A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

SCHUYLKILL PERMANENT BRIDGE.

THE State of Pennsylvania has long been deser-vedly famed, for the multitude and excellence of itsbridges, over the various smaller streams, by which itis intersected. But no permanent means of transport-ation across the large and widely extensive rivers, flow-ing in and through, or bounding, this fertile and flou-rishing region, had, until a late period, been attempted.That thrown lately over the Schuylkill , at the west endof the High or Market Street of the city of Philadel-phia ; one over the same river at Reading; those overthe Lehigh at Bethlehem , Weiss’s ferry, and one near itsdischarge into the Delaware ; have begun the career ofhydraulic architecture, which will increase the celebrityof this State in that important branch of public improve-ment. A bridge over the Delaware at Easton , con-necting Pennsylvania with the State of New Jersey , isin great forwardness;* under the direction of Mr. T.Palmer. One on a peculiar construction, and highlynecessary for the passage of the mails, and other con-stant transportation, upon the great Post road of com-

* Since the account was drawn up, it is completed in itsFrame, which, after the example of the Schuylkill bridge, iscovered.