Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-21


appropi iating 500 600 towards that purpose.
PRESIDENT JACKsoN's FAvoRITg PLAN
was TO have stone pier bridge constructed
across the entire width of the river, on grand
ard expensive plan, which would be an orna-
ment and credit to the nation. He directed
Generals Gratiot and kearney, both competent
bridge site, and report the best plan, cost, &C.
he question arose, and was discussed for some
time, as to the material to be used for the bridge
and finally the engineers reported in favor of
THE CAUsEwAY PLAN
which was afterwards adopted, and although
contrary to the wishes of the President, he ad-
dressed communication to Congress on De-
cember 2, 1892, as follows:
|" To tie SeHde and House Of Representatives. -
beg leave to call the attention Of Congress 70
the accompanying report of one of the engineers
selected under the act of the 14th July, to take
charge of the survey of the bridge across the
Potomac, which that act authorized the Presi-
dent TO cause 70 be erected; and showing, after
careful survey, the prOpriety of applying a
part of the sum appropriated to the repair of the
old bridge; the other showing the considerations
which, IN the opinion of the same engineer and
that Of Gen. RAJ GTatiOt, should determine the
choice between a superStructure of wood or Of
IRON on the same foundations of eranite:
" Coneurring in the reasons stated ~ these
onncers Tor the preference of the superstructure
Of wood, have adopted it accordingly, and
propose To take the measures necessary for exc
cutl0n OF the work. Previously, however to
inviting contracts for this purpose deem it
necessary TO submit the subject TO Congress, in
supplied. ANDREW JACKsON.D =
On the SGth OF June, 1884, Congress passed an
act which repealed the act of July IL, 1882 ex-
cept as to the purchase Of the old bridge, and
authorized
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE
on the OLD treste PLAN but varied by the intro
dUctiOn of solid entertainments or causeways on
the flats not exceeding eco feet in length. This
act appropriated $3.50 600 for these objects. The
power to causeway the flats was extended by the
act of March 3, 1885, so as to make a solid en-
bankment across what was then known as the
swash channel, running near about the middle
OF the flats, and under these two acts the cause-
way was constructed with its present limits At
That time there was not more than 4J0 feet of
firm bottom the entire width of the river The
water in the Virginia channel varied from Is 70
~ feet in depth. The Washington channel was
700 feet broad, sOpng from the sb lore to feet of
water on the edge of the flats at low water, and
the middle channel feet deep at low tide.
Proposals were advertised and the contract
was awarded to Stephen Clarke and AlansOn
Sumner, of New York, under George w. Hughes
anu A b. Mclean, engineers appointed by the
President These contractors set about the work
with great energy; the piers were constructed by
means OF driving white oak piles into the bed Of
the river with hammers weighing 800 pounds
railing 80 feet, the piles being afterwards braced
together and capped with North Carolina yellow
pine, the caps connected with stringers of the
same material, and covered with gum planks.
The draws were GO feet wide each; the causeway
built Of solid stOnework feet high, which was
considerably above the rise of the tide. During
the construction of this causeway there was much
among those who resided near the bridge as 10
THE SANITARY EFFECT
OF closing the Swash channel. This drew forth
petitions in favor of and circumstances against
the measure addressed TO the Secretary OF the
Treasury A petition signed by 81 citizens praying
the Secretary to close the cnanneI was presented
In April, 1895, also a letter from William A
Bradley asking that the cause way NAV be filled
up. remOnstrance against this measure by
Peter Force and 81 Others was put in about the
same time, and yet another against the measure
citizens. and
the name of John ID. Clark, the only one now
living of the signers. A letter from Hon. o. f.
Mercer, chairman of the internal Improvement
committee, in favor of the measure is also on
record. Finally the Secretary submitted the
yeIed question TO a committee of medical GEN
tlomen consisting of Doctors j. G. Hail. Frede-
rick May, Baker, Washington, Scott. and
Donissham, who expressed their opinion in
writing to the Secretary that no damage was TO
be aprrehended by closing the Swash channel,
but ON the contrary that the effect would be
beneficial rather than deleterious. This settled
the whole matter, and the work went forward to
completion, and on October LIST, 1885,
THE WORK WAS FINISHED,
ana, by invitation of the contractors the Presi-
dent of the United States, accompanied by the
heads OF departments and several other gentle
men, passed over the new bridge on foot and
returned in carriages. The work was rendered
passable in the short period of one wear from its
ca announcement The draws were opened in
presence OF the company in one minute and
half, and the whole work was pronounced faith
fully executed, and capable of supportinV any
weight which might be brought to bear upon it,
vi the appropriation Of S130, 900 made for this
bridge, over $780, coo was reported to have been
saved by the economy of the Treasury DEPART
ment, and much better bridge constructed for
the public than Congress contemplated. The
bridge was thoroughly painted IN the month
following, at which time it was opened to the
public travel.
AN UNBULT CITY.
Soon afterward a project was started by Pres
ident jackson for building commercial CITY
near the south end of the Long Bridge, and a
m Tnn ~ Nnr1~
formed with large capital Tor the purpose OF
building warehouses and wharves and founding
ject fell through.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The reconstruction OF 1915 did not follow the
original plan in erecting wharves on the sides
OF The main draw, and the work at that point
was so defective that the next recurring flood of
any magnitude, viz: in the spring of 1s4I
swept out the bridge over the channelway
again. Then followed the act of September IL
1871, which provided for repairing the bridge
under direction OF the Secretary of War and bv
a competent officer of the engineer corps which
was done. This train of legislation commenced
IN leos, and extended over period Of forty
three years.
INCIDENTS.
On tie 9Th day of November, 1895, the first
line OF stage coaches was started across this
bridge by Thomas CoOkendorfer, running TO
WarTenton three times week and a daily line
TO Alexandria.
The first mishap which befell the bridge was
on the morning OF june I'd, 1886, during a great
freshet, when the mud machine used to clear
out the Georgetown channel, with six lighters
broke loose from their moOrings and came
down, striking the bridge about 50 yards south
of the Virginia draw, forming jam which, filed
in with drift-wood, caused great damage, and
impeded travel for some time, until repaired by
direction of the Secretary OF the Treasury. The
next damage, as before stated, was in March
1e41; then again in 1852, when the bridge was
impossible for several months.
WHAT THE BRIDGE COST THE GOVERNMENT.
The entire cost of the bridge to the federal
government, including the purchase of the
rights of the Washington Bridge Company, the
reconstruction and subsequent repairs up TO the
time it was transferred by act of Congress last
year to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company, amounts to S353, 77255.
During the last ten years the repairs, which
from casualties and ordinary wear and tear dur
ing the war were greater than usual, cost
S63, 219.
The New Bridge.
The act OF Congress approved February o,
1861 gave the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company the right of extending a lateral rail-
road into the District Of Columbia, with certain
restrictions; and supplementary act, approved
june n, $50, gave the company power and
authority to extend this road by way of Mary
land avenue, conforming TO its grade, to the Via
dnct over the Potomac river at the Long Bridge
70 connect their track with any railroad in the
State OF Virginia. To effect these purposes the
company were empowered to take possession or
hold, change and use the bridge in perpetuitv