ART. 2. At the date fixed in article one, shall be also opened to foreign navigation, the River San Francisco as far as the city of Penedo.

ART. 3. The navigation of the tributaries of the Amazon, in places where only one bank belongs to Brazil, shall depend on treaties yet to be made with the States holding title to the other bank as to the respective limits of each State as well as to fiscal and police regulations.

ART. 4. The present act shall in no way alter or interfere with existing treaties of navigation and commerce with the republics of Peru and Venezuela, according to the regulations already published.

ART. 5. My ministers and secretaries of state, through their respective departments, shall attend to the arrangement of the treaties spoken of in article three, and shall issue the necessary orders and regulations for the due execution of the present deSigned by the Emperor and by the Minister of

cree.

Foreign Affairs, Antonio Coelho de Sa e Albu querque.

PALACE OF RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 7, 1866.

The Amazon runs through the very centre of Brazil, and, unlike most, if not all, of its tributaries, it is navigable throughout its whole course of nearly 4,000 miles. It is deep, with a uniform current uninterrupted by rapids or cataracts. The tides of the Atlantic into which it flows, through an embouchure 180 miles wide, are felt 400 miles from its mouth, where the water is twenty fathoms deep, and the river more than a mile across. On its banks and on each side the interior produces maize, rice, coffee, sugar, cotton, tobacco, spices, timber, medicinal plants, horned cattle, gold, iron, and lead. The tributaries, which enter this river from the neighboring country of Bolivia were opened by the Bolivian Government to the navigation of all countries in 1853, but the value of this concession was neutralized by the then and subsequent policy of the Brazilian Government in refusing to open the Amazon. Now the Amazon is free from the frontiers of Brazil to the ocean, and a great channel for trade, population, and civilization is open to all nations. The Tocantins, which is a tributary of the Amazon, is about 1,200 miles long. Owing to rapids and cataracts, it is not navigable, except in patches, for any thing near this extent, but it runs through exceedingly fertile countries, producing most of the articles just enumerated. Owing to the natural obstacles of rapids and cataracts, the decree specifies that it is open from the sea to Cametá, which is on the left bank, and a rising city with 40,000 inhabitants; the Tapajoz to Santarem, also a growing place; and the Madeira to Manáos, a name which represents a province rather than a town. The San Francisco is the other great river opened to free navigation. It is said to resemble the Volga, the largest European river in length and the most diversified in character. It has a course of about 1,300 miles; but it is to be opened only to Penedo, which is not far in the interior, owing to the natural obstructions to navigation. But at intervals it is navigable for 200 miles at a stretch, and the current is rapid enough to carry vessels, without any other aid,

100 miles in twenty-four hours. Like the Volga, it is, in places, subject in the dry season to shallows, and in the wet to inundations, but these inundations fertilize a wide extent of country. Gold is found among its deposits. The sugar-cane thrives on its borders. It was on this river, at a place now called Salitre, that the extensive deposits of nitrate of soda were discovered, which excited so much interest in this country and in Europe about eight or nine years ago. There is said to be one valley, sixteen leagues broad by twenty leagues long, where this product is to be found in many places on the surface, and in all with little or no labor. As a superficial manure or top-dressing, nitrate of soda is of great value to agriculture, and it may be brought to this country at a cheap rate now that the river is

open.

The regular session of the Brazilian Parliament was opened by the emperor on May 3d. In his speech he announced the birth of the Prince Dom Pedro, son of Princess Leopoldina and Duke August, of Saxe-Coburg Gotha. He congratulated the country on the recent victories on the Paraná, and called the attention of the members to the necessity of inquiring into financial matters. Among the most important bills adopted by both Houses and signed by the emperor, were a resolution upon the Bank of Brazil and the improvement of the circulating medium, and bills on the postponement of the elections and for an extraordinary supplemental credit for the expenses of the war. The session was closed on September 16th by a speech from the throne, which thus referred to the subjects of greatest importance for the country: "The United States of North America have given to Brazil the most complete satisfaction for the violent capture in the port of Bahia of the privateer Florida by the war-steamer Wachusett. The war to which the President of Paraguay provoked us still continuing, the Government is employing with effect the means necessary to vindicate the national honor, aided therein ever by the patriotism of all Brazilians. The hopes of a good harvest in the generality of the products of our industry fortunately are being realized. The public tranquillity has been disturbed in no part of the empire, which is due to the disposition and growing civilization of the people."

