Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-21

49,
NEW BRIDGE.
The break In the Aqueduct bridge. reported
In yesterdays STAR, occurred in the second
span from the Virginia end OF the bridge.
The news that break had occurred spread
rapidly, and became exaggerated into a re-
port OF q serious calamity. Many persons
visited the structure during the evening. The
roadway and superstructure above the trough
OF the AQueduct did not appear to be affected
and travel across the bridge was not stopped.
One OF the large braces supporting the trough,
with the beams supporting the floor gave way,
and the floor fell out, making an opening
twenty feet wide In the bottom oil the trough.
This break occurred about O'Clock in the
afternoon. clerk in the canal office, who
was looking out OF The window at the time, saw
the timbers hy and the water rush out like a
new born Niagara into the river. The clerk at
ouce gave the alarm and were started
OUT 70 close the gates at the ends of the
ginia end was closed, but the gate
at the District end, over which grea:
mrrent Tn OF water was roaring, would not close
Inc Kate lies on the floor Of the trough, and
closes upward, like door. The men, alter
working Tor Jew minutes, went for help, and
While they were gone the iorce Of the water
brought the gate up i!sel.. Still IL did not close
cOmpieteiy, and "A reduced stream water con-
tihued to run through and pour oUt into the
river through the hoe in the bottom oi the
bridge. Before the gate was closed the water in
the Georgetown level the canal ran cut So
IdoL tudt ItS ueptl was reduced Two ictt. A
canaIboat was lying near The bridge. and it
began TO drift towards the trough. 1ne captain
was away, Tut the captains wife and baby were
there. The captains wife, filled with alarm,
gave a Shrek, seized her baby, and leaped
ashore. The boat soon struck bottom, on
account OF the diminished depth of water, and
ancu0red fiseff. When the gates were closed
the sudden backward swirl OF the current
swung the boat back into lis old place, but
notnlng couid induce tne captains vile TO
return 10 the cabin. until late IN the evening.
Inc wafer Was drawn OFT oi tnc three-nliis level
last uignt, in order 10 make repairs, ana added
to the Usual noises OF the night along tue Canal
were the deep curses OI canal boGtmen whose
boats were leEL hIgn and Gry. 1he Aqueuuct
trough is little nseu now, except by boats mat
are occasionally hauled down 10 the brick
yards on the Virginia side.
The damage done is estimated by the bridge
Officials 10 be about $5uU, and IL will require
about ten days TO make the repairs. Ten inen
unoer The supervision Of MI. Hunter are at
present Engaged III removing The rotten tlin-
bers of the span. The tilnbers used as supports
are 15 inches by inches and 2S ieet long.
Some OF the timUer in tue trunk have been
there since 1882. "Tnis accident mas no effect
upon the biluge, and l have rocked for II Tor
hVe years past, SAID the superintendent.
COL. ABERrS REPORT.
Col. S. I. Albert, civil engineer, last March
made, by direc ion OF the Secretary OF War, an
examination Oh the Aqueduct bridge, witn the
view OF delermining ''its safety lor ordinary
travei wnen Tue a4ueduct is riled with water.
Coz. Albert fnaue a repof!, wuicn WAS published
III IHk STAR, detailing at length the deIects,
due chiefly 10 decay, IOuuu ln the ofiose. La
relation ~ the nOOr ueaIns vi the AQueuuct, he
SaIu: "Tne plan calls for iOfty-nve nUor-oeains
beneath the trough. New Oeanis nave been
placed beneath the floor; but lu many ot the
spans old ana decayed ueains still reinain. Tac
numuer OI gouu beams varies from tuIrty-
iii tue second span 10 rfLy i've in the lourtn AND
seventh spans. he caicuiai Ell Lhat the weight
Oh Water per panel wAs oo,ouU pounds. COL,
Alert said 1t WAS evident Thai wncn the trough
was iOaueu with water tale "Ufiuse cannot
pronounced W be safe I0r u moving LOAD of 10
nj
OF ordinary travel, thorough repairs and
creasing uillgence will pe Necessary u prevent
aco1uenL.'
TIE PROPOSED PURCHASE OF THE BRIDGE.
Tue ACT of Congress authorizing the purchase
bridge at the Three sisters, approved Ell,
1886, provides TOR the purchase OF tuv ->Que-
uuct Uriuse, with all appTuacues and all rIgn.s
$l25,OVU. Tue bridge Is 10 he II Tree brluye,
auu Is " be reconst, ucteu, $@AO,OUO being
appropriated 10 acquire the tile and pay Ior
the reconstruction.
Ii the purchase of the bridge is not made In
SIX nontus from the passage OF the ACT, the
secretary OF w ar is directed to build IRON
anu masonry bridge at tue Three Sisters, aud
bIii Also provides in purchasing tue AqueducL
bridge that II ~ Is necessary ~ obtain the
Chesapeake anu OHIO Canal COMPANY ANY
lease or conveyance vi the ground on wnlcn tne
norLuern aUuLineuG OI Tue A4ue0ucL prluge
rests, or riSuL w Cross the cauai irOIn the aUuL
menL 10 b. iuge street, OF II u good title canuOL
be procured Dy cOutract to properly
same shall be acqulreu by Ine Secretary O1 War
by CONCENTRATION.