Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-02-09

Rfves eupposes that it's cost, according to very
general data, tNopld be about ssio.0uO. With
regard to rsi,x6Dd Connections, he says 10 Long
rae site pfesenis every desirable facility.
I'D next Iocaiity Move the Long Bridge
preoentipg apPGe4 facilities for the conssrne.
tie OF q tudes - frem Easby's wharf u the
VHsinisS shores passing over the soufhern
portion OF Mason's Island. 1t had bsen suss
gested that suspsnsion bridge there couad 10
50 eopstrueied - NOT % interfere with naSisss
ton, and theS1ocation vas thorough IL sxam.
ined with reference q his object, but wirhou,
favorable results. The roadway would be-
thirty or forty feet above the highest axailabls
ground on the Washington shore. q feature
,obleetionabl in every way, and precludins
tie passage OF a railroad. At such an els ystion
the bridge would be 1000 feet in length at best
d temporary structnre, and or immense ex.
pense. A ahsidee could be built at a lower
elevation, bat 1t presents the disad antage of
draw, obstructs ton, ana would NOT
accommodate SO large number of the citizens
ofWasbington as the Long Bridge The railroad
connection. though possible, is not 90 IA vora ,le
rs the one at the Long Bridge. A short dis
lance sho We Easby's wharf occurs a very Rrea,
contraction In the width OF the river. II mas
teen suggested that advantage might be taken
OF this feature, TO erect q bridge there at a
III
opinion of Mr.. Rives, be dangerous to contrac.
still iurther waterway already insu "a Client
by introducing piers-a necessity not TO be
obv aied by suspension bridge, as a draw
would again be indispensable. A bridge at
this point would greatly interfere with the
business and commerce OF GEORGETOWN, and
pTeee mt DO facilities whate YEA tor the MASSAGE
Of a railroad.
The aqueduct piers, he reports, present ad
vantages for the constru ction OF q bridge nm
the facilities for railroad connection are nor
favorable. Its impracticable, or at least would
be excessively expensive, to pass through
Georgetown with railroad and the country
around Georgetown h very uneven and thu
CONSTRUCTION Of any railroad through it. Al
though feasible, will be necessarily expensive
The locality called the Three Sisters is little
adapted to any other than a suspension bridge,
and the railroad line that would connect with
the Three Sisters is less favorable than the
one by the az ueduct.
In recapItulating the conclusions resulting
from the views set forth, Nr. Rives SAYS:
ait Is proper,.perhaps, that 1 should hare
briefly recapitulate the conclusions resultIn0
from the foregoing views. The localities pre-
sentng decided advantages over all other for
q permanent bridge are the present site of the
Long Bridge and that of the auueduct Mars
For the general accom- cation Of the CITY OF
washington, and the facilities of ip,erconrsa
with the country ON the opposite shore. the
site OF me Long Bridge is evidently most An.
propriate. permanent bridge there how.
ever, Is necessarily expensive, and, to avoid
the total obstruction of navigation, must have
draw, which Is at the same time an incon.
venience both 10 travel, especially railroad
travel, and to navigation. Every locality he
tween that ard the aQueduct shares in its dis.
al vantages. without presenting its facilities
The proposed bridge over the 40 ueduct piers
Is more economical, avoids a draw, and ac.
commodities at the same time the in terests of
navigation and railway travel. and to a linn
tied extent, local travel also but as a means
or communication with the opposite shore for
tive. N''e
TO provide for all the exigencies OF the
case, therefore, II would seem to be necessary
that both bridges should be constructed-the
Long Bridge ION less expensive scale than
that which has been contemplated for ordI.
nary purposes and go as not to be In ons,stent
with an improved navigation, which is at
present most urgent want and the bridge
over the aquednct pi.rs tor the three fold uses
OF railroad, local road, and vaaal The cost of
the two mus regulated would not be 90 great
probably, as that Of the Long Bridge alone
poses, involving increased width, q much
heavier draw, and more expensive construc.
ton OF every kind, while the dangerous acct.
Dents. and many neon venienees inseparable
from tne concurrent nse OF a long and extend.
ed bridge for both railway and common travel
would be happily avoided"
The space occupied by the important and
Interesting views embraced in Mr. Rlves' re-
port, as set forth above obliges Us to defer any
furtber remark in this connection. We are
glad to see that the Board OF Trade have taken
up this question. and hope that they will in.
it'@'e some action leading to practical results.