Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-06

FERRY BOATS IN REoUIsITIoN TO CARRY
PERSONS ACROSS THE RIVER.
Promptly at noon to-day Lieut.. Redway, of
the police. with squad OF officers, took pos
session OF the Aqueduct bridge, which was
oarricaded at once in accordance with the
order OF the Commissioners, allowing no one to
pass. NO opposition was offered to this pro-
ceeding by the bridge authorities. Within
half an hour after the closing of the bridge
there gathered at the District end of the struc-
ture large crowd of persons, all wishing to
ontaln permission, for various reasons, to be
aIiowed 10 cross. Farmers returning home
from market, policy players with their draw
all wearing disconnected look on their faces
AS soon as the bridge was barricaded enter
prlsing boatmen were on hand Offering their
services 10 Terry the people across the river, and
their services were in demand. A resident of
virginia stated to STAR reporter that 1t would
sda ,or some Of the residents on that
than heretofore (by way OF the Chain bridge) to
get home.
THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE BRIDGE COMPANY.
The Commissioners contributed further to
the ohclal literature relating to the
Aqueduct bridge last evening by writing let
ters to the bridge company, stating that
they would be pleased to remove the
embargo on the bridge when needful repairs are
lection to the use of the trough for the passage
OF canal boats provided proper precautions are
taken for the protection OF people passing be-
meath.
ORDERS TO THE POLICE.
At the same time they wrote an order to the
major OF police, enclosing the order directing
that the bridge be barricaded at noon to-day,
and instructing him in case the bridge be not
closed at the hour indicated "tO take steps to
secure tne enforcement of the order"
WHAT MR.. LACEY SAYS.
MIR. X. S. Lacey, in a communication to THE
STAR incioses copy of his letter, filed yester-
day with the District Commissioners, asking
suspension OF the order of closing the Aqueduct
bridge until Saturday night next, and says of it:
MY prayer is for the citizens OF Alexandria
county. Va, and not for the lessees. They are
able to take care of their own interests, and l
presume viii try to do so. But regard the
embargo laid on the bridge as an unwarranted
burden sadded upon US, who are citizens and
residents OF Virginia. The bridge is stronger
made stronger as rapidly as skilled men can
work at 1t, hence there is absolutely no need
for such zeal as has been displayed this week TO
bar citizens OF Virginia from the city. asked
suspension OF the order till Saturday night, be-
cause by that time every brace indicated by
Col. Albert would be in position. There is no
more skilllui bridge builder In the United States
than MIR. Hunter, superintendent Ot the bridge,
and his assurances Of safety are law TO me. On
on my heavy farm wagon loaded to the extreme
with lumber and saw no evidence of weaK-
ness. The Commissioners embargo should be
at once removed"
On behalf of himself, land other citizens
resident on the south side of the Potomac river,
and who are compelled daily to cross the aque-
duct bridge in coming to their business in
Washington and returning TO their homes i'll
Virginia." asking that the bridge be not closed
to travel until Saturday, October 9, 1886, at
midnight, says:
"It must, think, be manifest that the bridge,
TO say nothing of the repairs now being made,
Will be safe Tor three days after Wednesday, as
1t was :or Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday;
and 1t will be u great hardship especially to
farmers, gardeners and Others W no are bringing
their products now ready for market, alid sub
Ject 10 irOSt TO cut them OFT from the only
available means OF access to market during the
week, and feel all the more justified in max
ing this application by statement found at
the top OF the eleventh page OF report made
by Col. Alert on this bridge on May ., 1886, in
which he states that the uefection OF the bridge
out OF line In 1884 was twice as great, on the
average, as 1t Was when he made his examina-
tiOn i'll 1886, the total detection GU the nine
spans then being eishty-six inches, and in May
last being forty-lWO inches, an average Of it 1t
Was equally divided among the nine spans, of
less than tive inches per span, In perpendicu-
lar elevation Oh twenty-three feet Since that
date the detection has been greatly leSsened,
and almost removed from several OF the spans.
The deviation Of the lower chord, also noted by
Col. Albert, has been remedied iii still greater
Degree. 4. 5. LACEY.