RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Palmer C. Rickett, director.

TROY, N. Y. Oct 13/00.
Dictated

Theodore Cooper, C. E.,
#35 Broadway, New York City.
Dear Sir
Your favor if Oct 11 received and in reply would say that if convenient for you I will come to your 
office Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock.
The method of strengthening this bridge is in general as follows: two new arches will be added
to each side truss and four to the center.  New floor beams will be suspended from the arches - 
one between each of the present beams and extending outside on one side far enough to support
the sidewalk.  Teh present lower wind bracing which runs from the floorbeams and crossing
under the center truss will be removed and new double bracing sunstituted running from the
bottom of the posts of the center truss to those of the side trusses.
The overhead horizontal cross beams running

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Palmer C. Rickett, director.

TROY, N. Y. 
Dictated
from the top of the top chords of the side trusses and notching into the posts of the center
truss will then be removed and new 10x12 beams put in but will run from the top chord of the
center truss down to that of the side trusses.  (Wind bracing will be put in between these beams
(there is none now).
Knee braces will run from the posts to the overhead beams, which wthey will strike just over
the center of the roadway.  Arches will run from the posts to the floorbeams.
We followed  this construction in our experiments with the model which showed an increased
strength of 50 percent.
I might say that the United Traction Co - Mr Eluathan Sweet Eng;r figure the strength of the
present structure as being able to carry a load of 60 lbs per square foot.
I regret not being able to send blueprints with this which might be somewhat more explanatory
but have just returned to the city and could have more printed.
Yours truly,
T.R. Lawson