South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 17 May 1879, page 3


MUNICIPAL.

OPENING OF THE ALBERT BRIDGE.

The handsome new bridge which spans the river Torrens near the site of the old Frome Bridge, and has been named after the late

Prince Albert, was formally opened at noon on

Wednesday, May 7, by the Mayoress (Mrs. Buik), in the presence of a large assemblage of leading citizens. The bridge is an iron erection with the exception of the abutments, which are of stone, the lower part from the ground line to the plinth course being from Mr. Bundey's quarry at Teatree Golly, while the piers, panels, and coping composing the superstructure are of Sydney freestone. The bridge has a total length of 120 feet between the abutments, and is composed of three spans — that in the centre being 60 feet, and those at the ends 30 feet each. The total width ia 42 feet between the handrails, divided into a carriageway of 30 feet and two footpaths of six feet. The bridge has the appearance of an arched structure, but in reality it consists of continuous girders through-out, of which those over the central opening balance the side spans, which act as cantilevers. By this arrangement no weight is thrown upon the abutments, as wonld have been the case had an ordinary form of construction been adopted. The bridge has been erected under the super-intendence of Mr. Langdon, the City Surveyor, by the contractors, Messrs. Daviea & Wishart, the contract price being £7,550. There have been some extras, however, which have brought the actual cost of the bridge up to £9,000. The design was chosen by the City Council in an open competition, the successful competitor being Mr. John H. Grainger, who is to be complimented upon the handsome bridge which is now com-pleted. The opening ceremony was a very simple affair. The bridge was gaily decorated with flags and banners, and a couple of arches of evergreens spanned the roadway. ln the centre of the stracture a temporary plat-form had been erected, and here the Mayor and Mayoress, members of the Govern-ment, and the City Corporation stood while the bridge was being formally named and declared open for traffic. The Mayor arrived in his carriage immediately after the time-gun had indicated the hour, and he was soon afterwards followed by a string of vehicles containing most of those who were anxious to see the ceremony, Among these were the Chief Secretary (Hon. W. Morgan), the Commissioner of Public Works (Hon. G. C. Hawker), the Commissiorer of Crown Lands (Hon. T. Playford), Messrs. Townsend, Fowler, and Fraser, M.P.'s, Colonel Downes and Major Godwin, Mr. R. C. Patterson, Assistant Engineer ; the mem-bers of the Corporation ; Mr. Langdon, the City Surveyor ; and several ex-members of the Corporation and other gentlemen inte-rested in the erection of a third bridge between North and South Adelaide. After the company had taken up their positions on and around the platform, the Mayor an-nounced that his wife had been asked to formally open the bridge. Mrs. Buik then stepped forward, and after breaking the bottle of wine in the orthodox fashion, formally named the structure ' The Albert Bridge,' and declared it open for traffic. After some remarks by the M»yor, cheers were given for the Mayoress, the Parliament, and the Mayor, and the ceremonies ended. Subsequently about seventy gentlemen at-tended the Town Hall at the invitation of the Mayor, and partook of luncheon. A number of toasts were proposed and replied to, amongst the speakers being the Chief Secretary. No reference was made to poli-tical matters, but Mr Morgan said that although politics were excluded — and rightly so, too — he thought he would be allowed to mention two or three matters of Ministerial action that affected the City of Ade-laide. (Hear, hear.) The first was the drainage of the city. (Hear, hear.) Every day showed the importance' of this work and the necessity for some action being taken with the least possible delay. The Government were care-fully considering the plans and arrangements, and he hoped that by the first of July, they would be able to call for tenders for making the main drain towards the sea. (Cheers.) The Government intended to have the work carried out with concrete and not with bricks, so as to give employment to the large number of work-ing men who were out of employment at the present time. He understood that these men were chiefly of the labouring classes and not artisans. And more than that, if the Govern-ment still found that a number of workmen were unemployed they wonld undertake to start more works to employ them. It had been said on various occasions that in consequence of a little hitch in the monetary arrangements of the Government a great many public works would not be carried out. The citizens of Ade-laide might rest assured, however, that as soon as the plans could be matured the drainige works would be carried out. (Applause.) Another thing that would be attended to was the boring of an artesian well in the neighbour-hood of Adelaide, as requested by an influential deputation which waited on the Government a few days ago. The Government were endea-vouring to have trial borings made near Ade-laide—probably iu the 'Waterworks yard, as that would be as good a place as any in the Adelaide plains. As soon ss proper machinery could be obtained, whether in this colony or elsewhere — and the Government; had already sent home for some — they would begin the ex-periment. (Applause.) He thanked the com-pany for the way in which the toast had been received, and in conclusion he asked them to excuse him for having adverted to these two or three matters of general interest. (Applause.) Drainage of the City. Tenders will be called for the construction of about five miles of the main sewer for the drainage of the city iu a few days, as it is intended to commence the work on July 1.