National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
house; in August, from the cottage to North Avenue and between the Stable and the concrete
bridges; in September on the Creek Road and the Service Road; and finally, in November, from
the lower entrance to the stable bridge. 1099 The ledgers also document a payment to J. Myers
and Son on November 9, 1898 for "Building 27 catch basins and laying tile from lower entrance
to stable bridge on Creek road and around semi-circle at lower entrance." The Historians'
Research Notes File includes a quote from November 24, 1899 that "Mr. Frederick W.
Vanderbilt is improving his farm by having built through it some fine roads and driveways." 1100
The Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier reported on the construction of the subway during 1906. The
subway led from the north end of the main drive and went due east under the Albany Post Road
to the farm and was meant for teamsters and delivery wagons. 1101 The other main alteration was
the completion of the circle of the main drive in 1916. 1102
BRIDGES
The two bridges of greatest interest on the Vanderbilt estate are the White Bridge and
the Rustic Bridge, both of which cross Crum Elbow Creek at a distance of about 600 yards from
one another. An 1898 article in Engineering News reveals that both bridges are of Melan Arch
design, instead of just the White Bridge as is commonly understood. 1103 The article details the
construction of the two bridges and may answer some unresolved questions. For example, the
article states:
Mr. Vanderbilt, after extended investigation, finally selected the Melan system of concretesteel
arch construction, not only on account of its lower cost with equal permanence as
compared with voussoir stone arches, but also because of the ready adaptation of this style of
construction to the varying architectural treatment required in different locations. 1104
This quote not only underscores Vanderbilt's involvement in the plans for the
estate's development, but also his cost-consciousness. An 1894 article in the Railroad
Gazette that served to validate the safety and advantages of the Melan system upon its
introduction to the United States, stressed the cost savings gained by using bent I-beams as
opposed to other bridge building materials such as brick with cement mortar, concrete, and
concrete and wire netting (Monier method). 1105
The advantages listed included the lack of maintenance due to concrete's ability to
preserve iron (steel) from rust; no vibrations and low noise levels; ability to withstand
tornadoes and high water; a solid appearance that can have different architectural
treatments; and cheap construction wherever sand and gravel are available. Whereas it
would be gratifying to think that Vanderbilt was led to the Melan system as a result of his
interest in innovative technological solutions, the cost savings seems to have been a more
compelling factor. This would be in line with decisions made elsewhere in the estate such
1099
Hyde Park Estate Ledger, 1898.
1100
Historian's Research Notes File, 359. Source: "Braman's Scrap Book," vol. 5, 83-5.
1101
Historian's Research Notes File, 988. Source: Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier, May 27, 1906.
1102
O'Donnell, et al,, 113.
1103
"Two Recent Melan Arch Bridges," Engineering News 40 (November 10, 1898): 290-1.
1104
"Two Recent Bridges," 290.
1105
"Concrete and Iron Arches," The Railroad Gazette (April 18, 1894): 262-3.
195