Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-30
The Free Bridge Question.

THE wHOLEMATTER TO BE REFERRED BACK TO
CONGRESS.
Secretary Lincoln has considered but not
finally decided the matter involved i'm the free
bridge question. Enough has been settled to
state that the whole subject will 60 back to Con-
gress, and that nothing will be done under the
present bill beyond the surveys and estimates
made and the submission of reports in relation
thereto to the next Congress. The bill does not
state positively that the Aqueduct is to be used
or that bridge shall be built at or near the
Three Sisters. While apparently very plain in
its language, neither the law nor the amount
appropriated make clear way for the Secretary
of War. The point has been raised. and the Sec
retary has given it consideration. that a bridge
from G street across making use Of Analostan
Island would be more convenient. and of more
benefit than bridge at or near the Three Sis
tiers. or even the Aqueduct bridge. should the
company having control of it be willing to sell
the piers to the government. 1t is more than
likely that in submitting the whole question
some such recommendation on the point raised
as to the proper locality for the bridge,
THE COMING THEATRICAL SEAsON-The indi-
cations about Ford's Opera House of renovation
and improvement suggests preparations for an
active and brilliant coming season. The one
past was much disturbed and injurfously affected
by the presidential contest and a winter of un-
usudi ScVcTlty, OuC tne DctCeF UuSiIleSS OI the
early part of the present year made it fairly COM
pensating. The prospects for the season of
'S1-S2 are far better and there is well founded
hope of their full realization. The Opera House
will be in capital condition All that can will be
done to make it comfortable. 1t possesses rare
advantages as summer theater in consequence
of its situation, which be availed of to sat
isfying extent The season will begin with the
eminent comedian, Mr.. John E. Owens, who,
early in September, will appear in the two COM
edies of The Victims and Solon Shingle.
1t is satisfactory to note that this fine comedian
has returned to the plays in which he has
achieved his most noted successes and in which
he stands confessedly without peer. He is in
the meridian of his powers, and accounts from
Boston of recent engagement there all agree
that his acting is as replete ever with unctuOus
humOr and laughter-provoking power.
Following next to Mr.. Owens will be the CAL
ley Slave; Widow BedOtt; Rooms for Rent; the
operas of La Mascotte and Patience; Rossi, the
queen; the Boston Ideal Opera company; Gers
ter, among the greatest of sopranos; Clarke,
the famous comedian; all Of Haverly's minstrel
companies; all of BARLEY Campbells; Robert
Spiller's and Haverlys dramatic companies;
jarrett R0we's Michael StrOgOf's spectacle;
grand carnival spectacle for Christmas and New
Years; Mains English Opera company; the
Tourists; Comfy q Barton's Comic Opera COM
pany; the Vokes family; Minnie Palmer and Ro-
bert Grahame; the Strategists; Our Goblins,
and others yet to come. No manager in Amer
lea can offer list of attractions of more decided
character than those here named at our Opera
House. 1t embraces seven opera companies
ranging from Gerster to the V0keS; the Illus
triOus R0ssi and no less ilustnOus Janauschek
in classic tragedy; Owens and Clarke in high
comedy; Bishop in domestic comedy, ETC., etc.