Systems of military bridges in use by the United States Army; those adopted by the great European powers, and such as are employed in British India. ... destruction, and re-establishment of bridges

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 Excerpt: ...is finished, the first raft is brought into line, and the mooring-cable of an anchor, previously thrown, is passed through the mooringbecket of the middle ponton of the raft, and is belayed as soon as the raft is drawn by it into its proper position. The raft is attached to the first bay by means of two false side-rails, 6-6" long (made by sawing a spare balk into three equal parts), inserted in four rackcollars--two on each side of the bridge--placed in the slits between the second and third chesses from the junction of the first bay and raft, and embracing the outer balks, the side-rails and false side-rails. They are secured in place by wedges driven between the tops of the rack-collars and the false side-rails. In some Pif2s.11" cases, for additional security, it may be advantageous to connect the adjoining pontons of the first bay and raft, by inserting a raft-bar in the side-loops. A down-stream anchor is attached, by means of its mooring-cable, to the stern of the middle ponton of the raft. In the same manner, all the other rafts are put in position. The bay, next the second shore, is established when the last raft is brought into position, the abutment being placed to correspond to the ends of the balks of the last bay. If the rafts have been formed above the place intended for the bridge, they descend successively. The ponton for the first bay, loaded with abutment and bayparts and the anchor-boat for the down-stream anchors, first moves to its place of destination. The first raft starts in time to arrive, when the first bay shall have been completed, the others following as they are wanted. The up-stream anchors are carried on the bows of each middle ponton of the rafts, lying upon. the mooringcables, coiled up with the free end beneath....