The Government of Brazil, and all classes of the people, continued to feel a deep interest in immigration, and showed a great desire to promote it. An official publication on the subject, by the Government, states: "Immigrants will find an abundance of fertile land, suitable for the culture of cotton, sugar-cane, coffee, tobacco, rice, etc. These lands are situated in the provinces of Rio Grande do Sul, Santo Catharina, Paraná, São Paulo, Espiritu Santo, and Rio de Janeiro; and each immigrant may select his own lands. As soon as the immigrant has chosen his land, it will be measured by the Government, and possession given on the price stipulated. Unoccu

pied lands will be sold at the rate of 23, 46, 70 or 90 cents per acre, to be paid before taking possession, or sold for terms of five years, the immigrants paying six per cent. interest yearly, and receiving the title of property only after having paid for the land sold. Immigrants will enjoy under the constitution of the empire all civil rights and liberties which belong to native-born Brazilians. They will enjoy liberty of conscience in religious matters, and will not be persecuted for their religious belief. Immigrants may become naturalized citizens after two years' residence in Brazil, and will be exempt from all military duties except the national guard (militia) in the municipality. No slaves can be imported into Brazil from any country whatever. Immigration of agriculturists and mechanics is particularly desired. Good engineers are in demand in the empire. In January, 1866, an International Immigration Society was established at Rio de Janeiro for the purpose of encouraging immigration. The Brazilians hoped especially for a large increase of the immigration from the United States, but although this immigration did not altogether cease, it did not assume the dimensions which the Brazilian Government expected.*

The most complete and most accurate work on Brazil in the English language, is the new edition of "Brazil and the Brazilians," by Rev. James C. Fletcher and Rev. D. P. Kidder, D. D. (New York, 1866.) The new edition affords abundant information of the latest date in regard to the material and moral progress of Brazil.

BREMEN, a Free City in North Germany. First Burgomaster (1863-'67), Ch. F. G. Mohr. Area, 112 square miles; population, in 1864, 104,091. Receipts, in 1865, 1,819,220 thalers; expenditures, 1,757,961 thalers. Army, 760 men. Value of imports, in 1865, 77,294,373; exports, 70,879,834. The merchant navy was composed, at the close of 1864, of 294 vessels. After the German-Italian war, Bremen joined the North German Confederation.

BRIDGES. The Hudson River Bridge at Albany. This bridge crosses the Hudson River at Albany, about half a mile above the old railroad ferry, or middle of the river line of the city, and forms a connecting link between the New York Central Railroad on the west, and the Hudson River, New York and Harlem, and Albany and Boston Railroads on the east. The approaches to the bridge, designed ultimately to consist of masonry and embankment, are at present temporarily built of timber trestlework, varying in height from three to twenty feet, with timber truss bridges over Montgomery, Centre, and Water Streets, on the Albany side.

The main bridge consists of twenty spans, of

* Fletcher and Kidder, " Brazil " (New York, 1866), give, on pp. 592-598, the letter of welcome and of instruction to some immigrants from the South of the United States, by Sr. Paula Souza, Minister of Public Works, Agriculture, and Commerce, in 1865–66, and some extracts from a speech of Dr. Furquim d'Ameides in favor of religious toleration.

the following clear widths: three over the Albany basin of 66 feet each, four fixed spans of 172 feet each, and two draw spans of 1113 feet each, over the main channel, and one span of 71 feet, and ten spans of 66 feet each, across the flats on the east side; and stands about 30 feet clear height above ordinary summer tide level of the river.

The substructure consists of twenty-one stone piers, all resting on foundations of spruce piles, from twelve to fourteen inches in diameter, and driven from two and a half to three feet apart between centres, and generally from twentyfour to twenty-eight feet below low-water level. In preparing the foundations for the masonry, different methods were adopted in different portions of the work. In the case of the pivot pier, and the three main channel piers east of it, the site of each pier was first excavated to a depth of about twenty feet below low water, and of a length and breadth considerably greater than the intended pier, and, after the piles were driven, a strong crib of twelve-inch square timber was build around them, the sides of the cribs being kept from spreading by ties of one and one-eighth inch square iron, placed twelve feet apart in each course of timber. The crib was then sunk upon the bottom of the excavation, having been made of sufficient height to bring the top thereof within two feet of lowwater level. The interior of the crib was then filled with concrete, composed of coarse gravel and hydraulic cement, and the surplus excavation around the cribs filled with loose stone up to within twelve feet of low water, to support the crib and avert any danger from scouring; the piles were then cut off level with the tops of the cribs, and the whole covered with a platform of six-inch plank, upon which the stone work was commenced. For the westernmost pier in the main channel, which is in the deepest water, no excavation was made, but the piles were cut off to a level about a foot above the bed of the river, and the masonry sunk upon them by means of a timber caisson. For each pier in the basin the piles were cut off six feet below low water, a strong platform moored over them, on which the masonry was commenced, and lowered upon the piles by means of screws. For the piers on the flats, east of the main channel, the site of each was exeavated to a depth of about three feet below low water, the piles driven as for others, and cut off about one foot below low water. The excavation was then filled around and over the heads of the piles with concrete, about up to low-water line, and upon this the masonry was commenced.

