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SCHERZER ROLLING LIFT BRIDGES The great value, economy and importance of transporta- tion by water has never before been brought so forcibly to the attention of the ee ert the merchant, the warehouse man, the shipper and the real estate or prop- erty owner as at the present time of enormously expand- ing internal and foreign com- merce. It is realized that the railroad systems, owing to their inherent restrictions and limitations, are far from adequate to meet the de- mands: of (all classes: of transportation. Vessel trans- portation is and will neces- sarily ever continue to be the most economical mode of transport; as vessels can be constructed in all sizes to meet the requirements of the special transportation interests to be served, whether it be t00 tons or 30,000 tons or even greater vessel capacity. Such large and varied units moving virtually without friction upon water are clearly impossible on wagon-roads or on railroads. A vessel is not confined to a number of comparatively short routes, as is the case with the railroad, but has a virtually limitless number of routes at tts Service pro- vided by: the great oceans of the world combined with the many bays, rivers, inlets and canals to penetrate the interior. The rivers, inlets and canals are becoming of greater importance and value each day, as they form the connecting channels by which vessels can reach the commercial and _ industrial centers located in the in- terior, enabling vessels to obtain and also distribute their cargoes without delay or expensive rehandling. These and will necessarily ever increase in importance and value with the growth of population. as great internal connecting public highways. It is there- fore essential not only that these rivers and waterways be improved, but that no artificial obstructions be placed in them which will destroy 'This. "is hamper or usefulness. true, even though at present time the commerce may not be large, impair, their as no one can predict what | the demands of the future | will be. A river of moderate width | of channel can economically } and safely carry more ton- nage than a ten or twenty- track railroad. It is conse- TAE Marine REVIEW HIG. 1, aed OLD CENTER PIER SWING BRIDGE AT UNION STREET, BROOKLYN. lift bridge. 17 quently very essential in order to preserve and increase the prosperity of any community that its water trans- portation facilities be protected and improved, as vessels, unlike railroads, are free and unrestricted and go quickly to the community furnishing the best facilities. The marvelous growth of the city of Greater New York is principally due to its splendid natural facilities afforded for water transpor- tation, yet its growing com- merce would rapidly halt and decline were it to delay or neglect in furnishing the most improved and modern facilities for the accommo- dation of its vessel traffic. | Among these improvements is that of removing all ob- structive center. pier swing bridges from navigable chan- nels and the substitution therefor of the most modern type of movable bridge known as the Scherzer rolling The center pier swing bridge has always been objectionable to navigation interests because this type of bridge is ee by'a large pier combined with the | existing | FPIG.:+2, FIG. internal waterways must They are indispensable 3- SCHERZER ROLLING LIFT BRIDGE AT UNION STREET, BROOKLYN, CLOSED. gate, A mie 7% SCHERZER ROLLING LIFT BRIDGE AT THIRD STREET, BROOKLYN, OPEN. a long and wide protection pier which occupy and ob- struct the middle and best part of the waterway, divid- ing the channel into two in- adequate side channels where one wide adequate center channel is desired. This difficulty is overcome by using the modern Scher- zer rolling lift bridge, which is supported on piers placed on the sides of the channel and when opened moves in a vertical direction leaving the channel free and unob- structed for .the passage of vessels. It also has the ad- vantage of .moving more rapidly when opened and also forming an effective bridge guard and signal absolutely preventing accidents common to swing bridges when open such as vehicles and pedestrians falling into the open draw. The Scherzer rolling lit bridge, owing to improve- ments and development caused by its very extensive use, also has the advantage of being more economical in cost of construction than a center pier swing bridge of similar capacity. In this | issue we are enabled to pre- sent to our readers some illustrations . showing four Scherzer rolling lift bridges recently constructed to take the place of four obstructive center pier swing bridges across Gowanus canal, Brooklyn. The new bridges are located at Hamilton ave- nue, Third. street, Ninth street and Union street.