklyn, New Location: Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York, USAYork, USA

►►First settlement in Brooklyn First settlement in Brooklyn -- 1636 by Dutch 1636 by Dutch FarmersFarmers

►►First ferry between Brooklyn and Manhattan First ferry between Brooklyn and Manhattan -- 1642, operated by Cornelius 1642, operated by Cornelius DircksenDircksen, a , a row boatrow boat

►►State Legislature receives petition to State Legislature receives petition to construct a bridge over the East River construct a bridge over the East River --18021802

►►New York Legislature considers a bill to New York Legislature considers a bill to build a bridge over the East River build a bridge over the East River –– 18571857

Brooklyn population 1860 Brooklyn population 1860 -- 266,000266,000Brooklyn population 1870 Brooklyn population 1870 -- 396,000 396,000 -- 50% 50% increase, the fastest growing city on the countryincrease, the fastest growing city on the country

►►Bill passed by the New York State Bill passed by the New York State Legislature for construction Legislature for construction -- 1866 1866

Manhattan Bridge opens 1909

Vital StatisticsVital Statistics

►►Total length: 5,989 feetTotal length: 5,989 feet►►Length of main span: 1,595 feet, 6 inches Length of main span: 1,595 feet, 6 inches ►►Length of approach:Length of approach:

971 feet (Brooklyn approach) 971 feet (Brooklyn approach) 1,562 feet, 6 inches (Manhattan approach) 1,562 feet, 6 inches (Manhattan approach)

►►Overall width: 85 feet Overall width: 85 feet

►►Height of towers: 273 feet Height of towers: 273 feet ►►Depth of tower foundation below high water Depth of tower foundation below high water

mark: Brooklyn tower: 45 feet mark: Brooklyn tower: 45 feet ►►Manhattan tower: 78 feet Manhattan tower: 78 feet ►►Size of tower at high water line: 140/59 feet Size of tower at high water line: 140/59 feet

►►Total height of tower above high water: 277 Total height of tower above high water: 277 feet feet

►►Clear height of bridge in center of river span Clear height of bridge in center of river span above high water: 119 feet, 3 inches above high water: 119 feet, 3 inches

►►Grade of roadway: 3 Grade of roadway: 3 ¼¼ feet in 100 feet feet in 100 feet

►►First to Jump from Bridge: May 19, 1885 First to Jump from Bridge: May 19, 1885 R.E. R.E. OdlumOdlum (he died from the jump) (he died from the jump)

Plan of One Tower for the East River Bridge, 1867. From the National Archives.

Date work began on Date work began on Bridge Bridge -- 2 January 1870, 2 January 1870, clearing the site for the clearing the site for the

Brooklyn TowerBrooklyn Tower

Caisson details drawn by Roebling

102 feet by 172, be built to a thickness of 22 feet of dense Southern pitch-pine in timbers twelve inches square, laid in solid courses crossing each other, fastened with powerful through-bolts

The whole cavernous interior be lined with boiler iron, seamed air-tight, for its perfection as a diving-bell, and for protection against the danger of fire.

80 feet into the earth

►►Initial rate of caisson excavation and Initial rate of caisson excavation and lowering lowering -- 6 inches per week (DBS)6 inches per week (DBS)

►►Workforce on Brooklyn Tower Workforce on Brooklyn Tower -- 360 (DBS)360 (DBS)►►Maximum air pressure in Brooklyn Caisson Maximum air pressure in Brooklyn Caisson --

23 psig23 psig

►►The caisson was placed in its berth in The caisson was placed in its berth in October, 1871, and rested on the rock in October, 1871, and rested on the rock in May, 1872, after less than one year's work May, 1872, after less than one year's work in sinking it to its bed. in sinking it to its bed.

►►The Brooklyn tower was completed in May, The Brooklyn tower was completed in May, 1875, and the New York tower in July, 1876. 1875, and the New York tower in July, 1876.

Mr. E. F. Farrington, the master-mechanic

Friday afternoon, August 25, 1876

►►Wires, not twisted, but laid parallel, and Wires, not twisted, but laid parallel, and bound together by a continuous wrapping of bound together by a continuous wrapping of wire.wire.

