The Eads (dz) Bridge spans the Mississippi River and connects St. Louis, Missouri, with East St. Louis, Illinois. At the time it was built, it was one of the largest steel constructions the world had known. It is made up of three main arches. The central span is 515 feet long; the other two main spans on either side of the central one are each 497 feet long. The bridge is built with high arches so that large river steamboats can pass beneath it. You can judge how high the bridge is from the water, by looking at the funnels of the steamboat lying just below it. The steel work is supported on stone piers. These rest on steel supports driven through the mud to the bedrock of the river. Some of these supports are 120 feet long. The bridge cost over $10,000,000. It has sections for railways to pass over it; it has driveways for vehicles, and walks for foot passengers. The construction of this wonderful bridge was due largely to the genius of Captain James B. Eads. People made fun of him when he proposed to bridge the Mississippi River with steel arches, but he began the work, nevertheless, and completed the bridge as you see it in 1874. Later he constructed jetties that deepened the mouth of the river. St. Louis is the fourth city in size in the United States. It has a population of nearly three-quarters of a million. It is one of our largest market cities. Thirty railroads lead into it. It is a center for the buying of mules, horses, lumber, and fur. Large river steamers put in at its wharves so that it has a heavy river traffic. Name two other important bridges that you know about in the United States. Why is St. Louis an important center of commerce? What large cities are on the Mississippi above St. Louis? Below St. Louis? Keystone ID: 9518 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.