Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Wyndfire
Taken: August 1, 2015
Caption: Architecture of the Bridge Marker
Additional Description: Iron and steel truss bridges gained popularity after the American Civil War during the expansion of railroads across the country. With bigger and heavier trains, these structures were much sturdier than their timber-frame predecessors. When Chaves County decided to build a sturdy, dependable bridge across the Pecos River in 1902, they benefited from several decades of advances in bridge building techniques, materials, and scientific approaches. By then a number of Midwestern companies had emerged to fill a growing need for railroad and highway bridges. Rather than build something on their own, Chaves County looked to these companies for advice. The design recommended and built by the Midland Bridge Company of Kansas City was one of several standard types of the day - a Pratt Through-Truss (patented by Thomas and Caleb Pratt in 1844). In this type, all the diagonal structures (except for the end ones) slant downward toward the middle of the bridge. These trusses support the weight of the bridge and traffic. Through-truss means the deck is at the bottom of the truss system, so traffic passes "through" the trusses when crossing. (Text is repeated in Spanish on the second half of the plaque.)
Submitted: October 17, 2015, by Jennifer W. of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Database Locator Identification Number: p333979
File Size: 8.155 Megabytes

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