THE MICHIGAN DAILY

SATURDAY, MAR01 7, 194"

Mackinac Straits Bridge Proposal
MayBe Scrapped, Cissel Predicts

_..

ASSOCIATED
POHCT U R E

PRESS
NEWS

By CHARLES THATCHER 7
Plans for the projected bridge to,
connect the two peninsulas of Mich-
igan at the Straits of Mackinac willa
undoubtedly be forgotten until after
the war, according to Prof. James H.
Cissel of the civil engineering de-
partment, but even then major de-l
sign changes will be necessary ifa
Michigan is to avoid the misfortune
which overtook the Tacoma BridgeI
when it collapsed last year.
Patterned after the Tacoma design,
itself a liberal departure from pre-a
viously accepted safety ratios, Straits1
Bridge plans are even more radical,1
and in view of the Tacoma collapse1
it will be impossible to use present
plans for the Straits Bridge, he con-1
tends.t
Construction Continues t

Bridge would boast one of 4,600 feet,
400 feet longer than the present rec-
ord, the Golden Gate Bridge in San
Francisco.
But that's where the trouble be-
gins. Chief factor in the rigidity of
a bridge is its torsional stiffness,
Professor Cissel points out, for it
has been proven that the Tacoma
Bridge gave way under rotational
stress rather than the more obvious
lateral sway.
Can Be Controlled
Control over this factor can be
maintained by careful regulation of
the ratio of width to length, and the
formerly accepted safe ratio was one
to 35. As other means were found to
stiffen the structure, however-by
heavier and stiffer materials-bridge
designers felt they were being too
conservative, and "they took a
chance."
That chance, a ratio of one to 72
in the case of the Tacoma Bridge,
proved quite disastrous; and yet the
still-unchanged plans for the Straits
Bridge call for a width to length ratio
of one to 92!
"Those plans will have to be al-
tered," Professor Cissel maintains,
"and it is even probable that no other
bridges of that type will be even con-
templated until some means is found
for further increasing the stiffness."

with its ratio of one to 48 has shown
a slight tendency to oscillate like the
Tacoma structure.
"Stiffening trusses were used to
stop oscillating motion as early as
1800," Professor Cissel noted, "and
auxiliary trusses followed close be-
hind. Now, however, we must find
something new or give up the de-
sign."
The Tacoma Bridge, the first ma-
jor bridge failure in 90 years, actually
withstood wind velocities in excess of
the one which finished it, Professor
Cissel reported. "Often the vibra-
tions are counteracting and the ef-
fect is not so noticeable."
Stood Strong Winds
Even so, a light breeze was known
to have caused the bridge to rise and
fall at least 40 inches on one occa-
sion, enough for people to hear, feel
and even see it.
Professor Cissel lays the blame for
the collapse to overly-rapid prog-
ress. "Things just went so rapidly
that no one had time to study the
effects. The Detroit Ambassador
Bridge with its 1850-foot span and
the New York George Washington
Bridge span of 3500 feet set the pace
about ten years ago."
Present Straits Bridge plans call
for a 50-foot width across the Straits,
whereas a width of 131 feet is called
for if the original safety ratio is to
be observed. The roadway on this
50-foot width would be 33 feet wide.

Meanwhile, work is going ahead on
the construction of a mile-long em-
bankment at St. Ignace, which, when
completed and put into use as a ferry
dock, will cut the present one-hour
crossing time to 40 minutes and per-
mit a 30 percent increase in ca-
pacity.
Under present plans, this embank-
ment will eventually become the
causeway leading to the north end
of the bridge, which is to span the
four miles across to Mackinaw City.
Intended to contain the longest
single span in the world, the Straits

Now the slenderest bridge in the
world, even the Golden Gate Bridge

liip ~- - -- -i

4oi0

CHURCH

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W H IT E S A IL S D E S P IT E W A R C L O U D S--Trim craft from many parts of the Pacific coast tune up for the annual
Southern California midwinter regatta off Los Angeles-Long Beach harbor. In left foreground is the Altamar, at right the Trade Wind.