►►The wires are of size No. 7, or a little over The wires are of size No. 7, or a little over oneone--eighth inch in thickness; they number eighth inch in thickness; they number over 5000 in each cable, and make a bundle over 5000 in each cable, and make a bundle 1515¾¾ inches thick.inches thick.

The great steel cables, fifteen and three-quarter inches in diameter

►►Each cable contains nineteen strands of 278 Each cable contains nineteen strands of 278 wires each.wires each.

►►Each skein is a continuous wire almost Each skein is a continuous wire almost exactly one million feet, or nearly 200 miles, exactly one million feet, or nearly 200 miles, in length, passing from anchorage to in length, passing from anchorage to anchorage, back and forth, 278 times.anchorage, back and forth, 278 times.

►►After a skein is fully laid in position (passing, After a skein is fully laid in position (passing, of course, over the tops of the towers) it is of course, over the tops of the towers) it is compressed to a cylindrical form at every compressed to a cylindrical form at every point by large clamp tongs, and tightly point by large clamp tongs, and tightly bound with wire at intervals of about fifteen bound with wire at intervals of about fifteen inches throughout its length.inches throughout its length.

►►The running and regulating of the cable The running and regulating of the cable wires commenced June 11, 1877, and the wires commenced June 11, 1877, and the last wire was run over October 15, 1878. last wire was run over October 15, 1878.

The anchorages are solid cubical structures of stone masonry, measuring 119 by 132 feet at the base, and rising some 90 feet above high-water mark. Their weight is about 60,000 tons each, which is utilized to resist the pull of the cables.

These plates measure 16½ by 17½feet on the face, and are 21 feet thick at the centre. The weight of each plate is over 46,000 pounds.

1877

1877

►► The weight of the whole suspended structure The weight of the whole suspended structure (central span), cables and all, is 6740 tons, and (central span), cables and all, is 6740 tons, and the maximum weight with which the bridge can be the maximum weight with which the bridge can be crowded by freely moving passengers, vehicles, crowded by freely moving passengers, vehicles, and cars is estimated at 1380 tons, making a total and cars is estimated at 1380 tons, making a total weight borne by the cables and stays of 8120 tons, weight borne by the cables and stays of 8120 tons, in the proportion of 6920 tons by the cables and in the proportion of 6920 tons by the cables and 1190 tons by the stays.1190 tons by the stays.

►► The stress (or lengthwise pull) in the cables due to The stress (or lengthwise pull) in the cables due to the load becomes about 11,700 tons, and their the load becomes about 11,700 tons, and their ultimate strength is 49,200 tons. ultimate strength is 49,200 tons.

1883 Opening

►► Bridge opened to public: May 24, 1883 at 2:00 PMBridge opened to public: May 24, 1883 at 2:00 PM►► Total of 150,300 people crossed opening day.Total of 150,300 people crossed opening day.►► People charged 1 cent to cross, 3 cents thereafterPeople charged 1 cent to cross, 3 cents thereafter

►► Box office opens on Brooklyn side to sell toll Box office opens on Brooklyn side to sell toll tickets tickets -- 11:20 PM (5/23)11:20 PM (5/23)

►► New York ticket office opens New York ticket office opens -- 11:30 PM (5/23) 11:30 PM (5/23)

World Record Status at Time of World Record Status at Time of CompletionCompletion

►►Fifty percent longer than any suspension Fifty percent longer than any suspension bridge (total length) bridge (total length)

►►First use of pneumatic caissonsFirst use of pneumatic caissons►►First Steel Cable Suspension BridgeFirst Steel Cable Suspension Bridge

►►Brooklyn Bridge Traffic: Brooklyn Bridge Traffic: -- 144,000 Vehicle 144,000 Vehicle Crossings (average weekday in 1998)Crossings (average weekday in 1998)

►►By comparison:By comparison:QueensboroQueensboro Bridge Bridge -- 192,000 vehicles192,000 vehiclesWilliamsburg Bridge Williamsburg Bridge -- 110,000110,000Manhattan Bridge Manhattan Bridge -- 78,000 78,000

►►Bridge opened to vehicles: May 24, 1883 at Bridge opened to vehicles: May 24, 1883 at 5:00 PM after speeches at opening 5:00 PM after speeches at opening ceremony.ceremony.

