NEW BRIDGE FOR THE FALLS – THE UPPER BRIDGE WILL GO

The Wreck at Lewiston Will be Replaced by the Upper Suspension Bridge for Electric Cars-To Make a Complete Belt

[Welland Tribune, 4 June 1897]

Niagara Falls, May 27-Though it has been quite generally known for a long time that the days of the upper suspension bridge, which spans the gorge near Prospect Park and is used for carriages and foot passengers, were numbered, and that the bridge company had even gone so far as to build the massive foundations of masonry for a proposed new steel arch bridge to replace it, there was considerable surprise here today when it leaked out that the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge company’s officers were holding a secret session at the Hotel Lafayette at the Canadian end of the bridge, and were opening bids for the construction of the proposed steel arch.

At the meeting were representatives of the various bridge building companies, and among them were those from the Buffalo Bridge & Iron Works and the Pennsylvania Steel Company, the latter concern being the builders of the arch bridge, now nearing completion that replaces the old railway suspension bridge at the north end.

Four weeks ago the company’s officers quietly called for bids for the construction of the new bridge, for which plans had been drawn some time ago, and the date fixed for opening the bids were at that time fixed on Thursday, May 27, at the Lafayette hotel. The officers met at 11 o’clock this morning and continued in session for several hours, going over details carefully and adjourning only for a brief period for luncheon.

When one of them was asked for the result of the meeting he answered that the contract would not be awarded today, and then gave the reason for keeping the matter quiet by saying: “It was known that the building of a new bridge on the plans prepared would involve a large expenditure of money and it was the fear that the bids would all be too high to warrant the company is going ahead with the project that made it desirable to keep the matter quiet for the present.”

From the remarks of the Bridge Company officials after the morning session, however, it is reasonably certain that the figures submitted will be very satisfactory and that it was practically certain the work would be proceeded with.

In regard to the proposed new bridge, much has already published, and from the plans it is certain that the structure will be a magnificent one. It will be built on different lines from the arch bridge for the Railway Suspension Bridge Company, in that the arch will be built on the parabolic principle, and the structure will undoubtedly be one of the greatest engineering feats of the year.

Under the provisions of the contract the new bridge must be completed by April 1, 1898, and this appears to be taken as an indication that the actual construction will begin early in the fall, though the first of it will not interfere with the traffic of the present bridge to any serious extent.

When the new bridge is completed many changes will take place in its vicinity on both sides, which will be necessary to meet the larger demand upon it.

The plans provide for a double track electric railroad, and ample room for a carriageway and also for foot passengers. The trolley track will, it is said, connect the trolley railroads on both sides of the river and an interchangeable service will be inaugurated that will mean much for tourists as well as for the community here.

The sole object of this enterprise is to connect the Gorge railroad and the Canadian Park and River railroad at Lewiston and again here at the new arch bridge, forming a belt a electric cars that will carry passengers along the top of the gorge on the Canadian side and along the bottom of the gorge on the American side.

It is understood that the new bridge will be built on a higher grade than the present structure and thus avoid the steep decent now necessary to reach the entrance from the river way in front of Prospect park.