February 19, 2009

Bridges from Algeria

The city of Constantine situated in the north of Algeria is characterized by a particular geography. Based on a huge rock separated in its middle by the Rhummel River, it conceals numerous bridges that were built to connect both parts of the city. As well their particular aspect, these bridges are real art works.

The bridge of Sidi M'cid (10,00 Dinars): named also the suspension bridge, it was conceived the French engineer, Ferdinand Arnaudin. Inagurated on April 19th, 1912 in aim to connect the Kasbah to the new hospital and to the War Memorial, it was constructed in iron and cast, measuring 164 meters long and dominating the Rhummel River on 175 meters above the stream. Wide of 5 meters 70, it bears the load of 17 tons. Down from Sidi M'cid, the sight is wonderful and extended far off towards the gorges of the city and the Hamma valey.

The bridge of Sidi Rached (15,00 Dinars): The works of constructing this bridge were lauched in 1907 by Boisnier, a specialist of the big bridges. The bridge of Sidi Rached is a huge and impressive accumulation of rock wrapping the south of the city. Established on 27 arc of dressed stone among which a principal arc of 70 meters of opening and 105 meters high, it was during its building one of the biggest stony bridges in the world. Measuring 447 meters long and 12 meters wide, it allows to lie the city centre with the district of the station and gives access to the road going out southward. With its ornamental construction, the bridge of Sidi Rached symbolized majestically the city on postcards.

El Kantara Bridge (20.00 Dinars): The bridge named El Kantara constitutes the main access road to the city. During the year 1185 all the bridges built by the Roman were destroyed, however, only the bridge of El Katara was reconditioned. In 1304, the same bridge was demolished again to be restored in 1792. Further to the passage of an infantry detachment, El Kantara collapsed on March 18th, 1857. But it was reconstructed in 1864 to connect the old rock city, as Constantine was called, and the national street to the road of Mansourah. The bridge of El Kantara was a bow of cast iron measuring 128 meters in length and raised 125 meters upright and dominating the Rhummel valey.

The bridge of the Medersa (38.00 Dinars): this bridge built between 1917 and 1925 is reserved to the pedestrians. It measures 125 meters of lenght and 2 meters 40 of wide. It connects the district of the station with the city centre via the flight of the stairs or the elvator of the Medersa (school) situated in the middle road of the bridge of Sidi Rached and that of El Kantara. The bridge of the Medersa, ex Perregaux, named at present the bridge Mellah Slimane, reflects the technique of suspension bridges and it is a model of Sidi M'cid Bridge. During the year 2002, this bridge was subjected to a big operation of refubishment.

Stamp Issue: 2008-11-26

February 5, 2009

Casimir Gzowski - Capex 78

Sir Casimir Gzowski was the first chairman of the Commission for the establishment of the Queen Victoria Falls Park, forerunner of the present Niagara Parks Commission. During his eight years charmanship (1885-1893), he was largely responsible for the original planning of the famed Niagara Parks System we enjoy today.

Sir Casimir also engineered the construction of the International Railway Bridge across the Niagara River, linking Fort Erie with Buffalo (1870-1873), considered to be one the North American continent up to that time.

Gzowski was born March 5, 1813, in St. Petersburg, Russia, of Polish parentage. He was exiled to the United States in 1833 for his part in the Warsow rebelion against Russia. In 1838 he became both a lawyer and a U.S. citizien; married Maria Beebe the next year. In 1841 he settled in Toronto as an engineer in the Canadian Department of Public Works and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1846. He engineered the construction of the Great Western Railroad from Toronto to Sarnia.

Gzowski was made a Colonel and Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria in 1879 and was knighted in 1890. He died in Toronto, Ontario, August 24, 1898, aged 85 years.

Stamp Issue: 1978-06-06
bl. 58, fdc 2413