Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-31
The Free Bridge.


ONLY ONE BID THAT COMES WITHIN THE ApPRoPRI-
ATIoN-wHAT ENGINEER ALERT SAYS ABOUT IT.
THE GOVERNMENTS INTEREST IN THE AQUEDCCT
PIERS.
The bids which were opened last Saturday by
Col. Albert, civil engineer, U. S. A., for a free
bridge across the Potomac, have been forwarded
by that offfcer TO the engineer department OF the
army to be there acted upon. The only bid that
comes under the appropriation is that OF the Cor
rugated Metal company OF East Berlin Conn, repre-
Sented here by Messrs. Jarvis and Douglas The
company proposes 10 build the bridge at the Three
Sisters" for the $4,000 appropriated by Congress
II any bid is accepted it viii be theirs Col Abert
In conversation with THE STAR reporter to-day.
said that the bids made Were being carefully eX-
amined in every detail by competent engt-
neers. The men who made the $1,000 bid
to build the bridge at the ''Three Sisters were
Judge We're perfectly able 10 cary out the contract
me bridge would not be such as he would wish TO
be built, but 1t would be as fully satisfactory, he
thought, as the money appropriated could erect.
There were two expenses in the matter which
were not provided fcr. One was for an Inspector
OF masonry and the other for al inspector of the
iron work of the bridge, both Of which would have
70 be appointed. Upon general terms he might
have preferred that the whole subject go
PACK 10 congress; that an appropriation suffi-
cient TO build a more suitable structure
than could be get ont OF $4,000 might be made,
but under the circumstances it We're, perhaps, best
that the bid mentioned be accepted, and Congress
be asked TO appropriate for the pay of the mason
and iron inspectors. He also said that the piers
OF the free bridge could not be equal In strength or
measurement to the piers OF the Aqueduct bridge
OF which the act authorizing the erection OF a free
bridge contemplated in part the purchase.
THE GOVERNMENTS LOAN TO THE ALEXANDRIA
CANAL. COMPANY.
The lessees OF the Aaueduct bridge it will be
remembered were willing to sell their 80 years
lease to the government, but the stockholders
would not consent to il. When the Auueduct
bridge was built the Alexandria bridge company
called upon the government for aid because they got
into straits and could not finish the structure. The
government advanced them S3C0.G0-mOre than
half the cost of the bridge-under the condition
that it was to receive a like amount OF the stock
Ii has been a question whether the government
ever received that stock. The following Official
communication from j. X. Upton. acting Secretary
or the Treasury, settles that point:
Your letter OF April 29th asking if there has been
any deposit in the Treasury OF stock OF the Alexan
dria Canal company or the Alexandria Canal Rail-
road and Bridge company to secure payment of loan
OF $780, goo made by the Secretary Of the Treasury
under act OF Congress OF March Sd, 1897. has been
received. In reply. have to inform you that this
department is in possession of certificate No. 152
for fifteen hundred shares OF the capital stock Of
the Alexandria Canal company issued in favor OF
the corporation OF Virginia on the 9Th day of
July, 1886. The said certificate was duly de-
posted and transferred to the Secretary of
the Treasury by the council and mayor OF the
corporation Of Alexandria In conformity with
the second section of the act of Congress approved
March Sd, 1887 and the amount OF 100000 therein
appropriated and made payable to said Alexandria
Canal company upon the deposit, transfer and as
signment of the stock Of the Alexandria Canal
company held by the corporate authorities of the
town OF Alexandria with the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury was duly paid"
The government has never taken any steps to
show that it was StOckhOlder Of the bridge, and
a majority StOckholder at that. The government
has acted In the matter as though it regarded the
S3tO,OOO as gratlftous contribution TO building
the Aqueduct bridge Under the law 1t could. it
would appear on the surface, have compelled the
sale OF the piers if the stock it owned had been
voted The whole matter seems, however, to be
settled in the bid OF s14C,CO0 to build new bridge
at the "Ilrpp Sisters -