Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-03

VI Tee lnoex eheet, oosle l-29Vb ~ gen-
tral msp OF the country lying east OF the Al
leghsny mountsins, and extending from the
battle FIELD Of Gettysburg on the north, 90 the
SoutA SIDE Railroad OF Virginia, on the south
VII. One hundred and eleven ORA wings OF
fcrts, rsdou6rs, batteries ana 10 ses. the scale
of the respective plans being forty feet 10 one
inch. The entire portfolio Numbers one n an
drsd and eighty sheets OF antiq uarian. en- ora
c ng not only all The operations du riug ne war
of The army of tue Potomac, out sIso of tus
army OF the James aud OF several dstacnea
commands engaged In Virginia.
At THIS date the ms ps are snuTeIy com pIstsd,
with but TOO or three Exceptions; the surveys
having been made with grsas accuracy, aud
the typographical features of the country de.
liz estro on them wiz great care.
Whist engaged IN sppsrntendinr tue con-
struction OF these military msps, 1 was, an "a
diticn TO that duty. detailed 10 carry 90. the
directions OF the Uommitiee OF PueIo Builo-
iHgs ano Grounds OF he Senate OF the United
States relative TO TOE selection OF g SUI auie
site for puolic park aad presidential n Al
sion
The views Of The CON mi;:se were impaired
by It's chair man, Hon. GraIx Brown. IN ssve-
raj conmanIc cations of the gan aud 2etn OF
July, addressed 10 the Hoa. Secretary OF War;
tie therein reynesied taat az Engineer officer
oe plseed In charge OF the preliminary surveys
o. certain tracts Of land adjoining, or near tue
city CT Washington, toe preparation of ne ne
ceSsary maps aud reports for the pGrposs
above named, which. IN the language o: ne
senate Resolution O. the lsth OF the same
month. "shsi combine couvenisncs OF access,
Of sdor nment;" IN addition to this to ascertain
X practicable. he price % said lands. Afssr
csrefui "xspinstlon OF the many beautiful To-
caiities 70 b. found In the vicinity OF the Uaoi-
tol, spd having caused ga accurate sud de-
tailed survey OF It's en- yirons 10 be made, hsd
he honor % address 8 commIllcaaon, dated
Janusry % iss7, 20 the Chairman OF the OJm.
mittse. submitting for ms consideration the
result 81 my Investigations In connection
with that report tvo preliminary maps were
presented showing more plainly .nsn words
NhA
respective advantages OF he different seciioas
surveyed. copy OF my report Ia here win
appended, senate MISCELLANEOUS document,
NO. 81, second session. Thirty ninth Congress,
together win reduced photograph copies OF
he now complete Typographical Sketches
accompany ing II. IL will noi os necessary 70
accum uiate words, after 90 much hss been
written and so ably spoks n in advoc s,iag al
Improvement so essential 20 the comfort and
pleasure OF every heightened community.
y ne attentive perusal OF the very compre-
hepslve remarks and beautifully expressed
sen timents delivered oy the honorable Char
man OF the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds, in the Senate OF the United
States, on the eDth Of February Of THIS year,
concerning the bill for the establishment aud
maintenance OF q grand national park IN the
District OF Columbia, a. the expense of the
United States 9overnmeng. will convince the
most preIuoiced judgment. L. Will not fail 10
urge the earliest action OF Congress in carry
ing ont the hopes expressed oy the honorable
Senator, almost unanimously Incurred in By
the Senate, as well as the earnest wishes of
those interested IN the adjournment Of the can't
tai OF great nation, that no unnecessary
delay may occur in passing the needful laws
for accomplishing such grand and beautiful
undertaking. A copy Of Mr.. Browns speech,
togeih her win the bill reported from the Senate
committee, 70 establish public park In the
vicinity OF Washington city, are herewith
appended; the bill passed the Senate, but was
laid on the table Of the House OF Representa-.
lives during the last hours OF the session.
