Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-28
ThesEreesBrfdge Question Again.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAB:

To the Editor Of The EVENING SrAa.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec %, 1881.
The letter on the "Free Bridge Question"
which appeared In Saturdays STAR, signed
Nous Verons," is simply mass Of miss tate
ments The act approved February %, 1881,
approprattng s140, 900 for the construction of a
free bridge does not, as asserted by this CORE
spondent specify the three Sisters as site
for this bridge, but says at or near George
town, thus leaving its location wholly at the
discretion Of the Secretary of War. Again, he
certainly errs In claiming that road of an easy
grade Of one foot to the mile can be constructed
from the Three Sisters west to Falls Church
The plateau which overlooks the Potomac on
that side is over 800 feet above tide water, and
must be overcome with costly road inside Of
two miles, thus giving grade of more than $50
feet to the mile. Again, bridge on the aque-
duct piers will not cost s3OO, 900. will agree to
erect hrst-class iron bridge thereon for S55 OO0
leaving $50, 600 for purchase of the piers, under
the bridge act; of the $140 900 appropriated by
it. 1nasmuch as the letter In question CORE
spends throughout with above misstate-
ments it is waste Of time and
space to discuss it or its mud singing at the
gentlemen engaged in removing the obstacles in
the way of free bridge. Messrs. Sypherd and
Lacey are old journalists, and will taKe care of
themselves, presume, if needs be, without de-
tense from me.
wish, however, to say that am very famil-
lar with this free bridge question" having
been directly connected with 1t since the fight
opened, six or eight years ago. was employed
by Capt. Lacey at that time to make the pre-
liminary survey Of the river at Three Sisters
and, subsequently, the site near the Aqueduct,
as well as to run a line of levels up Spout run
the ravlne which breaks through the bluff at the
Three Sisters. and up which the roadway must
De constructed should the bridge be built at
this point. In the light of my experience as
railroad engineer and professional bridge builder
included in which is the construction OF
the B. Il P. R. r. bridge over Eastern branch.
l must in candOr say that Capt Lacey has erred
in one particular in his conduct Of the free
bridge contest by not combining the bridge site
to the foot of High street at Georgetown. At
this point the cost OF construction will be far
less than at either of those above the Aqueduct.
Inc engineer department estimate of 1920 600
If taken as the criterion of cost at the Three Sis
tiers. is certainly much above that required for
the High street site, as am confident that at it
the cost will not exceed $4,000 The surveys
made near this point under the direction of Hon.
John s. Barbour, president of the Virginia &
Midland R, R.. show that railroad bridge, with
draw, across to AnalOstan island will not cost
to exceed 800, 900, which, II correct-and we
have no reason to suppose otherwise-leaves a
wide margin OF the Sl40. 600 for the less costly
wagon bridge No one is better aware of these
facts than Capt. Lacey. He so stated them to
the Secretary of War in my presence, and yet at
the same time asked that bids be advertised for
upon the bridge sites which had been surveyed
by me above the Aqueduct bridge.
which request Mr.. Lincoln granted.
This was done in alleged Difference
to the wishes of the business men of George
town. But hold that these gentlemen have no
right whatever to interpose between the people
and an immediate free bridge. While all admit
that the Aqueduct canal trunk is an infamous
nuisance and should be summarily condemned
In public interests, yet Georgetown is not taking
nor has since the passage of the bridge act,
taken step or contributed dollar toward its
destruction, but to the contrary has used every
energy to force the building Of bridge full
half mile above the line of public and govern
ment travel to Arlington and Virginia This
desired bridge OF hers at the Three Sisters
necesstates an additional appropriation of
$50, 600, which Congress never will grant so long
as the fact remains that $40 600 the amount
already appropriated, is abundanty ample to
build frst-class bridge and draw at or near the
foot of High street. If Georgetown is inclined
to be patriotic, let her grant permission for the
building of this bridge.
CuAc RI