Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-02
CONGRESS AND THE DISTRICT.

nents disadvantageous to the District were
made unehallenged, showing that the members
making them had been misinfo-med or misled
by parties interested in nisrepresenting affairs
TO advance their own ends; and from the fact
that no denial was made TO these allegations il
would appear that the listeners were alike un-
familiar with the real facts. A District repre-
sentative on the floor could have promptly and
Intelligently corrected these errors of state
ment. but for want of such information they
were allowed to go unquestioned, and served
TO influence adverse legislation. From the
nature of the case, II is impossible that mem
bers from abroad, occupied as they are with
their own immediate duties, can spare the requi-
site time to fully post themselves in regard to
District matters; and indeed no one but a citi-
I'm OF the District conversant with its history,
laws. statistics and needs, could supply intel
hgent and accurate information with requisite
prOmptness. The nearest equivalent for such
representative @ TO the manor BORN we have
IN The person of n chairman of the District Com
mittee' Ike Mr. lngersOll, who has given so
much intelligent and solicitous attention to
District matters; but even he, it will be seen
by that debate, got rather off the track in refer
ence TO one matter brought up-that of the ap-
preparation for the Potomac bridges He
moved TO strike out the item arpropriating
slt,Ooo for repairs and taking care OF the Chain
Bridge, and said:
:. There II nov a proposition embraced in a
biIl penjlng before the Committee for the Dis
trIct OF Columbia for constructing A bridge on
me piers OF what Is known a. 1.-THE aqueduct
bridge bttWetn Georgetown and the Virginia
shOlt OF the Potomac. If bill for that pur-
lose shall be- passed by Congress, then neither
,Lt DHost AT Little alls. known as the ssChain
nIlogt, nor Long Bridge, below the Aqueducr
bsldee, Will be required, as the new Aqueduct
Brldge VIII answer all purposes for the use of
the public
-. The bridge CROSSING tho po,o-,., -, -
lie Long Bridge, Is an old structure. and SADLY
out Ct repair. Congress NAV appropriate SJ5 n9
t1eh year for repairs of that structure and stiIl
have no safe bridge. In the course OF a few
N'als II Will be necessary TO build a new bridge
sCmew here across the Potomac for the con w.
niehce OF the public. A new bridge will cost
n Il asst ST. 1000. The Cham Bridge is in nv
opinion, nearly worthless for the use of the
pubic beng too far up the Potomac The re-
pairs q TINS bridge for a single year cost. as
arpeais by this bill, S16,OOO. These expendi-
lures are In my Union. about equivalent To
throwing the money away think this an
propTlaton Ough; 10 be stricken out; for. If the
Proposition now under consideration in thu
CcmmIitee for the District of Columbia shall
H. adopted, We shall have a durable structure
winch VIII cost the Government of the United
States less IN the aggregate than the appropri-
atoms that Will have 20 be made within the
next nye or AT the outside ten wears for match
ing up the Long Bridge and the Chain Bridgp.
ana even with these repairs we shall have no
safe structure at last
hr.Washburne thought the object of striking
out was 10 open the way for n big Job of sew
eral million dollars for building another bridge,
snd said that the COMMITTEE on Appropriations
had before them General MichIer, and had
questioned him particularly in reference TO this
pldge, and be had convinced them against
ther VIII that II was necessary TO put in this
Item In this connection. Mr.. Washburne sent
up to the Clerks desk TO be read a communica
ton from General Michler, showing the great
In f..e T,y.x,
debate that followed, Mr.. IngersoII said that
the smount Of appropriation necessary tor the
construction Of a bridge where the Aqusduct
ErldSe now Is would only be S2OO,OUO and that
Il would supeTsede the LOEg Bridge and the
Chain Bridge.
Now, We have 10 say that, while bridge at
the aqueduct Is very desirable and for the in
tFrssts OF Georgetown very essential, II is quite
Ceftsln that no bridge there can ever supersede
bridge at the site of the present Long Bridge;
and IN behalf of the people of Washington we
earnestly protest against sacrificing the Long
Bridge Tor the benefit OF the Aqueduct Badge
PROJECT A glance at the map Will serve 10 show
that the direct line ~ comm unic ltiOn for Wash
lrgton with the south and the Virginia shore Is \
Via the Long Bridge, and that n circunbendi-
bus route OF many miles via GEORGETOWN AMI
TIE AGueduci Bridge is a thing not TO be thought
CT Tor a city of 130.O0O inhabitants That a
bridge at the aqueduct would not in any degree
accommodate the people of Washington. or the
travel South through Washington u shown by
lie fact that during the war when The aqueduct
W's IN full use a. a bridge, the Long Bridge
was the great thOroughfare South.
IHe amount OF travel over the Long Bridge
even at this Inclement season OF the year, is
shown by the following report for the week
ending Feb 18th, Foot passengers, $3.50: team
and wagon, Les; horse and wagon gJ1: gov
eminent wagon and team, 3I0 cattle 49,
sheep, 523. In the summer the travel, even in
these piping times OF peace, is much larger As
shown Dy the following figures for the week
ending July 18Th, loj7 Foot passengers, 1885
team and wagon, 1,S2i: horse and wagon. I 73,.
government wagon and team, 227: cattle. 52;.
sheep c;2 Every hOUsekeeper who attends our
city markets knows that interruption OF travel /
10. single day over the Long Bridge (ayeu
H'H TIE a9ueduct Is IN use a. brIdge) causes |
prices to 20 up like rocket; and so necessary
Tor the interests of the city has IL been fell 70
Lave communication with tn. farms and mar
ket gardens of the Virginia shore, that the Cor
poFanon, even when serisu sIy Enlightened for
inOLey, has advanced enough 70 make Tempo |
thy repairs on the bridge when a Congress
siohal appropriation was wanting
We shall be glad, above stated if an appro-
priation can be got of s2O00oO for bird 20 az the
Aqueduct; but in the present retrenchment tenn
per Of Congress, we think there is little pros
poet Of IT this session; and We must certainly
protest against the idea that if built it will su
Persede the present bridges.
In answer TO an inquiry why the Govern
ment should pay out the money necessary to
keep in repair the bridges about Washington
MI lngersoll very justly replied that during
the nve years Of the war the Government, in
the use OF these bridges, wore them out to a
greater extent than the ordinary travel of the
pnoiic would In twenty-five years; and that
"as reason why the Government should
make the bridges good, even if there were no
other reason.
We have not space to-day to refer TO other
matters Of District interest in this debate. in
which allegations were made needing attention
but propose to do so hereafter.
GEN. CULLEN, commanding the Fourth Mill
taIy Department, has appointed T. @ Peyton.
Thomas Shac kford- ard r. IeFords -