Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-21
The Free Rr.dx. ou.,,,ou.

vIKws or TIE DISTRICT coNMIssroSERs-rtIHrR LIT
fkR 10 SENATOR sIDDLEBsR6ER
IN letter 70 Senator Riddleberger OF the senate
sub d strict committee having the free bridge bin
In charge, the District Commissioners oppose that
measure They take the ground. FIRST, that the
bill charges the entire cost OF the bridge seeooop
TO the District and that 70 pass the bill would d.
vert That amount OF money from important public
improvements already in progress az say the
COMMISSIONER "the sum expended is 70 be re-
Safded as part OF the general expenses OF Ire
District, clearly IL must be concluded that the
structure is demanded In the interest Of the PTS
trlct, ana II Its construction compes the pos pon
nent OF other improvements, The latter mus: be re-
4rded as OF less Importance than the bridge The
commissioners emphlticaily declare that the CON-
pietlon OF the sewerage system and the
STREET IMPROVEMENTS ARK OF MORE VITAL IMPORT
ANC8
Than the bridge The Commissioners claim that
the construction OF the bridge under this nll would
leave but $4,000 for street improvements next
year, and II the estimates OF the Treasury sre
taken, only S25 600 would be leu for this purpose
Lhes protest against bridge at the sacrifice OF
s SUI Improvements. pubic schools and police and
u'e departments They admit that a free bridge
uhportantS but maintain that IL is not Important
enoagh 10 procure IL at the cost OF the interests
uientloneu They hold that those principally IN
sreSteu IN the construction OF bridge are drst the
people OF Virginia; secondly, Georgetown. and
thirdly, the District and Maryland. They protest
OF the general expenses OF the District, but IL that
w oe uones mink the bridge should oe postponed
IN REGARD 10 THE LOCATION OF TUE BRIDGE
they express the opinion that the "Aoueduct
bridge, or better still location below IL say from
a point between Rock creek and Easby's point,
Three Sisters" They contend that bridge At the
latter site would be inaccessible Oh both sides and
mat IL would be out OF the way. at Is" they con-
bridge Is to be built It should be located below
tne Aqueduct bridge, notwithstanding its cost
would be ereater." Such a bridge they hold,
m 40 frnx 4. Il.,fv tt.x n
on, 'all present wants would be best and most
immediately met by the acquisition OF the
ASneduct bridge Of 1t can be obtained at a reason
aoie cost and the reconstruction OF its super
structure at an early date" They suggest that II
tnere any diffculty about purchasing the
further: at may be noted that the Guiding of a
new nee bridge In the vicinity OF this one would
prooao!y detract largely from the value which It's
the Commissioners declare that IL free bridge is 10
oe ootalned at the expense OF the District they
Mns Commlssloners, should have charge Of tie
work and expenditures
SENATOR RtppLRsERaRR sAYs THE COMMISSIONERS
Arr ENTIRELY WRONG.
Senator MddleberGer says the Commissioners are
entirely wrong In their construction OF the prov1s-
ions OF the bill sit provides" he said specifically
that the expense shall be divided between the
United States and the District" There is no inten-
ton, he said, to put the whole burden upon the
District, and he added: You NAV saw that II there
rs any reasonable ground for the construction OF
VIII be remedied That defect will be cured as the
purpose Is that the District shall pay but half the
cost" The Senator, referring to the recommenda-
ton OF site below the Aqueduct bridge said that
IL would entail much heavier expenditure.
Major Lydecker estimates that a bridge
tnere will cost fully 10000 more than
at the Three sisters. snd he does not believe
tlat estimate Will cover the additional cost Sem
ator Riddit berger also that as virginia owns
part OF the AQueduct bridge. il cannot be con
demned. The property OF a state cannot be con-
oeinned Nv ny" said he, 1.-THE government cannot
get Title 70 the grounds needed for its cemeteries
except with the assent or the states In which they
are situated" He said that the question Of the
Title OF Virginia to shares In the AGuet,urt brdgp
mas been Appealed 10 the Supreme Court, and
IL may be years before decision Is made: mean
time. should a free bridge be made dependent upon
acquisition or the AQueduct bridge, aothirg could
De done The width OF the river at the Three SIS
tiers Is LOO feet, only or about one-third OF the
Width OF the site recommended by the Commission
erS Senator Rlddleberger thinks that II the Com
mlslonerS are seeking for economy in the structure
lt clearly lies In putting IL at the Three sisters tie
Is convinced that that Is the only feasible plan for
the early building or bridge. and declares that he,
means 10 go right ahead with It. looking neither to
the right nor left, nor accepting any coInpromlses
Mr.. Shelley was to-day authorized TO report Mr.
Baroours free bridge bill faSorabiy TO the House at
once.