Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-04
l. o C AL 1T Il VI ).

Appropriation BILL making an appropriation
OF $4,000 for repairs to the Long Bridge
Navy Yard. and Upper bridges, was long
one Mr.. Brown opposed any appropriation
to the Long Bridge. Mr.. Hunter said the
effect Of letting the bridge 90 down would be
to break up the connection, and leave US to a
ierriage over the river; and that at time,
too, when through ticket has been estab-
lshed in order to accommodate the whole
line Of travel from New York to New Or.
leans.
Mr. Mason said that Congress having
taken this bridge out OF the hapds Of the orr
ginal owners, who were citizens Of Washing
ton, and having come under at least an I'M
piled faith to keep up this communication,
to destroy it at once without substituting
something in it's place, would be want OF
faith on the part of the Government.
MIR. Brown said:-"There is a company
urging the right TO cross this very bridge
with railroad cars; sm opposed to it. |
have no objection to see them cross bridge
above the point Of navigation. That is only
about quarter or half mile above George
town where piers have already been erected,
over which bridge can be constructed at
comparatively little cost. No enc now would
struggle to keep the Governments hands on
this bridge, if it was not bis settled determI-
nation sooner or later u force railroad pas
| sage across there AT the CXgense OF the Gov
ernment, for there is 10 railroad company on
Gods earth that ever will construct railroad
/ a.. ~ hat q
bridge can be built at the point above George
town, for less than one million dOiiars; and
the estimate for bridge at the site OF the
Long Bridge, is largely over three million
dollars. ! know what this will result In. IN
the end. know why it is so pertinacious-
" insisted upon. 1t is. ultimately, to force
a railroad bridge across at the site VI the pre-
sent Long Bridge. Apart from that, there
is nothing in the question"
Mr.. Green locke upon this bridge as one
Of the greatest conveniences for Washington,
in supplying its markets, dc. 30 lar as
am concerned, | think IL ought TO be keptnp.
| have no prejudices to u sorgetown. 1t they
want a bridge there, 1t can be made; and If
proportiopate aid ought be given to George
town to make bridge, let it be done. 1t Is
a convenience to the city OF Washington; 1t
is q convenience to the travelling pubhc; 1t
is a convenience to the citizens OF Virginia;
and it affords u good supply to the mar
ket of the city of Washington. l should
very much dislike TO see the bridge destroyed.
On the score of health, ! think 1t very late
period TO rise here and make objection that
il. bv its obstruction OF the channel, has ger
Grated a miasma detrimental to the EXecu-
tive mansion. do not suppose that the 10
salubrity of the Executive MANSION will cause
any body to decline being President. Laugh,
ter. The incumbent can 90 to the ooidiers
Home, or some other point to recuperate. IL
YOU fail to keep up the repairs, the very point
Of this bridge at which 1t Is pretended the
accumulation Of the sediment has caused the
miasmatic Influence, is where there Is per
manent embankment in the centre OF the
stream. If you intend to remove thatlt will
cost you Sl0,00OOOO.
MIR. Fessenden said The debates that
took Mace heretofore exhibited two points
10 the first place that this was bridge TO De
kept at the expense Of Georgetown, and at
the expense of the salubrlty OF the upper
norton of this city, for the purpose OF ac-
cummodating some farmers over In Virginia,
and for the great purpose OF accommodating
q railroad, by having cCunecuOus across the
river That is the simple explanation 81 II.
We had that fight here at the last Congress
Those rails were laid down year or two ago
without our remission, and contrary to our
sugpestion. We absolutely refused TO allow
them to cross the city, and they were lad
down by the permission OF the corporation
of Washington, alter the vote taken 10 the
Senate, and thew remain there still, Tor they
have never been taken up. The idea is not
abandoned. 1t is kept up to this day, and
will be kept up, and do not know that any
vote VI can pass here will convince them that
thew cannot carry it, either directly or indi-
rectly, some time or other
After the repeated expressions of opinion
on the part of the Senate, by so large vote
as we have had, am really surprised that
this matter should be again urged. 1t only
shows the extreme pertinaciry OF corpora
tions. | do not feel disposed to 90 over the
subject again. do not feel disposed to pun
ish Georget any longer, or To punish our
selves and the city by keeping ~ this bridge
for the sake of affoIding facilities to this
railroad corporation. l wish simply to say
il ia no argument to my mind because the
Government chose upon the solicitation oil
o,hsrs. to he generous enough some years
400 TO make that a free bridge, and keep II
M wear alter year, there Is u moral or legal
obligation TO keep it up eteruai!y, whatever
NAV be the evil Consequences following
from it.
MIR. Mason.-Thc Senator does not do jus
tice to nv view of that matter. L Sa'G TIE
public faith was pledged, as | considered, &c
continue this bridge as means OF passage
across the river, until some other mode was
nroyided for that object. Now, the honor
able Senator says that 60 to the 'x;ent o
saving it is incumbent on tie country 10 keci
) !, nm for ever. Certainly not; but sa1d they
should keep it up until some other mUde /
rovided of accommodating the Interests tina
have grown ~ ander the fridge. The I,nS'
ia now tie property of the Government: Mh.
has any right to interfere with ii! VIII
he expected. either, that private company
The city OF Washington. or aryeofy eise' WI
invest their mouev iu-wbat appears necessnr,
! 70 keep that bridge up while 1t is the proper
, .y of the Government, without some assurance
that they shall be reimbursed 10 some man
ner, Let the Government turn It over 10 INK
CITY. or let it turn il over to the private cor
naoy from which it took it, or make some dis
: nositipn IF it which will enable those interest
ed, or the localities of country that are IN
terested. to keep it up. That's what NEAR
TO saw. They must provide some means.
kE,an