Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-17


svnedient. the new platform and the piles,
which will sustain it, few feet above the form
or so as to allow greater unobstructed space
for the water and floating ice to pass under the
bridge.
Your Committee. in recommendation of this
plan for repairing and improving the old bridge,
beg leave to add that at least 80, 600 dollars OF
the proposed expenditure will be of permanent
value, because the embarkment will be conpos-
ed of understandable materials; and that, II the
residue of the new work, supposing it to cost the
total remainder, or 100000, be earned away
as the bridge has been, once In twenty-five
wears the total loss of this capital, added to an
nual repairs. ascertained by experience, on
much longer structure of wood would not De
equivalent to five per cent. for single year, on
the probable cost of such bridge, as the pro-
posals of O. H. Dibbe contemplate.
Gone objection to the Recommendation OF the
Committee remains to be answered. 1t is, that
sncb bridge as they propose, if carried away,
as experience warrants the expectation, once IN
twenty-five years, will occasion, as olten very
serious inconvenience, until the bridge is repair
ed or reconstructed"
Several answers occur to this objection; but
one NAV suffice The United States have AREA
dy appropriated 100000 in aid OF the EFFORTS OF
the Alexandria Canal Company to construct an
aoueduct bridge across the Potomac, lmme-
diately at Georgetown. The distance between
this aoueduct and the Washington bridge, over
the same river, will not exceed two and hall
miles, or at most three miles; and II the en-
bankment, abutments, and piers, OF the aque-
duct the trunk Of which is designed to be OF
wood. be so heightened as to admit of their sup
porting a wooden bridge, or road way, along
side of the aqueduct, such bridge or road way
might be thrown across the river, above any
possible injury from freshets or ice, because it
might be lifted up, the aqueduct must be, ftlll
80 feet above the ordinary tide of the Potomac
The cost of such structure, added TO the
$40 600 proposed to be applied to the renewal
and Improvement of the Washington bridge,
could not both together, exceed that OF an arch
ed bridge of wood on stone PIERS at w aShlng-
ton, (E5 and would undoubtedly ensure per-
manent communication across the Potomac, cal
culated, on the temporary failure OF the Wash
ington bridge, to delay the mail of the United
States for less than single hour; except on the
very improbable supposition, that both bridges
NAV be out Of use at the same time.
Another consideration pleads for this improve
mant. The Washington bridge could not be
dispensed with A turnpike road, running south
west originally designed to be extended through
the centre of Virginia, and thence towards
Tennessee, cOuntenanced by Mr. JeHerson
for this object, turns off from the Alexandra
turnpike, at the distance Of half mile from the
Washington bridge, and intersects the great
Western turnpike, leading from Alexandria, by
Warrenton to Charlottesville, and through Ash
bv's and Smokers Gaps of the Blue Ridge to
Winchester and the valleys of the Shenandoah
and Ohio This diagonal road, as well as the
Alexandria turnpike, would be valueless with
out the Washington bridge, which is, moreover,
one great channel of intercourse tor the supply,
from the opposite shore, OF the market OF wash
ington.
In relation to Georgetown, it cannot fail TO be
observed, that, if it have not a fair claim to De
placed by free Bridge, across the Potomac, on
the same footing with Washington, 1t would be
much benefited by such facility OF intercourse
with the former shore and territory OF Virginia.
II is opposite to Georgetown, that the ten
miles square, over which Congress exercise eX-
elusive jurisdiction runs farthest into the State
of Virginia and a connection effected from the
South abutment of the Alexandria Aqueduct
between Georgetown and Fairfax Court House,
or Providence, a town erected on the great Yves
tern and Southwestern Turnpikes Immediately
below their separation, would place Georgetown
as near at least to that point, as AleXandrla; so
that. in case of any accident to the Washington
Bridge suspending its use, the distance to the
Southwest and West from the General Post OF
flee. by those lines of communication, would not
be augmented.
1t is probable, Also that for many years to
come. if not for ever the Washington and
Georgetown Bridges, constructed in the man
ner here proposed would meet all the demands
of pubhc convenience; and ditfuse universal
contentment throughout the District Of Coum-
bia, and the country which finds on the Potomac
its most convenient market.
The Committee are not charged with any
other duty in relation 10 the chief object of their
report, than that which they will have perform
ed by reporting the annexed bill But that du-
ty would have been imperfectly discharged, had
they not fortified the measure which they pro-
pose, by suggesting the means of obviating the
only objection which they can anticipate to the
plan which they have submitted for the construc-
ton of the Washington Bridge, and the limita-
II is proper to add, that majority of one, of
the Committee, did not concur in the propriety
of making part of this report of so much of the
argument contained in it as relates to the sug-
gestion of constructing bridge at Georgetown,
alongside of the Alexandra Aqueduct.
AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY.