GIRDER

a beam of steel or iron; resting on supports at either end and bearing a load which may be concentrated at one or more points, or distributed throughout its unsupported length; most general application of girders is in connection with steel or iron bridges of which they form chief component parts. They are also largely employed to Carry floors and superincumbent walls of high modern buildings, and generally speaking to form horizontal weight-bearing members in every variety of steel and iron structure. 59’ E.), town, on Nile, Upper Egypt; has very ancient R. ©. monastery; town (ancient Agrigentum), Sicily; bp.’s see, cathedral; sulphur mines fn vicinity. Pap. 28,000. village and fort; on _rivey Helmund, Afghanistan.