The masonry of the piers and abutments is composed of the best quality of limestone of a bluish-gray color.

The stones in each course are clamped together with strong iron clamps, and each course is secured to the one next above and below by iron dowels. The shape of the ends of the piers in plan is that of a gothic pointed arch,

being formed by two circular arcs of sixty degrees each. The up-stream edge or nose of each main channel pier is sloped back at an angle of about thirty degrees from the perpendicular, the better to enable them to resist, break up or turn aside masses of ice or other floating bodies. The pivot pier has guards, constructed of stone in the same manner as itself, placed up and down stream at the proper distances to receive the ends of the draw when swung open, and connected with the pivot pier by timber crib-work filled with loose stone.

Superstructure.--The superstructure, designed ultimately to be of iron, and to carry a double track, at present consists of a single-track timber bridge, all except the draw spans being on the Howe plan.

The trusses of the long spans are twenty-four feet high, and those of the short spans nine feet high. The clear width between the trusses is fifteen feet.

The draw, designed by Col. J. W. Adams, is the "arch brace plan," the peculiarity of which consists in having the main supporting braces radiate from the ends of the lower chords to different points in the length of the upper chords, thereby transmitting the weight of the bridge and load directly to the abutments. The ends of the draw when swinging are supported by eight chains composed of iron bars 5x1 inches, extending from the top of a central tower sixty feet high to the ends of the lower chords of the trusses.

The turn-table of the draw consists essentially of a series of seventy rollers, placed between two circular tracks, one being fastened to the masonry of a pivot pier, and the other to the under side of the bridge. The faces of the tracks, which are nine inches broad, are accurately planed, so as to present no obstacle to the movement of the rollers, which are turned true and smooth. The rollers are twelve inches in diameter, and nine inches long on the face. They are placed in the annular space between two concentric iron rings, and kept at the proper distance by radial bars, which connect the inner ring with a collar fitted to and revolving around a central pivot-pin six inches in diameter.

The Cincinnati Suspension Bridge. This bridge was designed and built by John A. Roebling, Esq. The total length of this bridge, including the approaches from Front Street, Cincinnati, and Second Street, Covington, is 2,252 feet; length of main span from centre to centre of the towers, 1,057 feet; length of each land suspension, 281 feet; width of bridge in the clear, 36 feet; its height above low water, 100 feet; height of towers from foundation, without turrets, 200 feet; height of turrets, 30 feet; number of cables, 2; diameter of cables, 12 inches; strands in each cable, 7; wires in each strand, 740; wires in both cables, 10,360; weight of wire, 500 tons; deflection of cables, 88 feet; strength of structure, 16,800 tons; masonry in each tower, 32,000 perches; ma

sonry in each anchorage, 13,000 perches; total amount of masonry, 90,000 perches. Size of towers at base, 86 by 52 feet; at top 74 by 40 feet. The wrought-iron floor beams (the length of two of which makes the width of the bridge) are each 19 feet long by 5 inches wide; and there will be two joined in every five feet of the bridge-one to each suspender. The weight is 20 pounds per foot. Two iron trusses 10 feet high separate the foot road-ways, one on each side, from the carriage-ways; and flat-iron tracks, of accommodating width, are laid for wheels to run upon. The wrought-iron girders, 30 feet long and 12 inches wide, will run the entire length, under the middle of the bridge. The estimated total cost of this bridge is about $1,750,000.

The Connecticut River Bridge.-The Connecticut River Bridge, erected on the line of the New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield Railroad, where it crosses the Connecticut River, has been replaced by an iron bridge on the same line as the old wooden structure, without interrupting the traffic of the road. The difficulty of this undertaking will be appreciated, when it is considered that twenty-two regular trains, and from two to four extra trains, pass over the bridge daily, and mostly during working hours.

The new bridge was designed and erected under the direction of James Laurie, Esq. The iron work was contracted for by William Fairbairn & Co., and the London Engineering and Iron Ship-Building Company.

The several spans were constructed from the plans by the above firms, put together with bolts, and every part fitted and adjusted before being shipped. The rivet-holes were all drilled or punched, and such parts as could be permanently put together without being too cumbersome, were riveted by machinery.

In arranging the spans of the new bridge all the old piers and abutments were made use of, with the necessary alterations and additions to bring them up to the proper height for the new girders.

In the middle of each of the 177-feet spans across the river, with the exception of the middle or channel span, a new pier was built, like the old ones, so as to divide the seven river spans of the old bridge into twelve of 883 feet each, with one of 177 feet in the centre.

