Article ID: CBB125925319

The River Was Wiser Than the Engineer: Adaptation and Innovation in Bridging the Missouri, 1867-69 (1995)

unapi

In 1867 the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad sent young Octave Chanute to erect the first span across the turbulent Missouri River. The site selected was the frontier community of Kansas City. Chanute, later assisted by neophyte George Morison, had to adapt to conditions. They chose a caisson design first used at Kehl. Their adaptations included relocating pier sites due to scour as well as patenting an endless dredge system. For the superstructure, Chanute and assistant Joseph Tomlinson devised a hybrid. The fixed spans were double triangular trellis, while the pivot span was identical to the contemporary CBQ bridge across the Mississippi at Quincy. The bridge proved integral to the economic boom for the region and helped both Chanute and Morison establish eminent careers.

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Authors & Contributors
Kemp, Emory L.
Darnell, Victor C.
Short, Simine
Gray Fitzsimons
Eric DeLony
Frances C. Robb
Concepts
Industrial archaeology
Bridges
Design
Railroads
Civil engineering
Bridges--Design and construction
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
20th century, late
18th century
Places
United States
Minneapolis, MN
Rhode Island (U.S.)
Seattle (Washington, U.S.)
Mississippi River (North America)
Iowa (U.S.)
Institutions
William Sellers
Raleigh and Gaston Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record
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