Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-05


PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
March 18th, 1882.
PETER LExox. and Others,
Members Of the Joint Committee
Of the corporation Of Washington.
GENTLEMEN: had the honor to re, eve your
request for information relative to the importance
of preserving the Potomac bridge at this city,
and the disadvantage of changing its location to
a point above the ciiy, in the transportation Of
the mails by this Department.
There are three mails a day, each way, pass.
ins between Washington city and Alexandria
During the running of steamboats,, the largest Of
these is conveyed by water; the other two are
carried by land while the bridge is passable. 1t
is highly important that neither mail shall ever
exceed one hour in running between the two
places.
The distance between the Post Office in this
place and the market house in Alexandra. is Us.
certained, BY measurement, to be SIR miles and
eighty eight hundredths of a mile. The distance
by the Georgetown ferry, and the contemplated
turnpike FROM that point to Alexandra, has not
been precisely ascertaned; but is estimated at
Ten miles, and certainly 1t does not vary much
from that distance.
From the bridge to Alexandria there is an eI.
ceIlent turnpike road, giving facility fora certain
expedition throughout the year. From George
tow n, the road 10 Alexandra is bad during the
winter. &can never be passed with the same expe-
dtlon as that byway of the bridge. During the sum-
mer son,two Of the mails. usual NAV be trans
ported with sufficient expedition without bridge;
but during the winter, the greatest possible means
of expedition are requisite; and should brloss
be built at Georgetown, the mail will never De
carried over it, when the river can be ferrled al inc
old bridge, or passed by cutting through the zee;
or by crossing on the ice. 1t will be recolFetea
that the main mail, containing all the mails from
the northern cities of the Union, passes to me
sou tn daily, and repasses from the southern clues
to the north, in like manner, at this point
The increased expense of the Department oa'
ring the last winter. for want Of tire bridge On
not vet been ascertained The contractor ~s
directed. at whatever sacrifice or expense, con-
yey the mail both ways. within the time requrt'I
with an assurance that the extra expense sho1''
be defraved From the energy with when
has obeyed the direction, and the certain exPen"
which is known to have been incurred, Ills
Iieyed that the want ct the bridge will have oe'.
stoned loss to the Department OF nearly, " w.
more than $4,000 already. This. 1t will DE- r
ceived, would not have been obviated by ofOsJi
at Georgetown; as the increased distance ""un
have totally defeated the object, 50 tar as me w.
nection of the mails each day is considered. n.
calculation of the pro rata expense, tor tne III,
creased distance, would be Of little moment ~,
increased expedition required to gain that o''a
at season Of the year when the greatest p"S,,
exertions are necessary topreServe the eo" ;%sr,.
ion with the ordinary distance, IS the co''u
ton which will render the expense enormous nor.
From these facts, Congress will at o'e es, an
ceve. if not already apprized OF 1t, the na, po
Importance of securing passage across u. .I oer
tomac, directly from this city, by safe S"0 r
manent bridge. ,,- ,n,
have the hoaor to be, very respectfully you
0bedient servant, ,.pRy.
(Signed, w. l. D
sThe mere increase of distance, IN tran,Yt
ing one mail, at three miles per day, eae" "'
el96 miles increase per annun.