Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/245

 ucli is and to be the longest wooden draw in existence used lor railway purposes, its length being 260 feet The bridge was constructed in 1 866. and was practically rebuflt in 1910. The draw, known as the Double Howe Truss Sunng Draw, was operated first by hand power, but now it is operated by an electric motor. In connection with this bridge it is interesting to note that it bdongs to that branch of the Southern Pacific rail¥fay ¥rhich was the first to extend to the Oregon Sea Coast. Originally it was called the IX^lamette Vall^ and Coast Rail¥ray, then it was knovnn as the Oregon Pacific, then as the Oregon & Eastern, dien as die Corvallis & Eastern, until it became a part of the Southem Pacific system. The road was projected by T. Egenton Hogg associated vnth New York and English capitalists, as the beginning of a transcontinental railway system with river steamboats, ocean liners, and lateral railroads as feeders. The railway bridge at Albany was built as a part of one of die biggest American undertakings; and it is possible that in the course of time it may fulfill the fondest dreams of its promoters.