Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-08
THE FREE BRIDGE BILL.
Its Pr0yisiOns As Reported In the Hons

The amended free bridge bill reported In the
| House of Representatives Thursday from the
District committee Is as follows:
That the Secretary of War is hereby author.
| lied and directed to acquire by purchase title
| in fee simple, free from all liens or claims OF
| lessees or others the bridge known as the Aque.
| duct bridge, across the Potomac river, and the
approaches thereto, and all the rights and fran.
| chises connected with said bridge, for a sum
not to exceed $125,OOO, the title to be ap-
| proved by the Attorney General OF the United
States; and said bridge. when so acquired, shall
| be used as free bridge, under such regulations
Secretary of War is further authorized, in case
the United States shall acquire title to the said
bridge, to repair or reconstruct the same; and
for the purpose OF acquiring such title and re-
pairing and reconstructing said bridge the sum
of S240,OOO, or SO much thereof as may be nee
out of any money In the Treasury not other
wise appropriated; and one-fourth OF the ex-
pense OF sueh purchase and reconstruction or
paid by the District of Columbia, and the bal
ance three.fourths of the sum SO expended
shall be paid out Of the Treasury Of the United
States.
That if the provisions of the first section of
this act authorizing the purchase OF the Aque-
six months from the passage Of this act. and
the title therefor approved as therein required,
then the Secretary of War, be. and he is hereby,
structed across the Potomac river a: the Three
sisters. above Georgetown, in the District of
Columbia, substantial iron and masonry
bridge, with approaches; and the sum Of $500
ooO be, and the same is hereby, appropriated,
out of any money in the Treasury not other
wise appropriated, for the construction of said
bridge and approaches, the same to be main
tanned as free bridge for travel: PrOuided, That
the said Secretary of War shall construct q
bridge upon such plan as shall cost no more
than the amount herein appropriated, and
which cost shall include the construction of a
substantial iron bridge over the Chesapeake
and OHIO canal and highway, and any and all
bridge shall not be less than Ia feet in the clear
above the water-ine of said canal; and not ex-
ceeding $4,000 of this appropriation shall be
shall have been entered into with responsible
parties, and with good and sufficient sureties,
TO be approved by the Secretary of War, for
the construction and completion Of said bridges
across the Potomac river and the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal including the masonry iron
work, and approaches, at u cost not TO exceed
may be expended for advertising and making
necessary survey. And proUided also That one
iourth OF the expense of the construction of said
bridge shall be charged to and paid by the Dis
trict OF Columbia, and the balance three
fourthsl of the sum hereby appropriated shall
be paid out of the Treasury of the United
States sta: rr o. J.14er, That the secre-
cause survey of the river to be made at the
Three Sisters, determine the length, width and
height OF said bridge and the length of draw,
and thereupor advertise for plans and price for
the construction OF said bridge, such advertise
ment TO be inserted In one or Ifiore daily news
papers published In Washington, District OF
Columbia; New York, Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit,
Mich; Philadelphia, Pa; Chicago, ILL.,, and
Richmond, Va, Ior the space of one week: Aad
Pfoc1ded further, That the sum of 81 ., 900 shall
surveys and such contingencies the Secre-
tary Of War shall deem necessary.
Ii necessary the Attorney General shall have
that part of the Aqueduct site which is in dis
pute condemned.