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Maramec Bridge, Thomas H. Millsaps

Professional Degree Theses

"Bridge-building, as a science, is comparatively of recent date, for relating to now, of what may be called ancient bridges, do we read of them having been mathematical calculations, determining the strains upon the constituent parts of the bridge structure. This very necessary operation seems to have been entirely omitted. This was, probably, because to that time, there had been no thoroughly scientific investigation, of the new and beautiful subject of scientific bridge-building. At the present time, we determine with a minuteness the strain thrown upon any part of a bridge. We are thus enabled to give the proper dimensions …