For convenience in building the new piers, a temporary track was laid inside the old bridge, supported by the lower chords, over which the stone for the lower part of the piers was hauled, and lowered to its place.

The general form of girder is that of a truss composed of rolled plate, angle and Tiron. The posts or compression bars are vertical, and the ties or tension bars are at an angle of about 45° with the chords, the several parts being all firmly riveted together.

There are three distinct varieties of this general form adopted for the different lengths of spans, by which the use of bars beyond a cer

tain size is avoided in the longer spans, as rolled bars of a much greater width than nine inches cannot be depended upon for such uniform strength and tenacity as the smaller bars. The difference consists in the arrangement of the tie bars. In the channel span of 177 feet, the ties cross three of the panels formed by the vertical posts; in the 140 feet and 883feet spans they cross two panels, while in the 763 feet span they cross but one panel.

When the ties cross three panels diagonally, as in the channel span, the truss partakes somewhat of the character of a lattice; and the principle is capable of being extended still farther for longer spans by making the ties cross four or more panels according to the length of the girder.

The work of erecting the bridge was commenced the last week in June, 1865, and progressed without interruption until the whole of the iron work was finished, on the 1st of February, 1866.

Before commencing the iron work of the several trusses, a series of blocks were laid across longitudinal timbers placed under the position to be occupied by each girder, for the purpose of supporting it during construction. These blocks were of the proper height to give the required camber to the girders, and were placed under each post. Upon these were first placed the plates of the lower chord, which were then riveted together in their proper places. Next, the posts were placed in position and riveted to the plates of the lower chord. The top chord was then put on, first the side plates and angle irons, then the horizontal plates and covers. After the plates were all riveted, the camber blocks upon which the girders were built were removed by striking the wedges upon which they rested, leaving the girders supported by the ends.

During the construction of the bridge, as soon as any part was finished and the track placed upon it, heavy trains, weighing about one ton to the foot, were run over it to test its safety. These loads were not so heavy as it was designed ultimately to subject the bridge to as a test, on account of the rest of the bridge, where the iron work was not completed, not being in a condition to bear the extra strain.

The channel span, however, was subjected to a severe test by loading it with railroad bars, in addition to a heavy train of four cars loaded with iron, with the engine and tender; in all, about 220 tons. This would be about 14 tons to the foot. With this load the deflection of the girders was 18 on one side, and on the other. When the load was removed there was a permanent deflection of only on one side and none on the other.

16

1 / 16

The Susquehanna Bridge.-This bridge, designed and executed under the direction of George A. Parker, Esq., is situated nearly one mile above the mouth of the Susquehanna River, and four miles below the head of navigation and tide-water, and has been built by the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Company, at an expense of nearly $2,000,000. The engineering difficulties involved in building it were, principally, the unusual depth of water, the unstable nature of the bottom at certain points, and the more than common violence of the ice freshets peculiar to its locality. It is composed of thirteen spans, seven of 250 feet 9 inches each in the clear, east of the draw, and five of nearly the same dimensions, west of the draw.

The draw span is 175 feet long in the clear. The whole length of the superstructure of the bridge, including the draw, from abutment to abutment, is 3,273 feet 9 inches. Its height is 25 feet, and its width 22 feet 6 inches.

The piers are all of solid granite masonry, sheathed from the bottom to the height of extreme high water (eleven feet above ordinary high water) with plate iron. The masonry above water is cut to joints of one-eighth of an inch, and where exposed to lateral pressure is clamped in the courses vertically and horizontally. At the top of the sheathing the piers are eight feet wide, and their sides batter to the bottom at the rate of five-eighths of an inch to the vertical foot. They terminate at each end in triangular starlings seven feet long on the top, which have a double sheathing of wrought iron. They do not project like the ordinary ploughshare-shaped ice-breakers of American bridges, but have a concave outline at their salient edge; not being exposed to the momentum of the ice-fields moving down long planes, this modification of the ordinary form seemed necessary; as these piers have only to meet, when subjected to their greatest strain, a steady crushing pressure, resistance to which cannot be much aided by any mechanical contrivance, but which must be met in the main by simple inertia and irrefragibility. An uncommon degree of inertia (proportioned to bulk) is given to these structures by their iron sheathing, and also by the extraordinary density of the stone of which they are composed; the latter being Port Deposit granite, weighing more than one hundred and sixty-five pounds to the cubic foot. They are 35 feet 4 inches long, and 7 feet 4 inches wide at the bridge seat. The draw pier is circular, 24 feet 8 inches in diameter at the top of the iron sheathing.

The abutments are of solid masonry of the same character as that of the piers, but not iron cased below the water line. Above high-water line they are hollow, and contain offices and appliances necessary for the uses of the bridge and the railroad. Their upper story is of iron, corresponding in architectural character with the covering of the superstructure, which they flank.