BY the second section OF an act Of Congress,
approved March :, 1867, 'the duties Heretofore
imposed upon the Commissioner Of Public
buildings are devolved upon the Engineer
Bureau, As well as the Superinte nden nj of the
Washington Aqueduct, and all the public
works and Improvements OF the United States
provided by law" 1 had the honor. by engi.
neer department orders dated March 10, l-67,
TO be assigned 10 perform the duties above
stated, and al once TO enter upon their per
Torrance. Immediately upon the receipt of
these instructions, 1 called upon the Secre-
tary OF the Interior and the late Commissioner
OF Public Buildings, and received from them
all the books, records, archives, and papers
pertaining 70 the ONCE Of Commissioner OF
Public Buildings, and TO the puohc works
referred TO IN The act cited. and at once pro-
ceeded 70 the discharge OF The duties apper-
tanning 10 each OF them They are OF such
diversified character that this report will only
refer to the most important ones, and these in
most general terms. L shall first consider the
WORKS In course OF instruction, or UNDERGOING
repairs, which are already authorized by
different acts OF Congress, and will then sue.
nection with the growth OF the city as appear
10 be eminenily necessary and ornamental
The different bridges across the Potomac and
the Anacostia or Eastern Branch, have either
been rebuilt or placed in good repair as the
limited amount OF the appropriations would
ADMIT The one fam iliarly known as the
Long Bridge, IL. by actual meas urement, four
thousand SIX hundred and sixty.one feet The
sections are differently constructed, and OF the
following lengIh
First, built on piles ...........Is;o fact
Second, draw (north sioe) ........ "a. feet,
Ihird, gravel road on causeway. 1877 feet
Fourth, draw (south side. ......-. IA feet
Fifth, brace and frame work, sup
ported by Cribs. ................... 432 feet.
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 4,66I feet
1t will be remembered that in consea hence
OF the heavy masses OF ice which law ssainst
ano crushed the bridge al different points, Il
nao been rendered impossible for some months
Inc appropriation Of fifteen thousand dollars
enabled me TO place 1t In such repair as to al
lew tr4yel acress il 10 be resu med. Much more
WORK Is still required TO make IL stand until a
more substantial, suitable and architectural
structure be built - span this magnificent
river. have been ordered TO prepare q spe.
clal report 70 the bureau in regard to the I'M
provements OF the channel of the river, and
surveys are now progressing TO show what
changes have recently taken place; the bridge
question as so Immediately associated with the
former that 1t Will necessarily form u part OF
tne discussion. The first section OF the
bridge Is In very good condition, having
been recently placed so; the second (north
crawl will have TO be rebuilt, as the
tlmbers are decaying, and q more solid sup.
port must be substituted for the present one:
me thiro Is IN good repair: the brick side walls
Ar damaged IN many places, and req uire at
tention both for safety ana appearance; the
fourth (soutn draw is In good working order;
the NTH requires 90 many repairs a 70 almost
necessltate the entire rebuilding OF that portion
although, In much better condition. II ia said
fnan for many years, still II Is doubtful il IL can
stand against the ice and freshets Of another
winter An early appropriation, an estimate
OF which Is respectable submitted, Is earnest
~ urged, as the work should be commenced
without unnecessary delay.
The bridge over the Potomac, near the LATHE
ais, rs In most dilapidated condition. Hay-
ing been greatly used during the war, with Int.
re or no care taken TO keep it in good preserya-
tion, 1T II now In danger OF giving way; the
UNI oers OF most Of the spans, especially the
three nearest the Virginia shore, are much
worn and decayed. The bridge should have
been covered 10 protect the wood, and the la,-
Ter white washed TO keep IL sound. The floor
ing Is much worn, and travel over II mas be-
come dangerous, only by the most careful at
tenuon on the part of the Waterman can accl-
dents be avoided. 1t would probably be scouo.
my 10 take the bridge dow and rebuild H. An
esumate OF the cost OF repairing has been care
fully prepared and submitted.
The lower or navy-yard bridge and The upper
or bennlngs bridge, over the Anacosts or
Eastern Branch. are now both IN gosa condi-
uon: the former has been recently renovated