Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-29
The Bridge Question.

THE THREE SISTERS THE ONLY SITE PROPOSED IN THE
BILL PENDING IN CONGRESS-
Out OF Congress there Is great deal OF talk about
a free bridge, and numerous suggestions as to
where 1T ought to be located. But in the bills
pending before Congress the question of site is
limited to the Three Sisters. Legislation for O
Tree bridge Is now pending In both h ouses of
Congress upon favorable reports from the District
committees. The Senate bill, reported by Mr.
RlddieDerger, directs the Secretary of War to have
constructed at the Three Sisters substantial iron
and masonry bridge, and appropriates ssa0,OOO for
the purpose, with a provsO that 1t hall snot cost
more and also provides that fourth The eSpenss
shall be charged to the District and the remainder to
the United states. The House bill also directs the
secretary TO have constructed at the Three Sisters
substantial iron and masonry bridge and apprO-
PIRATES $4,000 in addition to the $4,000 appropr-
aed Tor this purpose In 1881 Also requires that the
total cost shall notexceed s22OOO 1t also provides
That none OF the money shall be expended until the
Virginia authorities give satisfactory guarantee to
open and construct the necessary roads to connect
the bridge with the highways of that state, and to
keep them in repairs 1t provides further, that
the expenditure shall be regarded as part OF the
the Secretary OF War to have the survey made as
soon as possible and advertise for proposals to
build the bridge and make 49, 600 Of the appropria-
ton Immediately available for this purpose. Thus
it will be seen that the two bills are substantially
the same, and that In neither any site mentioned
or contemplated except the Three Sisters.
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS OBJECT TO TIE THREE
SISTERS SITE.
The letter OF the Commissioners to Senator Rid
dleberger, chairman OF the Senate committee on
the District Of Columbia, OF February 18th, 1884,
states in reference to the location of the proposed
free bridge: "The Commissioners are of the opinion
that the Aqueduct bridge, or, better still. location
below It, say from point between Rock Creek
and EasbyS Point, would be much more
desirable than that at the Three Sisters
bridge at the latter point only be reached by
drive through and about three-quarters OF mile
beyond Georgetown, and having crossed the bridge
we are confronted by precipitOuS bank rising 100
cct IN the first 10 feet and another 100 feet IN the
next GOO feet" "This ls the only Official expression
ever given upon this subject by the Commits
sioners said Commissioner West to STAR reporter
to-day. "They are not heading any opposition to
the location Of the proposed bridge at the Three
Sisters but this is the candid Judgment of the COM
mission as to the proper location, II, In order to
make free bridge, IT is deemed necessary to con-
struct new bridge The location is perfectly
feasible, and piers can be constructed high enough
over the river channel to admit OF the passage OF
shipping without even the necessity OF a draw
As an easy access to Arlington no one can doubt
Its advantage. The persistency OF purpose on
the part OF the citizens Of West Washington to
have the bridge at the Three Sisters is plain
enOugh-tO furnish business impulse to that city
and divert commercial traffic there A bridge, the
size and cost OF this one ought to be placed where
twill accommodate the largest number OF people :"