Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-09
THE PROPOSED FREE RRIDGE.
Report Of the Senate District Commit.
tee ON the Subject.

tee ON the Subject.
AN AMrL8 AUTHORIZATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR A
sTRUcfURB AT TIE THREE sISTERs-THH COM
MITTKR URGE THE IMPORTANCE OF NEW BRIDGE,
AND THINK WOULD BIZ WASTE OF TIMR TO
TREAT WITH THE ALEXANDRIA BRIDGE COMPANY.
The report prepared by the Senate District COM
mttee upon the bill to authorize the construction
OF a bridge across the Potomac river at the Three
Sisters. near Georgetown, opens with reference to
the failure to carry out the provisions of the act of
February %, 1881. appropriat1ng $4,000 for the
construction OF bridge across the Potomac at OF
near Georgetown, and authorizing the Secretary OF
bridge, If it could be purchased for $4,000, on &C
count Of the refusal OF the parties claiming to hold
the and the fact thas bid ade
for constructing bridge at the Three Sisters was
1or the exact amount appropriated, and proposed
strength.
THE COST OF THE PROPOSED BRIDGE
The Secretary OF War submits detailed estimate
for substantial bridge at the Three Sisters show
ing that it will require for the bridge proper ap-
proaches, and necessary inspection and tests of
an o for What
which Is considered preferable another additional
sum Of $4,000, or total additional sum OF $4,000
for through bridge. Secretary Lincoln recon-
mends, therefore, an additional appropriation OF
$4,000 to give practical effect to the act Of Feb. g
ENGINEER E1LErr's RECOMMENDATIONS.
In 1852, the report says, OF the most distin-
guished engineers in the United States, Charles
Elicit, Jr., esq.,, recommended In the strongest
terms the same point for the BRIDGE and the recon-
mendation was concurred In by the corporation OF
Ing citizens Of Georgetown, signed December %,
1852, praying Congress to adopt the site recon-
ten anS c2e prse se ew the their Ss
Dor. Is included in the report. The signers
were 4; Addison, WIN. H. Tenhey, VIM. s. Nichols,
Matthew'S Marimls Willett, Robert Ould, Judson
Mitchell, and B. J. semmes In his report at that
date Col Elicit named 1927 las the cost Of the
arranging the plan Of the structure, have not
deemed It at an expedent or proper to practice a
% TO se
sight OF the Capitol for the conveyance Of all travel
across the Potomac on the great northern and
edi1ce a monument OF strength and stability
worthy OF the site and its purposes shall there
fore submit a liberal estimate, and assume that a
work OF the first order Is to be erected.
FREE INTERCOURSE FAVORED.
After referring to the many memorials presented
to Congress on the subject OF free bridge and the
exorbitant tolls collected on the Aqueduct bridge,
"to the Inconvenience and positive detriment Of
sne S1t re OF washington ana the country lying
Fairfax, Loudon and other counties in Virginia,
who, being largely engaged in the dairy and truck
ing business, require constant Intercourse with
their customers In this city and Georgetown" the
report says:
''The soundness Of the policy which seeks to re-
move all unnecessary barriers to personal and COM
mercial intercourse between the residents of q
large and rapidly growing city and surrounding
iu1 hs 1adnss sets p passe 9f BY
Vicinity Of Washington, and and n deearins
similar action will be taken In this case Congress is
committed to the policy OF free intercourse also by
the purchase of all turnpike road running into the
1,o Init rod
states to-day pays the Aqueduct bridge company
$500 for the use Of the bridge for the Fort Myer
go to Arlington to honor the nations dead are taxed
by this corporation. In conclusion your committee
submit that past experience demonstrates that it Is
WASTE OF TINE
to treat with the Aqueduct company, and after a
careful investigation of the title to the Aqueduct
bridge are convinced that title could not be Sc
cured for many years If at all The decision OF the
United States circuit court OF last week. adverse to
the claim OF the United States to the Virginia stock
court Of appeals is but the beginning Of the delays
and sean1s tts that would roy follow an
TINS section Of virginia Would remain The com.
its sn9 The acaompaRyns bin
OF bridge at the Three Sisters the provisions Of
which have been printed 1nTHE STAR.
Underground Wires.
TELEGRAPH COMPANIES TO PUT THEIR LINES UNDER
THE PAvEhENr-TBE WESTERN UNION STILL HOLD
ING OUT.
The District Com .l,5sioners few days since sent
letter to DR.. Norvin Green, president OF the West
ern Union Telegraph company, and MI. D. Il.
Bates, president OF the Baltimore and Ohio Tele-
graph company, calling their attention to the fact
that within the last few months the United States
government, the District government and the
fHPlpDTQnh hnh oil LOTT oip
amount OF underground wires, and that the Tele-
phone company and the Bankers and Merchants
Telegraph company were under agreement to lay
period within the District limits
DR.. Green and MI. Bates were requested to con-
slider the subject OF placing their main trunk line
underground without further delay, and they were
specially notified OF the work about to be begun by
the Bankers, aid Merchants company, on 14th
street, between Pennsylvania avenue and Ohio
avenue, and requested to lay their wires in this
same trench.
ern UniOn but Mr.. D. II. Bates and Mr.. j. e. Zueb-
lin, representing the Baltimore and Ohio company
called at the commissioners office this morning to
express their willingness to lay their wires under
ground on 14th street, as requested, though they
were not surett would prove success If It proves
to be successful they WIN continue to lay the main
BODY OF their line underground. Arrangements
nave been made for beginning the work next week
In connection with the Bankers and Merchants
company. The conduit to be used by these COM
panies on 14th street is three-tnch wrought-iron
pipe, which will contain cable OF insulated copper
wires. This Is similar to the system which has
been IN successful use in London for several years
An application from the U. s. Electric Light COM
pany tolay underground wires on Pennsylvania
avenue and on 9TH street, as far as the Patent
Office, Is now pending before the Commissioners
The Western Union Is the only company, having
wires In this city, which has not as yet expressed
Its Willingness to begin the work OF placing wires
under ground.
1t Is the intention OF the B. and o. company, so
the Officers state to take advantage Of the opportu-
nifty offered them In this city to experiment largely
with various underground systems, that they may
determine upon and adopt the best for general use
The Bankersand Merchants Telegraph Company
have begun to lay their underground wires In the
city, beginning at 18th street and Ohio avenue and
along 14th to the Office OF the company, on the
avenue.
District Government Affairs.
MISCELLANEOUS
The District Commissioners have decided In the
case or Alien G. Clark that they find no authority
IN law to Issue drawbacks with interest for the re-
demptiOn OF certificates issued for fOOtwayS They
say that sail allowances heretofore made for any
part OF the interest the certificates was illegal
reports that during the month OF February ninety
eight coal scales were inspected, Of which number
nlnety-Six were found to be in good order.
postmaster COnger, in q note to the Commits
S1OnerS, calls attention to the filthy condition of
street, between 9Th and 9TH streets northwest, In
the rear OF the city post Office.
Mr. Albert Mcintosh requests the construction of
II inch sewer from the main sewer of the west
side Of 10th street. for the purpose of draining six
houses On east side OF 10th street, between French
and streets
The Commissioners have received letter from
Mr. William Saunders complaining OF the condition
OF the streets In the vicinity Of his residence 1905