►►Total of 1800 vehicles crossed on the first Total of 1800 vehicles crossed on the first day.day.

►►Vehicles charged 5 cents to cross.Vehicles charged 5 cents to cross.

►►First Passenger Train over bridge: First Passenger Train over bridge: September 1883 September 1883

►►Last Train over bridge: 1948 Last Train over bridge: 1948

1885

1890

1892

1896

1900

1900

1906

1915

1920

►► The bridge was designed by an The bridge was designed by an architectural firm owned by architectural firm owned by John John Augustus RoeblingAugustus Roebling in in Trenton, Trenton, New JerseyNew Jersey..

Roebling and his firm had built Roebling and his firm had built smaller suspension bridges, such as smaller suspension bridges, such as the the John A. Roebling Suspension John A. Roebling Suspension BridgeBridge in in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio and the and the Waco Suspension BridgeWaco Suspension Bridge in in Waco, Waco, TexasTexas, that served as the , that served as the engineering prototypes for the final engineering prototypes for the final design.design.

►►John A. John A. RoeblingRoebling birthdatebirthdate -- June 12, 1806June 12, 1806►►John A. John A. RoeblingRoebling birthplace birthplace -- MuehlhausenMuehlhausen, ,

ThuringiaThuringia (Prussia)(Prussia)►►John A. John A. RoeblingRoebling education education -- Civil Civil

Engineering Royal Polytechnic Institute of Engineering Royal Polytechnic Institute of Berlin, 1826Berlin, 1826

►►John A. John A. RoeblingRoebling immigrated immigrated -- 1831 (to 1831 (to Pennsylvania intending to be a farmer)Pennsylvania intending to be a farmer)

►►In the summer of 1869, while engaged in In the summer of 1869, while engaged in fixing the location of the Brooklyn tower, a fixing the location of the Brooklyn tower, a ferryferry--boat entering the slip thrust the boat entering the slip thrust the timbers on which be stood in such a manner timbers on which be stood in such a manner as to catch and crush his foot.as to catch and crush his foot.

►►The injury resulted in lockThe injury resulted in lock--jaw, jaw, he died of he died of tetanustetanus （破傷風）（破傷風） sixteen days after. sixteen days after.

►►How tough was John How tough was John RoeblingRoebling? ? -- Declined Declined anastheticanasthetic for the amputation of his toes for the amputation of his toes crushed in the 9 July 1869 accident.crushed in the 9 July 1869 accident.

►►John A. John A. Roebling'sRoebling's Age at Death Age at Death -- 63 63

►►1806 1806 -- Born in Born in MuhlhausenMuhlhausen, Prussia., Prussia.►►1826 1826 -- Graduates from Royal Polytechnic Graduates from Royal Polytechnic

School of Berlin (Civil Engineer). School of Berlin (Civil Engineer). ►►1831 1831 -- Arrives in U.S.; Establishes utopian Arrives in U.S.; Establishes utopian

farming community, Butler Co., Pa. farming community, Butler Co., Pa. ►►1836 1836 -- Marries Johanna Marries Johanna HertingHerting. . ►►1837 1837 -- Farming community fails; works as a Farming community fails; works as a

surveyor. surveyor.

►►1842 1842 -- First successful use of First successful use of Roebling'sRoebling'swire rope: wire rope: Allegheny Portage RRAllegheny Portage RR. .

►►1845 1845 -- Completes first suspension bridge: Completes first suspension bridge: Allegheny Aqueduct for Main Line Canal in Allegheny Aqueduct for Main Line Canal in Pittsburgh (removed 1861). Pittsburgh (removed 1861).

►►1846 1846 -- Smithfield Street Bridge, Pittsburgh Smithfield Street Bridge, Pittsburgh ( ( replaced 1883replaced 1883). ).

►►18471847——1851 1851 -- Builds four D&H Canal Builds four D&H Canal aqueducts (three removed after 1898). aqueducts (three removed after 1898).

