Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-27
The Free Bridge, Once More.

step in and put an end to controversy which
had the effect of grinding out Of the people who
have occasion to use that bridge a heavy and
ruinOus tribute in the shape of tolls. But upon
the appearance of that article the old champions
OF bridge upon the Aqueduct piers (and their
name is not legiOn) stepped forward to the
rescue of their pet scheme of fOisting upon the
public, at heavy cost, without commensurate
consideration, bridge at that site. and a
bridge, too. with the Objectionable feature of a
draw. Discussion, however. has arisen, and
the writer, not at all disturbed by the
odds AGAINST him, proposes to follow up
his hard blows with some additional facts.
No further notice of Mr.. Bliss communication
would be necessary were 1t not that 1t affords an
opportunity of bringing to the attention or the
public some very important facts. The writer
will be as brief as possible. and will deal in both
facts and figures. 1t will be remembered that
Mr.. Bliss alleges that the plateau ON the Vir-
gina side of the river is three hundred feet
above tide water, and wishes to make the inn
preston that that grade must be surmounted
before road constructed from the ''TiIree
Sisters =" site can reach the plateau as though
road leading from bridge which it is expressly
provided in the estimates of MIR. Albert, the gov
eminent engineer. shall be at least sixty feet
above the river level, at low water mark and
may be seventy-fve feet Cat the option of the
builder), must start from the waters edge.
CALCULATED TO MIsLEAD.
That is the inference to be drawn and the
statement has the appearance of being intended
to mislead. 1t is granted that to reach the
plateau. q half-mile back from the river, that
elevation and possibly greater one would have
to be overcome, but that is q very DAMAGING
admission for Mr.. Bliss side of the question as
1t Is up aud over that grade that we are now
travelling, and Will continue to travel If the free
bridge is located at the Aqueduct site The
writer never claimed, IA Mr.. Bliss would have it
appear, that road could be constructed on q
grade Of a foot to the mile from the Three
sisters" site to Falls Church. There are two
roads already existing leading In almost parallel
lines from the Aqueduct bridge to the western
and southern portions of Alexandria county, to
Falls Church and other portions of Fairfax
county and to LOudOun county. These roads
would be intersected BY the proposed road from
the Three Sisters site at distance little
over a mile in one instance from the southern
terminus of a bridge from that site and of
about two miles in the other. BY this proposed
road several high and difficult hills would be
avoided, and the distance to Georgetown to
intersection, above referred to, would be
reduced about three-fourths of mile
while 1t would be no greater than it
now Is to persons below those points, except
such persons asreside Immediately at the south
ern terminus Of the Aqurduct bridge. The
right OF way for this road has been already So
cured. The reduction in distance referred to
would apply with equal prOpriety to Fort Never
and the adjacent neighborhood on account of
its being IN more direct line with the ''Three
Sisters" route. but it would involve the con-
structiOn OF an additional road to that locality;
yet If the people Of the District of Columbia who
are wont in the sutry afternoons of summer to
seek an hour of recreation and enjoyment and
the fresh air Of the country, over beautiful
drives, could have an opportunity Of viewing
the ground over which these roads would pass
it would soon be apparent that there would be
but one opinion regarding the locality of the
free bridge, and that would be the one
FAyoRING THE THREE SISTERS" SITE.
Our opponents may smile at such o sugges-
ton; but it is practical one. and will commend
itself to the best classes Of the people. Mr..
Bliss wants bridge at the foot of High street.
which would involve another one to connect
AnalOstan island with the Virginia shore; but is
he aware that road from that point would
have to pass through a culvert under the canal
that is scarcely of sufficient capacity to admit
within IT good sized wagon load of hay? Or
does he propose third bridge to surinouHt this
difficulty? Mr. Bliss is bridge builder and we
would advise him to stick to the High street
site. This gentleman alleges that ''the business
men OF Georgetown have no right to iuterpose
between the people and an immediate free
/ bridge" 1t would be desirable for Mr.. Bliss to
/ inform US in what respect Georgetown has in
terposed obstacles to that most cherished real
/ lZatlOn OF long expected but blasted hopes: q
| free bridge 1t is presumed that the people of
| Georgetown have right to the opinion that
! neither High street nor the Aqueduct piers, in
view OF her commercial interests. are suitable
sites for the free bridge He also says that she has
not taken step nor contributed dollar to-
wards the destruction of the Aqueduct. She
has not. that the writer is aware of; but she has
| done more: She contributed $4,000 to the con-
/ structiOn OF the Aqueduct bridge, more than
half OF the whole cost Of that structure, if the
cost of constructing the AQueduct trunk is not
| taken into the account,