Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-05-05

luc llll6 10 Iu6 dppEOdCuCS 10 oS4dAiCA oho
other conditions can be made favorable to
the construction of the bridge. So, practi-
cally, there is nothing new recommended
by the present bill. There is no new money
appropriated by it, if the amendment pro-
posed is incorporated into the bill, except
ing the 900 addition, which is to clear
the title. This is the only real apprepria-
ton out of which The District Com missioners
would have to pony up 81 800, and that they
can we'll afford and still continue the work
of street improvement, &C.
Now an appropriation has been already
made 10 secure the building of the bridge.
This question, it should be borne in mind,
has been canvassed and discussed before for
many years and it finally eliminated in the
act of February %. 1881. The only thing
that is required at the present time in order
to secure the title and prevent further delay
or defeat and discouragemento Of the friends
of the free bridge is 10 adopt q provision
which has been inserted that If the aque-
duct proposition cannot be carried out IN
detail. then in order to secure the coustruc-
ton of the bridge its location has been fixed
at the Three Sisters, and that the work
snail be commenced within reasonable
time, and that only period of sixty days is
asked for the purpose of determining which
is to be the point I am clear in my own
mind and the committee on an examination
of the subject is clear, and / think every.
body that has looked into the matter is of
the same opinion, that if the amendments
proposed here are adopted, and this bill
passed, that the title will be made clear to
the satisfaction Of the Attorney General,
and that this Sl5, 600 which is required to
pay an old judgment lien which binds the
Alexandria Canal Company will be all the
additional fund that the District will have
to provide for.
Mr.. McComas having moved to make the
appropriation 700 instead of $4,000,
Mr.. Barbour said: l hope it will not be
the pleasure of the committee to adopt the
amendment proposed by the gentleman
from Maryland Mr.. McComas think if
gentlemen will examine this subject and
consider the facts of the case it will be per-
fectlv apparent to them that the Govern
ment by the payment of $4,000 to the les
sees of this canal and $500 to the lessons
will be making a most excellent bargain.
These piers are very expensive they have
been put into the river a. very great cost,
and the lessees of the Alexandria Canal hold
possession Of them. Of course the Govern
inent ought not to take this property from
them without giving them fair price for it,
as matter of equity. The Government
can not put piers for any bridge across the
Potomac river at any point for less than
$50 600. if it can do it for that SUN.
By this arrangement with these les>ees
the Government will obtain free bridge
mt saving at the minimum of $50, 900. AS
understand it, these lessees have already ex.
pended about 100000 GU this bridge and
the aqueduct together. When they come
forward here and offer to give the Govern.
ment the use of the piers for $50, 900. and
the expenditure OF Sl5 900 to the canal com
pany will remove the obligations which now
rest upon the property and enable clear
title to be given to the Government, it seems
to me that We will he making most excei-
ent bargain.
The proposition is for the Government to
come in and buy right to build bridge
on these piers When they come to do that
they find the bridge already occupied with
trunk or aqueduct which ia suspended
from the present bridge. The two things
are necessarily associated. When the Gov
ernment comes to put its new bridge there
in buying the canal company out and get
ting this cheap site for bridge they must
make some concession to allow this trunk
to be maintained which is to be connected
to some extent with the bridge. But the
amendment also provides that the maintain
ing Of that aqueduct or trunk shall be at
the expense and cost Of the Alexandria
Canal Company.