►► 1850 1850 -- Founds wire rope factory in Trenton. Founds wire rope factory in Trenton. ►► 1855 1855 -- Bridge at Niagara Falls (removed 1897). Bridge at Niagara Falls (removed 1897). ►► 1860 1860 -- Sixth Street BridgeSixth Street Bridge, Pittsburgh (removed 1893). , Pittsburgh (removed 1893). ►► 1867 1867 -- Cincinnati Bridge completed. Begins plans for Cincinnati Bridge completed. Begins plans for

Brooklyn Bridge. Brooklyn Bridge. ►► 1869 1869 -- Dies of tetanus from accident at Brooklyn Bridge Dies of tetanus from accident at Brooklyn Bridge

site. Son, Washington site. Son, Washington RoeblingRoebling, carries on John , carries on John Roebling'sRoebling'swork. work.

►► 1883 1883 -- Brooklyn Bridge completed under the direction of Brooklyn Bridge completed under the direction of Washington Washington RoeblingRoebling and his wife Emily. and his wife Emily.

►► His son, His son, WashingtonWashington, , succeeded him, but was succeeded him, but was stricken with stricken with caissoncaisson disease disease ((decompression sicknessdecompression sickness), due ), due to working in compressed air to working in compressed air with the with the sandhogssandhogs, and was , and was only capable of limited speech only capable of limited speech or movement.or movement.

►► Date Date W.RoeblingW.Roebling is stricken by is stricken by caisson disease, becoming an caisson disease, becoming an invalid invalid -- Early summer 1872 Early summer 1872

►► Washington's wife, Washington's wife, Emily Warren Emily Warren RoeblingRoebling, trained herself in , trained herself in engineering so she could engineering so she could communicate his wishes to the communicate his wishes to the builders. builders.

►► Washington Roebling was unable Washington Roebling was unable to leave his home and watched to leave his home and watched the construction through a the construction through a telescope.telescope.

►► When the bridge opened she was When the bridge opened she was also the first person to cross it. also the first person to cross it.

►► Emily Warren Emily Warren RoeblingRoebling ((18431843 –– 19031903) ) ►► Her husband Her husband Washington Washington RoeblingRoebling was was

struck down with struck down with caissoncaisson disease disease ((decompression sicknessdecompression sickness) during the ) during the works.works.

►► Emily Emily RoeblingRoebling then became a constant then became a constant advocate of her husband and became advocate of her husband and became his spokesman.his spokesman.

►► She taught herself She taught herself civil engineeringcivil engineering and and directed much of the work during the directed much of the work during the final stages of the building of the bridge. final stages of the building of the bridge.

At first I thought I would succumb,At first I thought I would succumb, but I had but I had a strong tower to lean upon,a strong tower to lean upon, my wife, a my wife, a woman of infinite tact andwoman of infinite tact and wisest counsel.wisest counsel.

----WASHINGTON ROEBLINGWASHINGTON ROEBLING

►► Emily Warren Emily Warren RoeblingRoebling was born in 1843, in a small town was born in 1843, in a small town called Cold Springs. She was the second youngest of called Cold Springs. She was the second youngest of twelve Warren children. However, only six of the twelve twelve Warren children. However, only six of the twelve children survived past childhood. The Warren family was children survived past childhood. The Warren family was one of the prominent families in the county. one of the prominent families in the county.

►► Cold Springs is in the upper Hudson Valley and is near the Cold Springs is in the upper Hudson Valley and is near the river. Because of this she knew the way of a life based river. Because of this she knew the way of a life based upon a river and was very familiar with the Hudson itself. upon a river and was very familiar with the Hudson itself. The town of Cold Springs was not a rich town in itself and The town of Cold Springs was not a rich town in itself and the Warrens were not wealthy people. However, they were the Warrens were not wealthy people. However, they were considered to be people of high social standing. The town considered to be people of high social standing. The town was mostly made up of people who were distinguished was mostly made up of people who were distinguished artists and literary writers. This was the society in which artists and literary writers. This was the society in which Emily was raised. Emily was raised.