DIRECTORY

EVANGELICAL STUDENTS' LEAGUE
Rev. Leonard Verduin, Pastor.
Michigan League Chapel
Sunday, March 8, 1942.
10:30 A.M. "Jesus Mocked in the Pretorium"--
(Matthew 27:27f)
7:30 P.M. "Therefore the World Knoweth Us
Not"-(1 John 3:1)
In keeping with the policy of this chapcl an
attempt will be made to give the Word of God
the right of way in these services.
FIRST CHURCH .OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
409 S. Division St.
Wednesday evening services at 7:30.
Sunday morning services at 10:30.
Subject: "Man".
Sunday School at 11:45.
Free Public Reading Room at 106 East Washing-
ton Street, open every day except Sundays
and holidays from .11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.,
Saturdays until 9 p.m.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
512 East Huron
C. H. Loucks, Minister
Mrs. Gail Orcutt, Associate Student Counselor
10:00 A.M. The Church at Study.
Student Classes in Guild Ticus .
11:00 A.M. The Church at Worship.
Sermon: "Intelligent Christians".
6:30 P.M. Roger Williams Guild. Prof. Howard
McCluskey will speak on the subject "What
Is Man?"
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Washtenaw
William P. Lemon, D.D., Minister
Mark W. Bills, Director of Music
Franklin Mitchell, Organist
9:30 A.M. Church School, Classes for all age
groups. Mr. and Mrs. Class meets in Piggott
Parlor.
10:45 A.M. Morning Worship. "The Present Vic-
tory," sermon by Dr. Lemon.
10:45 A.M. Nursery during morning worship.
6:00 P.M. Tuxis Society will meet for devotion
led by Martha Peet. A discussion based on
previous Sunday night lectures will be given
by Jean MacKaye.
6:00 P.M. Sunday Evening Club will have a
supper meeting in the Rutsel Parlor.
7:15 P.M. Westminister Student Guild wor-
ship service in the Lewis-Vance Parlors.
Professor- C. B. Vibbert will speak- on "Phil-
osophy and Religion." Refreshments will be
served at the close of the meeting.
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH
State Street between Washington and Huiron
Ministers: Charles W. Brashares and
J. Edward Lantz
Music: Hardin Van Deursen, director
Mary Porter Gwin, organist
8:30 A.M. Second Annual Methodist Breakfast
for faculty and students, Michigan Union,
Bishop Raymond J. Wade. Prof. John L.
Brunm, D.. Charles W. Brashares, and Betty
Rae Hileman, '42, will be the speakers.
10:40 A.M. Church School for Nursery, Begin-
ners, and Primary Departments. 'Young
children may be left in these departments
during worship service.
10:40 A.M. Worship Service. Dr. Brashares' sub-
ject is "Beyond 'Must'".
11-M P.M. Wesvan Guld meeting for Univer-

BETHLEHEM CHURCH.
(Evangelical and Reformed)
423 South Fourth Avenue,
Theodore Schmale, Pastor.
9:00 A.M. Service in German.
9:30 A.M. Church School.
10:30 A.M. Morning Worship.
Sermon topic: "Blunt Axes".
6:00 P.M. Student Guild.
7:00 P.M. Young People's League.
Wednesday, 7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Lenten Service.
Sermon topic: "The Jesus of Our Redemp'
tlio. (4) The Compassionate Jesus.
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Place of meeting: Second floor, Y.M.C.A.
Building, 110 N. Fourth Ave.
10:00 A.M. Scripture study. Lesson theme: "Dis-
covering Why People Drink Beverage Al-
cohol."
11:00 A.M. Morning Worship. Garvin M. Toms,
minister, will preach on the subject: "Not
Forsaking the Assembling."
7:30 P.M. Evening preaching service. The ser-
mon entitled "Baptism - A Command of
the Lord" will be the first in a series on
"Christian Baptism."
Wednesday, March 11-
7:30 P.M. Midweek Bible Study. Lesson text:
Matthew 7: 24-29. Everyone is cordially
welcome at all services.
LUTHERAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION
sponsored jointly by
Zion and Trinity Lutheran Churches
Zion Lutheran Church,
E. Washington St. at S. Fifth Ave.
10 :30 A.M. Church Worship Service. Sermon,
"Jesus, our Perfect High Priest" by Mr. Cle-
nient Shoemaker.
Trinity Lutheran Church,
E. William St. at S. Fifth Ave.
10:30 A.M. Church Worship Service. Sermon,
"Christ and The Cross in the Crises of Life-
When Sin would divide our hearts."
Lutheran Student Association,
Zion Lutheran Parish Hall, 309 E. Washington
4:30 P.M. A Cappella Choir Practice.
5:30 P.M. Association Meeting with Supper.
6:45 P.M. Forum hour with Erik O. Lissell of
the Faculty of Engineering speaking on "The
LutheranChurch and its contribution to the
social, economic and political life of Sweden."
ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Division at Catherine
The Rev. Henry Lewis, D.D., Rector.
The Rev. Frederick W. Leech, Student
Chaplain
The Rev. John G. Dahl, Curate
George Faxon, Organist and Choirmias tel.
13:00 A.M. Holy Communion.
9:00 A.M. Parish Communion Breakfast, Harris
Hall.
10:00 A.M. High School Class.
11:00' A.M. Kindergarten, Harris 11all.
11:00 A.M. Junior Church.
11:00 A.M. Morning Prayer and Sermon by the
Rev. Herman R. Page, Chaplain at Fort Ben-
jamin Harrison, Indiana.
4:00 P.M. H-Square Club Meeting, Harris Hall.
5:00 P.M. Confirmation Class.
6:30 P.M. Choral Evensong.
COLLEGE WORK PROGRAM
Sunday. 7:30 P.M. Episcopal Student Guild

WEDS BAND LEADER-
Elizabeth Jane Kern (above),
daughter of songwriter Jerome
Kern, was married at Yuma,
Ariz., to orchestra leader Artie
Shaw.

L E S S 0 N I N D E F E N S E-Usual games are forgotten in this Pacific Northwest spot where an
anti-aircraft range-finder has moved into the schoolyard, to great delight of these boys.

FIRST TO LAND -master
Sergeant D. Mann .(above) of
Council Bluffs, Iowa, was the
first man in the ranks to land
in Northern Ireland with a new
contingent of Yanks.

AEF REINFORCEMENTS LAND IN NORTHERN IRELAND-Laden with their fighting
equipment and duffel, soldiers of the second conti ngent of the American Expeditionary Force disem-
bark at a port in Northern Ireland. The picture w as radioed from London to New York.

1111


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