The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

Philadelphia, October 21.

The Eastern Water Pier of the Schuylkill Permanent Bridge was, on Saturday last exposed from the bottom of the river, to the view of the president and directors of the company, and a great number of other respectable citizens. The coffer dam was pumped out, for the purpose of examining the work, and the part of the bed of the river contained within the dam, laid entirely bare.
This is the first undertaking of the kind ever attempted in America. It has been completed in six weeks, from the laying of the first stone. Many difficulties have attended the execution, especially in the coffer-dam, all of which have been happily surmounted.

The foundation of this extraordinary work has been laid in a rapid river; and the masonry carried on, without interruption, in a depth of water of from twenty-two to twenty-four feet. The lower course stone is bedded, and dowelled or belted with iron in the solid rock. The exterior rules, of cut stone, are laid in hydraulic mortar (which is found to be already cementally indurated under water) and clenched horizontally at the joints with iron. The filling of the interior is composed of immense massive stones, many whereof weigh from three to six tons, well bedded in mortar of common lime and sand, and grouted. The ends are semi-circular. The pier sixty-eight feet six inches long at the foundation, and twenty-eight feet eight inches broad. It diminishes by feres or offsetts, whereof there are three, until it takes the dimensions which appear above water, of sixty-six feet six inches in length, and twenty-five feet in thickness. There are four strong chains of iron stretched across the pier, at proper distances, belted and worked in with the body of the masonry.

It is now raised three feet eight inches above common low-water mark, being the height of the spring of the intended arches. The coffer-dam will be removed, and the pier left, through the winter, in its present state.

From the perfect success attending this new and arduous part of this great and useful enterprize, we anticipate the satisfaction of seeing this important section completed. The experience gained in the progress of the present coffer-dam and pier, will enable those who direct and those who execute the future work, to perform their respective duties with facility, and a solid prospect of stability, and oeconomy in expenditures.

Every person of intelligence who has viewed the pier, is convinced of the practicability of a work, concerning which doubts have heretofore been entertained. It is allowed to be a masterly piece of workmanship, not exceeded by any in Europe.

The circumstance of accomplishing an entire foundation on a rock, at so great a depth, is uncommon in any country. The failure of many bridges has occurred, from a defect in this particular. Most foundations of piers, even of the most noted bridges, are artificial, either in the whole or in part.
The plan of an elegant bridge, and of this pier comprising a part of it, was furnished by the celebrated Mr. Weston, well known in this country, and in England, as an hydraulic engineer, of extensive science in this branch, and long practical experience.