Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-13
POTOMAC BRIDGE.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday,
Mr.. MERCER obtained leave to report from
the Committee on Roads and Canals bill to
construct Bridge over the Potomac River op-
posite the City of Washington.
Mr. McKENNAN, in the absence of Mr.. CHM,
Chairman of the Committee on the District of
Columbia, moved that the bill be committed to
that Committee. He observed, in support ofthe
motion, that this Improvement had originated
with the Committee on the District; and, in con-
sequence of their action in relation to it. con-
tract had been made by the President or his
Secretary, for the building of the bridge How
the Committee on Roads and Canals obtained
urisdic ton ofthe subject he could not conceive;
and, therefore, wished it restored to the Com
mittee to which it originally belonged.
Mr. MERCER replied, that no member OF the
House could be less disposed to trench on the
rights which, either by courtesy, orby the rules
of the House, belonged to any Committee OF the
House; and the Committee on the District was
certainly one of the last to which he would viii
hngIy offer any indignty. The grounds on
which the Committee on Roads and Canals had
proceeded in reporting this bill, would be found
in communication from the President OF the
United States to the House, in which he had an
nounced that contract had been commenced,
but not consummated, for the construction of
this work. According to the provisions of that
contract, upon the plan adopted, the bridge
would probably cost from three to five millions
of dollars. While the Committee on Roads and
Canals were apportioning the sums to be apph-
ed to different works oflnternal Improvements,
to be reported on by them, they could not pre-
termit this subject, as the sum to be expended on
il formed a necessary element in their cacula-
tons. The Committee believed it proper to re-
duce the expenditure of this work from three
millions or five millions to $4,000, for which
sum every important object in regard to the
bridge would be effected. He had this morning
received a letter from a highly respectable
source urging him to prompt action, which would
be necessary to save the Treasury from SO large
a draft upon it, should the contract be cOmplet-
ed.
Mr. McKENNAN said that he entertained
great respect for the Committee on Roads and
Canals; but, as the measure had originated with
the District Committee, and no objection had at
that time been made by the other Committee to
their having the subject under their cognizance,
he saw no reason why it should not remain
where it took its origin.
Mr. MCkENNAN then went on to give brief
history Of the course of proceeding from the
commencement of this undertaking.
Mr. MERCER followed, with counter state
ment but the particulars of both were too i'm
perfectly heard to be correctly given. Among
-other things, he said, one of his objects was to
save the District OF Columbia from being charg-
ed with the expenditure ofso large an amount
Of money for single object, which could be SO
much more usefully distributed among several
objects. Mr.. NJ. again adverted to the vast ex-
pense Of carrying the plan approved by the Elk
eCutive into effect, and said that there was no
where in the whole world, from China to the
western extremity of Europe, such structure
as this must be, if completed on that plan. 1t
was the opinion of highly distinguished and
experienced Engineer in the employ of Govern
ment, that it would cost five millions of dollars.
No contract had yet been made for it; whatever
had passed was merely verbal.
Mr.. CHINN, now in his place, supported the
motion of Mr.. McKENNAN; and while he pur
posely RETAINED from expressing any opinion as
to the present or any other plan ofthe work, or
as to the necessity or propriety of the work in
any form, insisted that the subject most obvious
ly pertained to the District Committee, &c.
Onmotion of Mr.. MANN, of New York, the
subject was laid over,