Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-02-11
LOCAL NEWS.

q meeting Of the Board of TRADE was held at
Long Bridge. Mr.. John T. Nitchell presided,
with Mr.. N. Sardo secretary.
Mr.. A. X. Shepherd stated thar having felt
that The future prosperity of the city depea ded
In measure on bridge over the Potomac re-
naming at the present elite of the Long Bridge
and on the Improvement OF the channel, he
had written to Gen. Meigs, (who takes great
interest in the welfare OF the city,) asking hts
views on the suhJsct Gen. Meigs had referred
him 10 the plan for bridge and the improve
mens OF the river, submitted In q report 70 the
Secretary of the Interior, by Mr.. A L. Rives,
IN is57, a.sngthy extract Of which the Star had
published.
Mr.. Shepherd read the letter of Gen MeiRs
as follows:
WASHINGTON, ID. O., Feb 7, Is67.-In reply
TO your note OF this date, on the part of the
80 board OF Trade, asking ing my views IN regard to
and Georgetown. ana the best mode OF provid-
ing for the travel across the Potomac, have
the honor to invite the attention Of the Board to
report made February 7th, 1857, by the Secre-
tary OF the Interior on this bject. It will be
found printed in Executive Document &c, 34;h
Congress, Sd session, House Of Representa-
tives. The elaborate drawings which accom-.
panied that report have not been published;
they are, presume. IN the custody Of the off,
GERS OF the House Of Representatives or Of the
Senate. =
Mr.. A. L Rives, the author OF the report WINS
thoroughly instructed and scientific engineer,
educated AT the first engineering school of Eu-
Iopc. tne EScOle0es pOnts ct ChdusSees. He
carefully considered the subject and made spe-
cial surveys, and his discussion OF il is not
likely to be improved.
The most convenient site for the Bridge is
that Of the present Long Bridge and Railroad
Bridge The great width OF the river will make
any permanen bridge at this point costly, and
the great expense of erecting bridge through
ont its whole length, Of a SUN cient height TO
allow the passage OF vessels under il. seems
TO render draw or draws in the chan mel WAYS
indispensable. The best but most costly bridge
VI m ha Of
OF these would cost mere money than will
probably, for many years become available.
1t is ten years since this report was made; I'm
mat time come experience in the construction
OF bridges has been gained. Considering aIl
the questions Of durability, safety, and econ
omy, / incline TO the opinion that the best
bridge practicable will be q superstructu of
wrought iron, with spans Of about 30 to $50
feet, resting upon piers made by sinking boiler
iron caissons Of the form of the piers, through
tns water and mud, to a firm foundation, and
Milling in the iron with concrete, or brick or
other masonry. wooden superstructure
upon such piers would be cheaper IN first cost
but damages by fire and by rot would In tune
amount TO so much that 1t would be better TO
expend on the original constru ctien the differ.
ence between the cost of iron and wood.
Tne mode Of improving the harbor recon-
rneDded In the report OF 7th February, 1857,
above referred TO, / think the best that ha We
seen suggested. j read the report at the time
and have Just looked over IL again. In the ten
years which have elapsed since that report
was presented TO Congress, have seen no
plan suggested for this improvement which
has appeared to me as practical, economical,
dredge a channel through the fats in a line
towards the Washington draw Of the Long
Bridge. and to defect the current Of the liver
into this channel by means Of a curved dyke
extending suh1cient distance from the foot of
Masons Island. For q full discussion of
varfsus projects OF bridges and of the subject
OF the harbor improvement, can do no better
than 70 refer the Board to the above .mentio ed
report. II. R. Ex. Doc 6S, 3ith Congress, Sd
session. ~
am, very respectfully, your obedient ser.
ALEX. r. SHEPHERD for the Board Of Trade OF
Mr. shepherd said that they should take
good bridge and good channel, and he pro.
posed that committee be appointed to confer
with the Mayor and councils on the subject
We should secure Q trade from Virginia over
the bridge, and . channel should be made.
that washington may build up a trade suf.
ncient for the population. Il was shame
that here. at the capital Of the nation, with a
population Of 120,OOO, we are subject, in a great
measure, to the IL, 0C0 people of GEORGETOWN
Ar. ,. Bacon offered a resolution instructing
tne committee before Congress 70 have printed
for distribution LOCO copies Of the report of
Mr. Rires, with the proceedings OF the meet
ing.
Mr.. w H. Clagett said that nature had. dur.
ing The present flood, cone half what the re-.
port OF the engineer proposed in the way of
opening this channel, and he suggested that
the committee also ask q detail OF officers to
make an examination Of the river
MT shepherd urged that the matter sheuld
be prosecuted actively, and that the Board
should confer with the corporate au uthorities
having agreed upon one they tn % should fIm make S1s
united effort with Congress Something should
be done speedily towards an object upon
which, IN great measure, depends the saliva
Mr.Wall remarked tn at he had been informed
by Senator Henderson that there was but little
disposition in Congress to do anything towards
the erection OF new bridge, and although he
old not think much could be done this ses-
sion, he was in favor Of the motion. He said
that Georgetown did not wish the 10000 peo-
PIE OF washington TO have bridge, but wan ted
our people TO cross their bridge. He proceeded
TO speak Of the fact that parties about the Cap
itoi are endeavoring TO defeat measu ures which
the committee prol osed. 1t was only q day or
two since that 9 committee from Georgeto wn
We're endeavortng to have certain amen dine n Is
made to bill the board had asked to have
passed, which amendments would have killed
IT. l. anything is TO be done by Congress for
the board or the interests Of the city, the men,
bers should work together, and some one
should be present constantly.
Mr.. Shepherd offered a resolution directing
the committee 10 confer with the Mayor on the
subject, and prepare suitable bill tor such
improvement TO report to future meeting of
the board for their action
Mr.. J. r. Elvans asked what was to be ae-
complished by comforting with the Mayor, and
said there was danger il this course was pur-
cally. and ne was sure thar the board would
be embarrassed.
Mr.. shepherd said that Congress would no,
be inclined TO make an appropriation for the
whole OF the work proposed, and ,t could not
be reasonably expected. The city should pa,
portion, and bill should be drawn up salts.
factory 10 both parties. II we 60 to Congress
without comforting with the Corporation. II
would be found fighting the bosrd. He re-
ferred 20 the fact that in the past Washington
had lost by being too SLOW The citizens were
agItated about a city railroad, and while they
were talking about obtaining . charter, others
went up and asked for one, which they OBJ
tained. As TO this Improvement he did not
think that Georgetown would be the loser
She would have her channel, and Washington
would have the same channel; but il George
town was damaged BY the bridge. she would
have to be damaged, for we must have the
bridge, which 10 the great connecting link be.
tween the North and South.
Mr.. Elvans alleged that the Board OF Trade
had been discourteously treated by the corpo
rate authorities, who laid upon the table q
memorial in relation 70 dredging the channel.
Mr.. Mitchell (Mr. Bacon In the chair re.
marked that he was peculiarly situated, resid-
ing IN Georgetown, and doing Business in
Washington, having interests in boi b citiee. He
could not see why such antpathy is felt by
ha shiugtoa people the m Ia NJ Cao zoe