Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-15
ABOUT THE FREE BRIDGE.
The Transfer Of the AQueduct Bridge
TO the Government Not Eet Com plete.

Inc transfer OF the AQNeduCt Bridge
TO the Government Not Eet Complete.
AS stated In special dispatch to THE STAR last
ev ming the deeds OF the aqueduct and bridge
were finally competed and acknowledged In Alex
aniria yesterday. Tie ceed OF conveyance is made
by the owners, L. B. Wheat, the president OF the
Alexandria Canal company, all the directors Of
tnat company and its clerk, as we'll as by Wells,
DUNCAN Q 'igley tthe Alexandria Canal and
Bridge company, who have Il lease OF the canal
and aqueduc for SO years. Both owners and lessees
unite IN the deed OF fee-simpie conveyance whi h
vests. the absolute ownership OF the piers and
bridge In the United States The conveyance Is
made subject TO the act OF February %, 1881 the
Alexandria Canal compaGy and its lessees stlll re-
ti.Mng the right TO attach an aQueduct TO the
piers In order that wafer may lie conveyed and
the Alexandria canal
This conveyance was made under the act of
CONGRESS, p2sstd at it last session, directing that
Ordge should be built at the Three sisters, unless
within ninety days title to the aQueduct piers
was conveyed TO the United States. The apprOpri-
s1ion M IS $4,000 OF which the United states pays
$4,000 TO Wells. DUNCAN Quigley. Part OF the
cons. Iteration Is TO be used in paying OF certain
Judgments against and encumbranceS on the Alex
aEdIla canal. The new bridge 10 be erected. If
built, will be butt upon tue piers supporting the
present structure.
HISTORY OF TIE TRANSFER.
The transfer OF the aqueduct to the United
States has been fully accomplished. so far as the
secure 1t. Captain George Mushbach repre-
sented the canal lesseas, Wells, Duncan and Ouiq-
ley and John NJ. johnson, esq ihe Alexandria
canal company. The canal company, which had
at nrsI refused TO accept the OF February 1881
cnanged1t Its decision and S9me months ago. author
Htd Its directors to accept hat act and the United
states authorities required that the president
c.era and all the directors OF the canal company
should sign and acknow edge the transfer deed
MI d. Wheat, the president OIL the company, the
last OF them, Acknowledged the deed yesterday
There are between Sc COO and 5000 OF unpaid
taxes charged up against the bridge company by
the District authorities, which, 1t is expected will
form an item 10 be consi Tered In completing the
transfer OF the pI operty TO the United STATES
WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE.
MIR. W. W. DUNCAN, the superintendent OF the
Aqueduct bridge, called at the War department
this morning and left with the acting Secretary of
War the deed and accompanying papers necessary
to convey the AQueuct bridge property to the gov
eminent The deed OF conveyance Is In effect an
agreement OF the directors OF the Alexandria Canal
company and Messrs Wells, Quigley and DUNCAN.
the essees or the AQueduct br dge to convey to the
government all right and title 10 the bridge TO e
aside for the purpose by Congress II Is mist axe
TO suppose that as SOON as these papers were sub
the bridge becomes The property OF the United States
The Law authorizing the purchase was passed by
Congress In 1881. one hundred and forty thousand
dollars was appropriated for the erection OF a new
bridge but 1t left discrei ionary with the Secre-
tary OF War expend >S5OOO OF the amount ror the
purchase OF the AQueduct, provided that in the
Opnon OF the Attorney General the IL lie is valid.
so that considerable remains TO be done before the
bridge changes ownership. The papers submitted
by the present ownerS simply refer their part
the matter. No action will be taken upon them
until after the return Of the Secretary OF War from
FORTRESS Monroe, W ich will not be, probably, be-
lore some time next week.
TIE EXAMINATION OF TITLE
The papers will be referred by him to the Attor-
ney General, who Will render opinion as TO the
validity Of the title The duty OF looking up the mat
ter OF title Will probably be delegated to District
Attorney Worthington or the attorney at Alexan-
dra- After that point Is settled the Secretary OF
war can act in the matter and can close The sale
by making reQuis'IiOn upon the Treasury depart
ment ror the necessary amount Secretary Lincoln
mas STUDIED the whole subject very Carefully, and
Is we'll informed upon all the details.
IL Will take Tut little time for him
10 act when the matter is once before him for final
action, out 1t whi IN all proba bty take consdera-
Die tline 10 establish the validity OF the title When
the ordge Is once in the hands or the government
IL VIII become Tree; but the date OF the completion
or new bridge upon the site Is matter OF specu-
lat1on purely. Ten thousand dollars can be ex-
pended by the Secretary OF War In repairing the
present bridge, II he deems 1t advisable. In case
new bridge Is built the canal company will retain
The right TO construct and maintain IN aQueduct
upon II, through which canal boats can pass