The daily union., 1852-09-01

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calculated 10 pocfaslnate the period when another and
more suitable bridge shall be built at the right point
think, Mr. President, the time has when here
the capital of the nation the TWO great thorough
| of the counry--the North and the South-shouId be
united by railroad communication. We now have a
space OF about sixty miles between the temini Of the
eastern and southern line OF road have in my hand a
correspondence between the mayor and common council
OF Georgetown, and MIR Elicit engineer OF much rep
utaon showing that Tor $4,000 iron bridge suitable
for all the ordinary travel OF the country be
sructed the Potomac point called the Three
Rocks or Sisters and that for $4,000 bridge can
be constructed, sufficient TO cross railroad cars one
side, and the ordinary travel OF the cony on the other
Mr. SHIELDS. VIII the senator from Indiana allow
me 10 say single word
Mr. BRIGHT. Certainly.
Mr.. SHIELDS. Has Mr. Elicit said that he has ex-
amined these sites, and that that is his estimate II that
is so should like to know it. am told that i bridge
Of either kind named by the senator from Indiana is TO
be erected the granite foundations will cost 100000
A SENATOR Al what point
J. Mr.. SHIELDS. AL the point known as the " Three
Sisters" The estimate for the foundation alone will be
$500 900 would like 10 know il The amount named by
the senator from Indiana is the estimate made BY that
Mr.. BRIGHT will send the correspondence to the
Secretary Il be read. and will answ fully the in
quiry OF the senator from Illinois, and in manner not 10
Several SENATORS Oh. no; state the contents
Mr. BRIGHT. do not wish 10 occupy the time Of the
Senate IN reading these papers II senators do not wish 10
lMr SHIELDS, that Mr. Elicit does say that for the sum
Of $l5D.Ooo bridge be erected sufficient capacity
| Tor the purposes have named.
/ Mr. PRATT have no doubt OF it.
| MIR. BRIGHT. The senator from Maryland who is
conversan with the facts, (havng been al lime
iden in this yicniiy says he has doubt OF il, MOI
have heard any doubt it who knows the locality
and all the facts. do not know that have very
mathematical eye ! have looked over the ground and,
sl5oooo viii put up work that will answer the wants
OF the public. and be an honor to the District
Mr.. GEYER. Il is admitted on all hands that this
bridge is nuisance, and dangerous and preudicia 10
the health peODlp both the Dia-
| trict
MIR. BRADBURY. Not at all.
Mr.. GEYER. IL is so, in consequence of the obsruc-
ton TO the flow OF water and the exposure OF large
deposte OF mud at low stages OF the in the river
There IS also another objection which has not been ad-
yered TO by gentlemen who have addressed the Senate.
When floods occur the passage for the water either
en OF the causeway is TOO narrow, and the consequence
IS that very considerable rise takes place above the
bridge believe has been several feet higher above
the bridge than it has been below.
Mr.. BADGER. The difference four feet during
the last food
Mr.. GEYER The senator from North Carolina [Mr
BADsERl informs me that the difference in the height
OF the water above and below the bridge last spring
four feet The result is. that the water thus banked up
enters the canal and floods the whole OF the lle val
ley on the south side OF The This is very
rlous evil, and may be Of frequent occurrence But it
rose TO address the Senate My principal object is to
call the attention OF The Senate to the fact that egs
laing here for people placed under disabilities by their
positions and in that legislation should take care that
we do not nJure them further than necessary TO sub
serve the public interests. We have erected nuisance
which has proved injurious the health of the ihhab
ants OF both cites-the old and the Part OF that
nuisance has been swept away by flood and the ques
ton before the Senate is whether that nuisance
should be continued permanently-for it is admitted by
gentlemen who advocate this appropriation that, at no
very distant day, il must be remoyed-but whether it
| shall be continued for some time longerl
Then, submit 10 the Senate that il this bridge is a
nusanceif II is breach OF our duty TO continue there
permanently, il is also breach OF duty 10 permit it TO re-
main for one hour tshoud be removed for that
II ought also TO be removed on the principle by which
we provide Tor the removal OF distractions from the ha
Dor OF Savannah those distractions having been placed
there, II is said, by the government OF the United States
Exactly those distractions may have answered the
purposes OF the government in OF war; and for the
purpose OF preventing the approach of enemy, we may
look forward 10 the probability that this nuisance may
at some day promote the same object OF the govern.
meht; but would such argument be sufficient 10 in
duce senators tomaintan there when II is papable that
u dangerous 10 the health of the present generation
II is maintained at ALL II will be maintained for fifteen
or twenty years, until such time as the next food
comes, and carries away a portion of il and the
same Arguments will be presented then presented
now, iof the purpose OF retaining /, temporarily
ask, have right to infct injury on the present
generation Have right 10 expose those who are
our wards, aad who have no power themselves 10 act
on the subject to the evils which that bridge causes
place this matter the ground OF justice, and affirm that
there y an obligation on the part OF the government, OF the
United States to remove that structure, as they have
placed IT there. shall support iben-as the utility OF
The bridge is BY correspondent, 10 its evls-he
proposition OF the senator from North Carolina for the
OIL OF the bridge,
firmly convinced that lis retention will prove most iniu
rious 10 the health OF the present generalion.
| Mr.. HUN TER. | have wish or design to protract
this discussion but do not admit that this nuisance
am not satisfied that il is II were, would vote for
removing IL bat think that we ought TO take more
time 10 consider this question. rise, not for the purpose
OF making any remarks on the subject but simply to
ask that we may have a vote. The hour that we have
expended in debating this question is worth more TO the
country than the $4,000 which is proposed TO appro-
PIRATE.
Mr.. PRATT. ask for the yeas and nays
| The yeas and nays were ordered.
tTo Br cosTIsuED1