The National Bureau of Standards received, in August 1940, a number ofsamples of bridge wire taken from thecables of the General U. S. Grant suspensionbridge over the Ohio River at Portsmouth,Ohio. These cables were 71/8 in. indiameter under the wrapping and each wasmade up of 1458 ungalvanized wires ofNo. 8 gage in 3 parallel-wire strands. Thechoice of ungalvanized wire was basedon the previous satisfactory performanceof similar wires in other bridges overperiods of 20 to 50 yr. of service(i).