The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-17
THE POTOMAC BRIDGE.

THE POTOMAC BRIDGE.
As Congress at its last session appropriated
$50, 900 for the repair of the Potomac Bridge
the question is frequently asked by our citizens
of the District, why does not the Secretary of
War order the work to be concluded In an
swering this question, we propose to accomplish
three objects, viz; to quiet the impotence Of
the inquirers, to vindicate, if it were necessary,
the Secretary Of War, and to call the attention
of Congress to the subject.
The answer, is, that upon an examination by
a competent Engineer, it was found that plan
ofbuilding within the appropriation would be too
defective for any thing but temporary pur-
poses, and it was deemed advisable to adopt a
more approved but more expensive plan, and
defer the construction of it, until Congress
should convene and make the necessary add-
tional appropriation.
In the course of his remarks upon the subject,
the Secretary of War in his report at the begin
ing of the session, said; 4.....
"From the statements contained in the report of
Major Turnbul it is obvious that the repairs, if done
upon the plan which formed the basis of the estimate
upon which the appropriation made, could not
stand through single of freshet and ice. The
question then presented, whether it proper to
commence the repairs upon the only plan which pro-
missed the requisite strength and durability but the
of which would ia, exceed the appropriation made
by Congress, and which, 1t known to the depart
ment supposed to be ample for the object wait
the sanction Of that body at the approaching session
The great convenience and importance of the bridge
at this point, and the strong interest felt by the c
Of this District that the repairs should not be de-
layed urged the immediate commencement of the work,
while its questionable propety under the prospect of
immediate session of Congress, decided the Depart
ment to postpone further operations until that body
should have opportunity of acting upon the subject
The utility and Importance of this bridge not only TO
the citizens this City and District butt the carrying
public mail and the Southern travel at the
Of the year when the river is INSTRUCTED by ice,
are generally felt and acknowledged, that need
| say no more to recommend the additional appropra-
ton required; that the sanction of Congress be
given in other foim at early day of the
son to the making of the necessary repairs upon the
only safe and durable plan which presents ITSELF"
The original plan of the bridge was that of a
solid causeway over the shoal parts of the river,
and a system of pile work over the channel ways.
This was always considered defective, and the
result proved it was so. The whole force of the
current was turned into the channel on the Vir-
ginia shore, and to restore the bridge on the
plan would be "merely to place it there to be
swept off by the next freshet." But the plan pro-
posed by Major Turnbull is ga trussed bridge,
designed by Col. Long, supported upol pieces of
framed timber, filled in with rubble stone, usual
ly called crib-lrork, arranged as follows: Two
large pieces, twenty feet in thickness in the
channel way, sc feet apart in the clear, for the
| support of the draw for the passage Of vessels,
and five smaller piers, Is feet in thickness and
100 feet apart, each pier to be provided with an
| ice breaker" a 49,.
The estimate to repair, according to the plan
of original construction, is $50 7Ss
The existing appropriation is 10000
But the following is the estimate of the cos,
of the plan proposed:
Cost of two large piers for support of
draw 1881
Cost of FIVE small piers at $2,672, each 1882
s35 running feet of dressed superstruc-
ture, including the right to use it 1870
&c feet draw, including machinery, &c. 1900
Add for contingencies 2,1s1
$45,sos
This is about $4,000 more than the original
| estimate for rapairs accordino IN tho or;rin 81