Brooklyn Bridge
What it does?
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Links boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn
together (over East River)
construction
·
600 workers
o
more than 24 people died in the process
(including the original designer)
·
its more than 125 years old
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to build foundation:
o
workers excavated the river bed
§
used huge wooden boxes: caissons
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Caissons were held to the bottom of the river
with granite blocks
ú
They pumped in pressurized air to prevent water
and debris from coming in
ú
Every week, they got closer to the bedrock
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Sandhogs (what workers were called)
ú
Immigrants
ú
Made $2 a day
ú
Used shovels and dynamite to clear the mud and
boulders
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Caissons: were 44ft deep on Brooklyn side and
78ft deep on Manhattan side
ú
Workers started to lay granite
o
Caissons
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Terrible conditions
ú
Extremely hot
ú
workers got headaches, itchy skin, bloody noses,
and slowed heartbeats
·
however, it was safe
§
going to and from the East River was terrible
ú
sandhogs had to ride in small iron containers
called airlocks to get down
·
as airlock went down, it filled with compressed
air
o
what allowed them to breath in the caisson
o
also prevented the water from coming into the
caisson
o
dissolved dangerous gas into worker’s
bloodstreams (when they went back up, the dissolved gases in their blood were
released)
ú
“Caisson disease” or “the bends”
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joint pain, paralysis, convulsions, numbness,
speech impediments, death
o
more than 100 workers suffered these symptoms
§
Washington Roebling- paralyzed for the rest of
his life
ú
Wife Emily took over: he had to watch with a
telescope
ú
Some workers also died from collapsing, fires,
and explosions
§
1909
ú
New York legislature: passed Caisson-safety laws
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May 24, 1883
o
Bridge was opened
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Within 24 hours, 250,000 people had walked
across it
Today
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145 years old
·
carries ~150,000 vehicles and people a day
History
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Creator: John Augustus Roebling
o
Born in 1806- Germany
o
Studied industrial engineering in Berlin
o
25 years old- immigrated to Pennsylvania
§
tried to become a farmer
o
moved to Harrisburg
§
worked as a civil engineer
§
made a wire-cable factory
o
was known for being a designer of suspension
bridges
§
“Roebling is credited with a major breakthrough
in suspension-bridge technology: a web truss added to either side of the bridge
roadway that greatly stabilized the structure. Using this model, Roebling
successfully bridged the Niagara Gorge at Niagara Falls, New York, and the Ohio River in
Cincinnati, Ohio.”
o
1867
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New York legislators approved Roebling’s plan
for a suspension bridge
ú
First steel suspension bridge
ú
Longest span: 1600 feet from tower to tower
o
1869
§
boat smashed Roebling’s toesà
died of Tetanus three weeks later
ú
Washington A. Roebling (his 32 year old son)
took over as chief engineer
fun facts
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May 17th, 1884- Barnum circus led 21
elephants over the bridge to prove it was secure
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Originally called the “New York and Brooklyn
Bridge”, then called the “East River Bridge”
o
1915- became Brooklyn Bridge
·
president at the time
o
Chester Arthur
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Length: 5989 feet
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Width: 85 feet
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Height- 276.5 ft
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6740 tons of material
can sustain 7 times its own weight
Was the Brooklyn Bridge the first bridge to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn?
ReplyDeleteYes it was! Before the Brooklyn Bridge was built the only way to get across was by boat. After the bridge was built, over 150,000 people cross it daily.
DeleteI love the elephant story -- and how people must have felt too afraid to cross the bridge at first. The bridge was one of the marvels of that era, and one can imagine how many people were hesitant or fearful of the new structure and technology.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how much the ways of bridge making have altered throughout the years. During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge builders suffered due to lack of knowledge about building bridges; however, now we know. Do you think builders should have stopped the construction of the bridge because they suffered so much?
ReplyDeleteI think that it is so awful how much the builders suffered; however, I don't think they should have stopped working. I think the conditions should've been improved to ensure the safety of all workers.
DeleteI wonder what he did with the elephants once he was done crossing the bridge.
ReplyDeleteThe construction on this bridge was extremely intense. We are aware of the safety hazards even today but the fact that many of these men were at very high risk everyday at work is incredible.
ReplyDeleteEspecially for what they were paid, it is amazing and sad that the construction of the bridge had a work force willing to risk so much for so little and that even after obvious health issues were caused by the harsh conditions that the workers underwent, the government continued with the construction.
ReplyDeleteWhy would Roebling try to become a farmer. He was educated in Germany. When people immigrated to America they searching for a better life, so it is interesting to see someone educated stoop to farming. It seems to be a waste of his talents.
ReplyDeleteYes, I see your point. I am not quite sure why he became a farmer.
DeleteThis must have been great for the city? In what ways did this benefit the city, not only in social problems, but also in the economy?
ReplyDeleteThis must have been great for the city? In what ways did this benefit the city, not only in social problems, but also in the economy?
ReplyDeleteit was interesting that what kind of technology they used for build Brooklyn Bridge!
ReplyDelete