The daily union., 1852-09-01
MONDAY, AUGUST 80. 1852.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC BILL.


tves max ing appropriations for the civil and diplomatic
expenses of the government for the year ending 3Oth
June. 1853. and for other puposes,lhe question pend
ing beipg on the motion OF MIR. BADGER 10 amend tie
amendment of the Committee on Finance proposing TO
appropriate ls 900 for repairs of the Potomac BRIDGE
by striking out the word repairs and inserting the
removal of the emains, so TO make the clause read
For the removal Of the remains of the Potomac bridge,
SlS, 600" #H
Mr. SHIELDS. Mr.. President, the honorable sena-
tor from North Carolina Mr., BADGERl having made
some remarks in relation this subject the other day
that might affect the vote the amendment feel II 10
be my duty say few words by way OF reply. have
desire at this stage Of the session. to consume time
upon this subject; but | regret very much that we
cannot 60 inlot more fully and when that subject
shall come fairly up, and shall be fully before the
Senate, shall be prepared. think. TO go into it in
manner that may change or modify, in some respects,
the opinion of my honorable friend from North Caro-
lima. will simply state, at this time, that in 1888
this subject was thoroughly investigated, and the best
and that plan was then approved by Gen Jackson, al,
that time President Of the United States. for bridge
across the Potomac That plan was defeated, and this
bridge substituted for the plan then proposed; and
although this bridge has not answered the purpose be-
cause was not such one as any engineer ever recon-
ernmen, by the President. by any engneer-slil, |
think that my honorable friend charges the poor bridge
with great deal more than sjusty chageabe TO it. has
been charged with dvertng the channel, and as being
the OF fever and ague, yellow fever the cholera,
and on, and also with running the trade OF George
town. Well, sir, dare say all these things have oc
Z,
have been the OF them. II was said in England
that the Tenderden steepe the cause OF the
ation at the Goodwin Sands because the very year that
the sleepe built was the time when the sand began
to accumulate; and the sand has continued TO accumu
late since the seepe was built that the accumu
ation chargeabe TO the building of the steeple
Laughter Upon the same ground il may be true that
this the lever and cholera and on and the ruin
ing of the trade of Georgetown are concurrent phe.
nomena bu, DO not know that they can properly be
made -chargeable 10 the bridge
The subject was thoroughly investigated, as said,
in 1888. The Committee for the District of Columbia
have been engaged lately in investigating it Colonel
kearney, OF our best engineers, and Colonel Trum
BULL who sulerntended the construction of the aqueduct
al Georgeown-an engineer perhaps equal TO any not
only in this country but W that work be any evidence
of his capabS OF the best engineers in the world
have been before We have had the advice and the
aid OF these gentlemen in our investigations of this sub
ect and, said before when the proper time arrives,
myself, and the other members of the committee who
have had this assistance will be prepared 60 into the
subject The question arises now where are we TO have
communication across the Potomac? Every one
agrees that there ought 10 be communication,
whether at the old locality or al locality at George
town or elsewhere, we cannot yet precisely determine
1t is too large subject TO go into at this time
These engineers all agree that whether reconstruct
the bridge the old site, bridge Masons
island at the Three Sisters the aqueduct, the
pair OF this bridge is OF the first steps the
plishment OF that oblecta temporary one is So
much that the heretofore that when the bridge
about 10 be built formerly. in 1882 1885, the gov
eminent purchased the old bridge then existing order
TO make of as service bridge, until the bridge then
proposed was completed. hope that will remove the
objection OF my honorable friend from North Carolina
will not go into the question whether ought TO
construct bridge at the present locality, should build
at Masons island, at the Three Sisters beyond
Georgetown; but when The time for the nveslga-
on OF that subject shall be ready go into it, and give
all the information that have collected the subject
But what we now want as my colleague the Commit.
Tee for the District OF Columbia stated the other day is
mere temporary repair of the present bridge. For that
purpose would suggest the senator from Virginia tha,
the amount proposed IN the amendment OF the committee
is too large The engineers 10 WHOM refer gave us all
the necessary information, and from everything which
we could learn, we thought that $4,000 would be suhi.
Gent.
Mr.. HUNTER. am willing to agree 10 that
| Mr.. SHIELDS Since we came TO that conclu-
sion we have asceraned that there other re.
pairs TO be made, which will make the whole amount
| cessary TO be appropriated about SIS 900
| Mr.. HUNTER 1t will be necessary for tho senator
to move that amendment the amendment for the re.
pair OF The bridge is reported from the Committee on FL
nance, and cannot be modified without vote OF the Sen.
ate. shall vote, however, for amendment like that
suggested by the senator from Illinois
The PRESIDENT The amendment cannot be offered
unul The amendment oil the senator from North Carolina
Mr.. MASON. Mr.. President, the necessity of having
way TO communicate between the District and the Yir-
gnia shorenot for the convenience OF the people of
the neshborhood alone but for the convenience of the
whole coun,ry-s manifest Congress has undertake en-,
by purchasing the bridge many years ago. TO make that
way, and keep up. II would seem to to devolve,
as matter OF duty, on )ngress, whatever ultimate de.
signs tmay have 10 furnish the repairs necessary TO keep
Tue DIuge across me fotonac whether The appfopra-
| uon should be $4,000 or SO. 900 DO not know.
| What the senator from North Carolina has in view
strikes me object that must be attained one OF
these days by Congress. ! presume there be no
question that, from toe in which the present
bridge has been constructed il has done serious injury 10
the town OF Georgetown. Ii is not only by causing the
flats in the rive resulting from the depos,e from above
that bas impaired the health OF the opposite part OF the
city OF Washington, but II has obstruced the channel
as 10 do very injury the commercial interests OF
Georgetown As viii be manifest TO the eye OF the OBJ.
tha
channel IS what is called the csuseway-a brick sruc-
ure which has not been injured by the late shet That
potnon OF the bridge remains, and there IL will remain
until shall be removed The proposition TO repair the
bridge is one that does not interfere with any ultimate
question as TO the mode OF reconsructing H. or whether
mere should be change 10 the site II seems TO me that
me repair ndspen'aby necessary for the convenience
OF the people oil The county; and Congress is com
mtted to do IT, because by purchasing the bridge orie.
| nslly, il incurred obligation 10 keep il up
Nr. BRODHEAD. II seems TO me that there is one
question apperainng 10 this subject which has not vet
been suggested In 1893, when Inc site was first sn
vey ed aud when The bulge erected both shores Of
the Potomac within the District OF Columbia Since
that time the territory the other side OF the Potomac
has been rehoceded 10 the State OF Virginia Now
what right has Congress, without the consent OF Vr.
gna to erect or repair any bridge The Potomac
he western shore OF that river within the jurisdiction
OF Virginia II the Congress OF the United States has
no jurisdiction over the subject, and ought to have
me consent OF Virginia before touch H. enter.
tam views on this subject similar TO those which were
expressed the other day by the senator from North Car
ohna think II we do anything all we ought to re
move the present nuisance
Mt BRIGHT MIR President the honorable sena.
tor IRON Pennsylvania has anticipated me on point
4 nj IN ma be ap1 u a. !.