The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-26

remuneration for the injuries TO their commerce resulting
from putting up this bridge and destroying their habor.
Now sir il you intend to reaew this bridge by rebuild
ing It, or by building anothef you do the people OF that
city the injury OF which they already complain. And
think before the repair of the old bridge the building
Of another, soethng ought to be done in reference to
the feelings OF the people of that city; and that their in
teess ought TO be consulted before putting up another
structure 10 destroy the harbor in the river wish,
therefore. that the committee who have charge OF this
subject would inquire into the present condition OF our
relations In respect 70 aeogetown the injury heretofore
complained OF and what further injury they may receive
by the repair OF the old bridge and the building OF new
one.
There ID another thing. sir, that wish 10 suggest TO
the committee The Senate Ii seems from the sugges
lions OF the honorable chairman OF the committee that
this $4,000 only contemplated as temporary repair OF
the present BRIDGE to be used until some structure
can be built some place supersede that bridge alto
gether. Now, sir, should like very much 10 know what
VIII De The Probable cost OF this new structure II 1t is
to be built according 10 The paH which was suggested
some years ago. during the administration OF President
Jackson think it would amount 10 some two, three or
four millions Of dollars That was 10 be bridge con-
irncted OF arched stones, with suitable passes for the
water and for vessels do not ecollect the amounts
iimated, but il several millions OF dollars III that
cxpend,ues now obe made TO keep up the be,
tween the District and the Virginia Shores allow TO say
that the interest upon hall the money Invested in steam
boats, will carry passengers, and carriages and produce
OF every descriptions from shore to shore, with greater Ia
cllity IN bali the time, and at much less expense II
coat therefore, to influence matter oil this Sort wish
the consideration to be taken into view by the committee,
and some suggestions made upon the subject before we
expend any more money upon the present structure
Ii the present structure ID 10 be abandoned at all either
10 secure the habor at Georgetown. or for the purpose
OF ultimately abandoning it in favor OF another project
seems to that il would be rather premature 10 begin to
repair it at present would prefer carrying on the CON-
mnnlcaton by steam as at present. TO entering INTO
another expenditure OF SO small an amount. hope,
therefore, that shall postpone the addition oil this
amendment TO the BILL and let these matters be condered
and when the committee shall be ready give us inform
alton upon these points, can ole an amendment to
some other bill which may come up during the progress
| OF the session. HeH
| Mr.. SHIELDS. The committee confined themselves
| 10 the particular question which this amendment brings
before the Senate When this matter 10 which the hon.
orable senator refers comes under consideration, il will
then be the duty of the committee forward and
give the information he requires. Bat IN order 10 give
that information must employ competent persons TO
make surveys TO bring forward plans and 10 bring for
ward estimates. This we have not done. We have not
been authorized TO do it. We have engineers TO
compish at present The only thing that the commit
tee has thought OF has been TO place this bridge in pass
able condition, so that the INSTRUMENTATION between
the District OF Columbia and Virginia should not be per-
manenily broken up until we should agree upon some
new plan Whether we shall ever agree upon that plan
or not is moi certan and ii the plan Is agreed
upon, il we successful about that have been
about other things it is very likely that may be
thing should be done TO keep open the communication
while we considering what that plan and what that
structure shall be, where it shall be located. and what
will be the expense of it. la The mean time we want
some SORT OF communication between this District and
Virginia. felE t
The gentleman says that we may as well have steam
boats This Is the cheapest communication, far
can learn, which we can possibly have between this
District and Virginia. until we get up this new plan and
tion, tha, committee from Georgetown has this
morning, and they are perfectly satisfied that this bridge
should be placed r temporary condition OF repair. until
some other and permanent plan should be devised or a
communication between the District and Virginia. My
opinion is that il will be very expensive structure;
far as have been able TO ascertain By inquiry, il will be
so. II be such structure ought TO exist in this
capital, worthy OF the capital OF the naon should be
that should be passable BY railroad cars as well as
By carriages OF every description; and that will neces
sarily be very expensive In the time, as remark
ell before 400 only asked, TO provide communca-
ion until this plan is determined upon This does not
increase the mpedmenis OF the river On The contrary,
jus, leaves The river il IS until the whole structure
Is torn away and carried off and the river has been
dredged That cannot be done until you have new
structure completed and made passable.
| Nh. HALE. II seems 10 be admitted on all sides that
this structure is nuisance, and the only question is,
whether we shall contihue any material time longer.
hope not As TO the idea that are without any com
munication with Virginia, think the steamboat runs
now every fifteen minutes from here 10 Alexandra,
daring the day Besides that, i is suggested that the
| new bridge shall be built a, Georgetown. Well, sir,
there is good foo-brdge there now. on the viaduci,
where IL is said this bridge is 10 be located With that
bridge. and with steamboats, passing every fifteen
minutes between here and Alexandria II seems TO me
that with these two modes this bridge might well be
abandoned until a suitable bridge has been built
All that anybody asks is that this bridge shall be patched
up Everybody agrees that il is tempofary-o last only
little while The truth is that II you make this tempo
rary improvement will make the bridge permanent. Il
A ~ nutsaHCe great ufa OF Is
due to the suggestions OF the senator from Kentucky
think that while the sole legislators for the Dis.
\ irc, OF Columbia ought TO have regard for the
only city in the District OF Columbia excep, that in which
we now sre-l mean the city OF Georgetown. must
be manifest to every who will look at the river from
the bridge up, that has done great niary the nayga
bic capacities OF the river at Georgetown, and 10 their
harbor The consent which they have given TO the gov.
ernment stated by the chairman OF the commitieebe
senator from Illinois, Mr. SHIELDsl-is only TO the put
ting OF temporary structure, preparatory TO the build
ing of permanent structure.
| The permanent structure, ! take IL, cannot be any.
where expensive the senator from kentucky
would seem 10 suppose think that the splendid
| bridge in the world-the Wheeling bridge which the
/ Supreme Court have decided to be nuisance /; but
hope Congress will act court OF in that
the Wheeling bridge, learn cost only s200, ,O00a bridge
the Ohio river That statement is from the report
their memorial, and believe 1t is correct Now, If that
bridge cost but $500 900, have al Georgetown
"a wire suspension bndge) with span OF three to six
hundred feet for fraction OF the suggested by
The having been estimated years ago
do hope that we shall not continue this nuisance any
longer. t.N .sI3
/ MIR SHIELDS Then we ought to make an appro
priaon TO take away this bridge altogether We ought
either 10 repair and make 1t passabe, or we ought TO
make appropriation TO clear up the river at once and
that will take much larger appropriation than that
asked for put 10 senators, they are disposed 10
tear away this old bridge before shall have deter.
mined upon the building of one whether IL is not
wiser and better, until that thing is determined upon not
10 act in this sometimes do IN others, precip
lately; but TO make this bridge passable and then lake
time to consider and agree upon plan Tor a new
structure. we are ever to make such new structure.
/ Mr.. BADGER. think II ~ well for the Senate TO
IN ha shed