Daily National Democrat

Bridge Plans

Vincent Brown, Architect from San Francisco, is at present in this city, drawing up plans for the construction of a new bridge across Feather river, for the proprietors of the present Yuba City bridge. He has two plans, one for a stationary bridge and the other for a draw bridge. The first is to be used in case the Legislature declares the Feather river unnavigable above the point of location of the bridge. The second to be used in case the river is still declared navigable. Both plans are beautiful ones, in a scientific point of view, combining as they do all the elements of strength possible to be embraced in a work of that kind. The main principle upon which the plans are founded is this—to bring the weight and pressure, both of the bridge itself and the loads that may cross it, upon the timbers in what might be termed a pulling manner instead of directly downward. It is well known that a piece of wood pulled out at both ends lengthwise will withstand an amount of strength which it never could withstand were it applied in a different manner. A very small stick cannot be pulled in two without a very great exertion of power, but it can be placed on end, crushed by a downward pressure, and with very little trouble. This principle is very beautifully illustrated in both Mr. Brown's plans. The draw-part of the drawbridge plan is made to run on wheels which are rotatory but fixed so as not to move out of their places. A hand power at the crank puts the draw in motion, and causes it to run back on these wheels. We cannot pretend to give a description of the process, but it is as perfect as anything could well be. We suppose that the bridge will be built upon one or the other of these plans.