Eads Bridge--论文代写范文精选

51due论文代写网精选代写范文：“Eads_Bridge”    在十九世纪后期,商人认识到连接东圣路易斯的意义，建一座桥横跨密西西比河。到了1860年代,铁路是一个可靠的旅客和货物运输方式，而一座桥将给铁路、车和行人过河的一个便捷途径，一座桥将会减少时间上的延误，将进一步使投资者的资本增加。

Eads Bridge Even as steamboats plied the waters of the Mississippi River off the shore of East St. Louis during the latter part of the nineteenth century, businessmen recognized the value of connecting East St. Louis and St. Louis by a bridge spanning the Mississippi. As early as the 1820s, the promise of railroads offered land transportation free from the limits of America's great rivers. By the 1860s railroads proved to be a reliable means for transporting passengers and cargo. Entrepreneurs on both sides of the Mississippi understood that a bridge would give railroads, carts, and pedestrians an easy way to cross the river. 

A bridge would reduce delays for moving freight westward then caused by the need to stop trains in East St. Louis and transport goods across the river by ferry. A bridge would further the capital growth these investors had already placed in the American Bottom region. A bridge was the next step to securing St. Louis as permanent transportation point between the East Coast and the expanding west. The great St. Louis Bridge across the Mississippi, was designed by Capt. James B. Eads. The bridge was constructed from 1869 to 1874 at a cost of $10,000,000. It consists of three steel spans resting on massive limestone piers. The center span is 520 feet long, the other two each 502 feet. The total length of the bridge is 2070 yards. The highest part of the arches is 55 feet above the water (Huntington p 252). This is more than just a bridge to the residents of the St. Louis and East St. Louis areas. This is a little piece of our state history. Since our town has been deemed the gateway to the west this bridge made it a staple on the map for years to come. This was the innovation that changed our city from a strong steamboat city to one that could be reached by train. A little piece of our history was taken away when the last vehicle passed over it in 1974. My parents said that it was a sad time but there was a new landmark in town that took its place and that was the Gateway Arch. 

But it was not quite twenty years later when the Eads bridge was again open for traffic; but of a different kind. The Metro-Link would pass over the bridge and thus it once more had a use. In 1999, a five foot wide path was opened on the bridge so that pedestrians and bicyclists could use the bridge at their leisure. Everyone that visits Laclede’s Landing in Downtown St. Louis cannot help but notice this wonderful work of local art. The bricks are yellow and stained from years of the raging Mississippi River waters running past its supports. There are many distinguishable lines on the brick and concrete supports where the water level stayed for a while and then lowered again. Almost like the rings on a tree that give away its age. Every line telling a story from the years past, but not knowing the next year’s future. Every time I look at this bridge, I cannot help to think what it was like in the time it was constructed. This employed many men from the local community for five strong years. 

Did they realize at the time that they were creating a wonderful enhancement to the city’s commerce and travel' Did they know that this would become a St. Louis landmark for years to come' I think people that lived in the area and that worked within sight of the construction, enjoyed watching this structure come to life. The same way that people watched the arch construction from a distance. St. Louis has a rich and wonderful history and many of its residents are well informed about it. But there are many times that this bridge is over looked. I think it is because this is not one of the main things that people remember as a vital part of our community anymore.

True, it is not as glamorous as the Golden Gate Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge but the Eads Bridge is no less important to its users. To get complete experience of the Eads Bridge I rode the Metro Link across the Mississippi to Illinois. On my way back across I could not help but wonder what the first few train operators thought when crossing this bridge. In today’s world we take bridges for granted. Almost everyone uses a bridge every day if they utilize a car. But what did the first travelers think of our bridge' Did they trust it' Or did they actually realize the time and money they were saving from unloading onto a ferryboat. 

Did they admire the splendor of the Mississippi River' Did they think that it would still be used much less standing in the year 2003' What I do know is that this piece of useful art has with stood the test of time and has made it this far and we still have a use for her. Where will the Eads Bridge be on its two-hundredth birthday' Will this masterpiece of brick and iron make it to 2074' Who really is to say' There is always the possibility that it will start to crumble to the waters and the best thing to do is erect something new and flashy. That this old staple of our community will out live its usefulness and rail transport will once again be our main for of locomotion. 

Then someone else will create a new work of art. And then when the new bridge is well over one hundred years old, some college student can look at it, admire it, and possibly write a paper about it for a class. The same things will be said about this post Eads Bridge. People will wonder how we ever lived with out it and what remarkable things it did for the city of St. Louis and its surrounding areas. Hopefully it too can be a landmark of the St. Louis but still never forgetting its legendary predecessor. -X

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