Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-09-30
BRIDGES ACROSS THE POTOMAC.
Distinctions of the Channel.


effect OF the repairs then being made upon
the railroad bridge across the Potomac river
just south of the Long bridge, would be TO i'm
IaIr and destroy the channel OF the river 50 far
as the port of GEORGETOWN Is concerned. Gen
Micbler was instructed by the Secretary to
inquire into the matter, and his report, as sub.
DIt'e1 10 the War Department, is very full
and comprehensive document We have room
ior only the following extracts:
The first Potomac bridge was built in loJg by
z company on the site OF the pre- ent one and
lsmslEed in uninterrupted use until 1851, when
u large part was carrI-d away by very great
fl es bet and masses OF foatIng ice; an OF $3.50
makes the first approprIation, and directs
certain alterations TO he made. consisting IN
lepgthening the draws, planking the sides OF
toe spaces covered by them, and that the oppo-
site sides OF the wharyes above and below
form. BY an act approved in 1882, and sub.
ssquently amended in 1884 and 1885, the
bIi0ge was purchased by the Government of
the United States and the report OF the en-
gineer, dated December 80, 1885, states that
IL 1" has been completely finished. according
to the terms of the contract, in all its parts
and since the 2Sth of October last has been
thrown open TO general travel" The
bridge was first srendered passible Oh the lst
Of October, on which day the President anu
his cabinet crossed it on foot and returned
in carrieges.' The bridge then Constructed
wes substantially the same as that which now
exists; that Is, the part crossing the sholl was
made a causevay, and connected with the
shores nv wooden bridges resting on piers. For
few } AIS he bridge escaped without Gam-
age, when IL 1c4D portion was again destroy
Cd by ice. Without exact data IL IS impo ssibie
10 enumerate all of the different occasions
upon which ii was injured, but il is known
that such was the case, and very severely so,
in l-56, IeG0 ls63, 1-GG, and 1867; in several in.
stances many spans were carried away, and
tIdYel suspended for many months at a time
1t i also ascer aimed with great certainty
n q n W nf 10 fha, "a.
occurred 10 those portions built piles,
" here the spans are short and low. Towards
the Virginia shore, where the bridge rests
on piers with clear water way OF over one
hundred feet between them, through which
the floating matter, drift and ice eau lreeiy
pass, no injuries of 4 serious nature have
been sustained, at least not from that par
ticular cause. The railroad bridge, which
is owned by the Washington, Alexandria
and GEORGETOWN Railroad Company, was
built in 1853 and lsG4, and is about seventy
Bridge The repairs being made TO strengthen
the southern section of the former, that Dor.
lion betwfe en- the span over the main chan
mel and the Virginia shore. and against the
plan OF which the remonstrauce was made
and the attention OF the receiver of the road
called by letter previously mentioned, are
Imme diately below the spans or the Long
Bridge which are referred to above. The re-
psiTs, con psisting in driving intermediate piles
between he old piers. ard thus subdividIng
the spans into sections OF from eleven to eigh.
teen 1oet, Will most certainly, in the opinion OF
any disInterested person, cause formidable
obstruction and be the means OF greatly i'm.
peding the flow Of the drift and Ice, which
owing TO the greater length OF spans, can safely
pass the upper bridge This material brought
down will become packed up against these
piles, partially. if not completely, forming
dam, and thereby closing up the space between
by the chsnnei way V tSroHsS @ % the draws so SsouiS
the coming winter be even moderately severe
Judging from past experience and natural
Ia N tfip dos Sfrn0 Of
uons of the two bridges will prove newt table
The railroad authorities sIilI continue the
strengthening OF their bridge by driving more
piles, when other plans might be easily suhstI.
tuted. Previous to the commeD cement of the
work the SIX spans between the Virginia shore
and the Georgetown channel were from one
hundred to one hundred and twenty. five feet
in length, resting on wooden piers or cribs, and
were amply sufficient for all purposes. The
original design of the bridge Is being very con.
sideIably altered, Transforming the truss bridge
into one on piles. The current Of the river at
this point becomes very rapid, and at the
breaking up OF winter large bodies OF ice come
the larger proportion of the drift from the up.
per Potomac is carried with increased velocity
through the Virginia or Georgetown channel.
The great dep.h Of this channel and the veloc.
ity OF the current there during floods are suffi.
Cient causes against the erection Of many piers
In some portions of the Long bridge, where
piles have been driven from TWENTY-FIVE to
thirty feet feet apart, the ice ana drift accumu
and so close TO the structure as to bear the
weight of several men. These facts alone
should prove satisfactory reason why no ad.
dIi ionai oDstructious, especially when so nm.
Necessary and when other plans could be sue
cessfuIly sdopte0, be allowed to be placed in the
ned OF the river, and competent authority
should compel the company to desist from
furiher encroacbments upon the channel way
he committee on the part Of the corporate au-
thorities of Georgetown have been advised
hat certain repairs, those previously re.
10 losr. 40 20
bridge over the Potomac nver which might
have the effect 10 impair and destroy the
channel Of the river so far as the ports of
I'y is coz ncerned, and are desirous of
ascertaining the probable extent OF such dam
sge or injury. In the act providing for the
purchase by the United States of the right OF
the Washington Bridge Company, and for the
erection OF public bridge on the site thereof,
and which was approved July II, 1882, appears
the clause, "That in the selection of materials
and In the construction of said bridge, draws
and arches, all practicable attention shall be
had TO the preservation OF the navigation OF the
said liver"
The law applying to the construction of one
bridge should certainly be enforced in the
the more especially as Congress in the very
following year, appropriated SlJ0,CG0 "to re-
move distractions by enlarging and deepening
the channel" and for other purposes.
After careful study and consideration OF
toe matter, il is my opinion that the obstruc-
tlons formed by the piles used in the r
pairs will certainty affect. and it may be
very seriously, the channel OF the river
From the several reports made by others who
have examined the subject the general opinion
is that all distractions, whether they be OF
causeways, piles, or any other Kind, excepting
only those that are absolutely necessary for the
support Of the bridges should be removed so
as not to interfere with the currents OF the
river. The Potomac baing tidal river the
reasons for dong so become still greater; for
the same cause. as we'll as those above stated,
all shoals should be deepened, and such parts
OF the different channels, both above and below
me bridges, as now tend to arrest the ascent and
descent Of the tidal wave. should be widened.
In speaking of the removal OF the causeway
The same report says that "whatever opinion
may be held or have been expires sed by others
IN regard 10 the obstruction or eneroachment
IN the river In consequence OF the building of
the causeway Of the Long Bridge, it has been
already dem monstrated to ne that there Is no
doubt Of that structure being very injurious to
the Washing gton channel, and that the section
referred to should, therefore, be removed and
replaced by either an arched bridge or one on
plies OF iron or wood.
The pavigation Of the Potomac IL not thing
OF to day, but must live IN the futnre to aid in
the promotion of the enterprise ana enlighten.
ment Of more advanced civilization and cul.
ture its channels should be preserved and
guarded with the utmost care against all en-.
croachments. The problem has always been
considered a most uncertain one, out infinitely
more important and diff cult than the span.
ming OF q stream by a bridge; the latter should
and can al ways be butt to accomplish Its lau
dable purpose without interfering with tn,
navigation OF the river II crosses.
Belle Boyd, is giving dramatic readings
IN Sacramento.