►► On January 18, 1865, Emily got married to Washington On January 18, 1865, Emily got married to Washington RoeblingRoebling in a in a small brick church on Main Street. His love for her is shown in small brick church on Main Street. His love for her is shown in his his description of her found in a letter to his sister: description of her found in a letter to his sister:

"I would send you a little tintype [of Emily] if it didn't happe"I would send you a little tintype [of Emily] if it didn't happen to be such n to be such a horrid picture, not doing a particle of justness to the subjeca horrid picture, not doing a particle of justness to the subject. Some t. Some people's beauty lies not in the features but in the varied exprepeople's beauty lies not in the features but in the varied expression ssion that the countenance will assume under the various emotions, etcthat the countenance will assume under the various emotions, etc., ., etcetc……. She is dark. She is dark--brown eyed, slightly pugbrown eyed, slightly pug--nosed, lovely mouth and nosed, lovely mouth and teeth, no dimples in her cheeks, like Laura the corners of the mteeth, no dimples in her cheeks, like Laura the corners of the mouth outh supply that, and a most entertaining talker, which is a mighty gsupply that, and a most entertaining talker, which is a mighty good ood thing you know, I myself being so stupid. She is a little above thing you know, I myself being so stupid. She is a little above medium medium size and has a most lovely complexionsize and has a most lovely complexion……" (McCullough, 454)" (McCullough, 454)

The Main TasksThe Main Tasks

►► As her husband was observing the As her husband was observing the construction from afar, Emily made construction from afar, Emily made inspection visits to the Brooklyn Bridge inspection visits to the Brooklyn Bridge everyday.everyday.

As time progressed, the number of jobs and tasks Emily As time progressed, the number of jobs and tasks Emily RoeblingRoebling took on increased. took on increased. She soon began taking her husbandShe soon began taking her husband’’s visitors s visitors --answering the questions of the bridge officials, answering the questions of the bridge officials, representatives and contractors.representatives and contractors.

►► It is said that she answered their questions so well It is said that she answered their questions so well that many of these businessmen believed that she that many of these businessmen believed that she was the Chief Engineer. was the Chief Engineer.

►►Other tasks that Emily often completed Other tasks that Emily often completed included: included:

Keeping all the records; Keeping all the records; Answering Washington Answering Washington RoeblingRoebling’’ss mail; mail; Delivering messages and requests to the bridge Delivering messages and requests to the bridge office; office; Representing Washington at social functions.Representing Washington at social functions.

Emily's Monumental AccomplishmentEmily's Monumental Accomplishment

►► One of the things Emily One of the things Emily RoeblingRoebling is most famous is most famous for stemmed from representing her husband at for stemmed from representing her husband at one of these social gatherings.one of these social gatherings.

►► Emily Emily RoeblingRoebling was the first woman to ever was the first woman to ever address the American Society of Civil Engineers. address the American Society of Civil Engineers.

►► Emily spoke at this meeting to defend her Emily spoke at this meeting to defend her husband after questions arose of his ability to husband after questions arose of his ability to head the Brooklyn Bridge project. head the Brooklyn Bridge project.

►► These questions were caused by an increase in These questions were caused by an increase in the estimated cost and time required to complete the estimated cost and time required to complete the project. the project.

"At first she was credited only with brushing up [her "At first she was credited only with brushing up [her husbandhusband’’s] English, which may have been the case. s] English, which may have been the case. But by and by it was common gossip that hers But by and by it was common gossip that hers was the real mind behind the great work and that was the real mind behind the great work and that this, the most monumental engineering triumph of this, the most monumental engineering triumph of the age, was actually the doing of a woman, which the age, was actually the doing of a woman, which as a general proposition was taken in some as a general proposition was taken in some quarters to be both preposterous and calamitous. quarters to be both preposterous and calamitous. In truth she had by then a thorough grasp of the In truth she had by then a thorough grasp of the engineering involved. She had a quick and engineering involved. She had a quick and retentive mind, a natural gift for mathematics, and retentive mind, a natural gift for mathematics, and she had been a diligent student during the long she had been a diligent student during the long years he had been incapacitated"years he had been incapacitated"

►►Although never planning on being an Although never planning on being an engineer, Emily engineer, Emily RoeblingRoebling accomplished what accomplished what was a huge engineering feat at the time.was a huge engineering feat at the time.

►►Throughout her work on the Brooklyn Throughout her work on the Brooklyn Bridge, she made many advances for Bridge, she made many advances for women engineers. women engineers.

►►Emily later died in 1903 at the age of 60. Emily later died in 1903 at the age of 60.