Gazette Of The United States

Domestic Articles.

NEWBURYPORT, Nov. 28.

On Monday last, agreeably to notification in the Essex Journal of the 21st inst. the Bridge over Merrimack-River, between the towns of Salisbury and Newbury, was opened for the use of the public; the day before which, a ship of 350 tons passed under the great arch, which is by far the largest on this continent.

Essex Merrimack Bridge contains upwards of six thousand tons of timber; and is formed of several arches and solid piers, the dimensions of which are as follow, viz.

Feet.
Abutment on the Salisbury-shore, 124
Water-Course, 53
Pier, 45
Water-Course, 60
Pier, 52
Draw, 40
Pier, 52
Arch, 113
Abutment on the N. Shore of Deer-Island, 6
Abutment on the south shore of ditto, 93
Arch, 162
Abutment on the Newbury-shore, 185
Whole length of the bridge, 1030
Width of the bridge, 34
Average depth of water at common high-water-mark, 30
Height of arch between Newbury and Deer Island, above common high-water mark, 37
Height of Abutments above common high-water-mark, 30

The inhabitants of Newburyport, and the community at large, may with propriety be congratulated on the completion of this very valuable public convenience; which, while it furnishes one, among many evidences of the flourishing state of our country, reflects much honor on the proprietors, as well as those who with so much spirit have executed it. When it is considered that this bridge has been built, under the prospect of advantages much less encouraging than any which have been granted by the legislature to undertakings of a similar kind: that, from unforeseen circumstances in the execution, the expense has arisen to nearly twice the sum at which it was calculated, and that the whole has been effected in the short space of eleven months, and in a style far exceeding any thing of the kind hitherto essayed in this country, it will be acknowledged that too much can hardly be said of the liberality and perseverance of the proprietors, or of the ingenuity and industry of the artificers.

The two large arches of this bridge were executed from a model invented by Mr. Timothy Palmer, an ingenious house-wright of this town, & appear to unite elegance, strength and firmness, beyond the most sanguine expectation.

To the grateful acknowledgments of the proprietors, unanimously presented to Capt. Wm. Coombs, President of the board of directors, the public have, with united voice, added their zealous applause, for his unwearied personal attention to this undertaking, through its whole progress.