Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-27
The District i'm COn~ypss.

ELL FOR FREE BRIDGE ACROSS THE PoToy,.
Mr.. Rollins reported to the Senate to-day, it'll
amendments, House bill to authorize the Secre-
taTy Of War TO construct a bridge across the
Potomac river, at or near Three Sisters islands
The bill, as reported. authorizes the Secretary
Of War to cause to be constructor across the
Potomac river, at or near the Three Sisters
islands, near Georgetown, in the District Of CO.
Mmbia substantial iron and masonry bridge
ana causcEay or approach sIIid i1pr0priateS
$l4oCGO for the construction OF said bridge
Froc1ded, ihat the said Secretary shall construct
bridge upon such plan as shall cost no more
thanthe amount herein appropriated. and which
cost shall Include The construction OF SubSian.
tial bridge over The canal and any and all :i)-
prCaches 10 the said iron bridge: and no Dart Gf
this aprrorriati0n shall bc paid out OF the
Treasury until contracts Shall have been en-
tered ITO, with responsible parties, and with
good al q sufficient SuretieS. 10 be aoDrOypj bv
lie secretary tf VAR, for the construction ard
completion Ci said bridge including the ma
!chIY. Ifon Woik, cauSeNay and approaches. at
q cost not 10 exceed Si40 ,090. unless the bridge
be acquired by the government as provided for
in the "a section Of this act: 4 nd prorilaa also
Ihat the said bridge shall be so constructed as
not 20 interfere with the usual navigation above
The point OF location as herenDefoIe set forth
A nd iF0rided. c{S0, That the sum which NAV be
eXrerded under this act shall be treated and
regarded as part Of tie general expenses OF
the District OF Columbia, and the United States
shall be credited with the amount which it may
pay under this act for the erection Of said
Drldge upon its fifty per centum OF the expenses
Of the District OF Columbia, as provided in the
act OF June II, 1878, entitled IAN act providing
ape permanent m rent form OF government for the Dis
execution of this act shall not be carried out
until the legislature OF Virginia Shall give its
assent to the building OF tie abutment of the
bridge uron the territory OF that state.
The Secretary OF War IS directed to acquire
the right to perpetually maintain bridge
across The Potomac river upon the piers of the
Alexandria canal at Georgetown, ID. c., and for
that purpose to use the presest bridge IS long
as the same can conveniently and safely be
used; and afterwards to construct and main
aiil lain a rev lie" and permanent tree bridge upon
said piers: P,oUided, That the present bridge
ana the right to maintain a new bridge struc-
ture peIpetually upon said piers can be pur-
chased from The present owner or owners for a
sum not TO exceed $4,000 OF the amount appro-
pl1ated in the first section Of this act But the
said bridge shall not interfere with the Alexan-
dria canal, and shall be strong enough and SO
constructed as TO allow the trough or trunk of
SAID canal to be supported thereby: but the
United States shall LOT be charged with the ex-
pense OF constructing, maintaining or keeping
in repair the said trough OF trunk. The Secre-
tary OF War is further directed, in the event OF
said purchase, to cause the wooden bridge now
on sald piers to be repaired, and for that pur-
Ing $4,000 Of the sum appropriated In the firSt
sectlon or this act: Provided, That no railroad
track shall be laid upon said bridge as long as
II remains the property Of the government.
1t is said that the usual annual appropria
tion for Providence hospital has been inadyer-
tently omitted from the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill. The error will be corrected when the
Dill Is reported to the Senate.
DISTRICT ITEMS IN THE SCNDRY CIVIL BILL
The Senate committee upon appropriations
has adopted all the amendments TO the sundry
civil appropriation bill which were recommend
ed by the Senate committee on the District of
Columbia. Until the committee COMPLETES con-
s1deTation OF the bill it will not be known what
amounts, II any. have been appropriated for the
improy ement of the water supply, District sew
era9e, reclamation OF the water front, &c. The
committee has adopted the plan to provide a
sinking fund to meet the principal OF the 3.6J
bonds at maturity.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT
held meeting to-day and amended the assess
ment bill by fixing the rate Of interest on de.
hnquent tax payments at six instead of ten Der
cent. interest. The other features OF the bill
nave already been printed in the STAR. The
committee discussed for an hour the bill intro
duced last Monday in the House by Representa-
tive Townshend, Of Illinois, providing Tor re-
vision of ass essmentS alleged to have been erro-
neously assessed, and giving parties aggrieved
the right OF appeal to the Courts. No action
was taken and the committee adjourned with
the bill pending, which kills it for this season.