3-074-608 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

New bridge over the Aar, at Berne, Switzerland, 1883. 'A high-level bridge, crossing the river Aar, and connecting the existing town of Berne (the capital of Switzerland) with the district known as the Kirchenfeld-Lindenfeld, was opened, with much ceremony...The land thus connected with the old town of Berne has been acquired by an English company. It comprises about two hundred acres, and commands magnificent views of the Bernese Oberland. The site is laid out for building purposes, and is shown to the right hand in our View of the new bridge, which has been constructed for the "Berne Land Company" of London, at a cost of £50,000, by Messrs. G. Ott and Co., engineers, of Berne. It crosses the river at a height of 128 ft.; the length of the bridge is 754 ft.; and its width, 44ft. 6 in. The Company has also expended £12,000 in laying out the ground of Kirchenfeld-Lindenfeld, making fine roads and promenades, and planting avenues of trees. Sir Charles Clifford, Chairman of the Company, and Messrs. W. S. Grahame and Philip Vanderbylt, Directors, formally handed over the custody of the new bridge to the Burgomaster and civic authorises of Berne'. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.