254

HISTORY OF ENGINEERING.

Book I.

Dauphin6, who consider it superior to the Rialto at Venice ; before the demolition of theentrance gateway, the following inscription was legible upon it; —

ROMANOS MOLES, PUDORE SUFFUNDO.

Although built in the 17th century, it is placed in the first section, on account of its anti-quated construction.

Bridge and Aqueduct of La Crau cT Arles, traverses a marsh, and conveys the water of thecanal of Crapone, erected in 1558 by a gentleman of that name. Its length is 2050 feet;the arches are semicircular, and their span is 19 feet 2 inches; the thickness of the piers is12 feet 9 inches, and the width of the aqueduct 17 feet at the upper part; the faces areslightly inclined.

By the side of the aqueduct is a bridge 32 feet wide, which carries the high road, sus-tained by arches of the same span as those of the aqueduct; the foundations of the twoconstructions are supported in the most dangerous places by timber framework.

Bridge of Notre Dame at Paris y on the Seine . — A wooden bridge was constructed here in1413, under Charles VI. , who gave it the name of bridge of Notre Dame; it wasdestroyed the 25th of October, 1499, and rebuilt in stone in 1507 by Frere Joconde. Itconsists of six semicircular arches, from 31 feet 2 inches to 56 feet 8 inches span. Thepiers are 12 feet 9 inches thick. The plinth which crowns the bridge is sustained by mo-dilions. It is well preserved, and although the stone of Paris is not generally good, thisappears to have been well selected, very little decay being perceptible. It was coveredwith houses, which were demolished a few years ago. Its breadth is 77 feet 5 inches.The pump below one of the arches was constructed by Daniel Jolly, in 1671.

Bridge of Toulouse on the Garonne , was begun in 1543, under Francis I., after the designsof the architect Souflron. It was not finished till 1632, after the Pont Neuf and Pont deChatelleraut. It has seven elliptical arches, from 47 feet to 113 feet span, symmetricallydisposed. The upper part of the pier has openings of a nearly circular form ; they are not allplaced on the same level, hence the high water little more than reaches those in the greatarches; the vaults are 2 feet 8 inches thick. It is of brick, except the archivolts andthe starlings, which are of squared stone. Its breadth is 64 feet. The footways are 12feet 9 inches ; the slope of the pavement is about 1 in 26. At the entrance is a triumphalarch, built by Mansard , which supported an equestrian statue of Louis XIII. , destroyedin 1793.

Bridge of ChatteUeraut, on the Vienne, begun in 1560, under Charles IX. , and finishedby Sully in 1609. It consists of nine arches, 31 feet 10 inches in span; they are elliptical,except the centre one, which is semicircular, and elevated on piers 8 feet 6 inches high,crowned by a plinth. Judging by the heights to which the floods attain, the water-wayappears perfectly proportioned to the volume, to which it gives a passage. The breadthof the bridge is 71 feet 2 inches; on each side are two footways beyond the parapets, 4 feet6 inches wide, formed by flags sustained on consols 3 feet 3 inches apart.

Bridge of Marche Palu , or Little Bridge at Paris . This was much damaged by the floodsof 1649, 1*651, and 1659. It was reconstructed in 1695. The 27th April, 1718, twobarges of burning hay were carried against it, and most of the houses consumed by fire. Itwas repaired in 1719, and the houses were not rebuilt. It is situated on the lesser arm ofthe Seine , next to the bridge of Notre Dame, and consists of three semicircular archesfrom 21 feet to 32 feet span.

Pont Neuf on the Seine . Henry III . laid the first stone, May 21st 1578; the architectwas Androuet du Ccrceau. The four piers of the northern part were carried up the sameyear, but the wars of the League interrupted its progress. It was recommenced in 1602,under Henry IV. , by G. Marchand, and partially opened in 1604, but not entirely finishedtill 1607. The funds were provided by a tax of ten sols on every muid of wine importedinto Paris .

The bridge consists of two parts abutting at the extremity of the island of the city, andin the space between stands an equestrian statue of Henry IV . That to the right bank ofthe Seine has seven semicircular arches from 46 feet to 62 feet 4 four inches span. The firstis too high, which renders the ascent of the bridge very steep. The second part consists offive arches, their span varying from 31 feet 3 inches to 48 feet. They are also semicircular,and have small comes de vache. The width of the bridge is 72 feet, of which 22 feet3 inches is given to the road-way, 26 feet for the two footpaths, and 4 feet 3 inches for thetwo parapets. These dimensions are sufficient, although the Pont Neuf is one of the mostfrequented bridges in Paris . The starlings of the piers are triangular, and rise to thecornice, which is very salient, sustained by large consoles ornamented at their feet withmasks of satyrs in very good taste, supposed to be the work of Germain Pilon .

The starlings are surmounted by portions of towers which support the shops erected in1775 by Soufflot. The bridge was repaired in the course of the same year. The footwayswere lowered and widened. The pavement between the footways was reinstated in 1821,and the ascent diminished.