Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-03
AFTER A AUxoREp YEARS.
Early Efforts In OuA Sseorxesswn q
secure q Free DrtAges

AN OLD MEMORIAL AND THE GRIEVANCES IT
Ext FokTH-hAsoNs fERKr AND THR LONG nkipss-
The citizens, OF West washington propose to
celebrate the opening OF the new free bridge. It
might almost be called q centennial celebration
Tor nearly that length OF time has elapsed since
the agitation OF the free-bridge question was
oegun oy the citizens OF that part OF the District
during the opening years OF the century Congress
was memortallzed on the subject meetings OF citi-
zens were he'd, and the corporation OF the then
town Oh 0eorgetown pissed resolutions and APP
pointed committees With periods OF discourage
ment and inactivity the contest has been msin-
tanned with comrnendaole yigor down 20 the
present day. Georgetown wanted frse bridge 81
or near the place called "The Three Sisters" and
TINS project was again urged only year two ago
wheh the purchase OF the old AQueduct bridge was
under consideration by Congress The free bridge
antagonized the proposition to build the Long
as early asthe year 1907. But II had been brought
10 the attention OF Congress some years pre yiotS
II Continued to come before Congress 4 relic or
raiher memento OF one Of those on slaughts upon
Congress by the advocates OF the free bridge vas
found by Mr. Henry A. Willard among some OF the
papers belong ng 20 his relative WIN. C. Bradley,
who was member OF the House OF Representa-,
tlves- IL Is ayelow and faded document hut Is
IN an excellent state OF preservation. There is no
uate, out as far as can be determined IL as printed
ebout the year iss5. II Is memorial 10 Congress
signed oy John Cox, mayor; James Dunlop Thos
CSrsoran, r., and Daniel Ba,sard- oongnsss Is
asked 70 give authority 10 build a free bn ge over
sne fotonac River al or near the place called the
The Three Sisters
FREE RBIDGE WANTED.
zine COMMITTEES do not ask for a BRIDGE con-
anaes the memorial with any view TO an Increase
OF the town revenue or as an object OF private profit
and speculation 70 individuals; they propose 20
make IL free bridge the common proprrry OF the
pubic, and asking only such contributions from
those VINO Use &c as are necessary TO keep IL IN re-
pair ana make and continue IL what IL Is Intended
70 be-a common public benefit TIE
ofidge Will open TO US communication with m ny
nonnshing and fertile counties In Virginia and
Will attract 70 our town valuable trade, inateri-
ally beneficial TO US and 10 them, and OF which We
are now deprived by the difficulties expense. and
hazard S which a. present oDstruct the passage Of
the Potomac. The only rect communication be-
tween Georgetown and the opposite shore
Is by Gen. Masons ferry. High winds
dangerous or impracticable; aId az all Yt times
the delay, expense and risk OF crossing
operate very uniayorabiy upon our trade and In
Falls is miles above Georgetown separated IRON
US by q road always bad and sometimes impassa-
Ole, and driving from us by the heavy tolls which
seek Its market here.
LASGUnHISG FOR WANT OF A BRIDGE.
sour town." states the memorialsts. ''notwith-
standing Its local and natural advantages for
trade. has been gradually declining, our popula-
ton Is diminished, our houses untenanted aud the
people earnestly pleading that the avenues OF
commerce may be opened, and that those Obstruc-
tons which were submitted 70 in the days Of our
prosperity, and borne without murmuring may no
longer ada TO tine burden OF other evils which OPP
After drawing this gloomy picture OF the condl-
tion or the town the memoriaiists remind Con-
greSs that three bridges have been erected over
the Eastern Branch for the benefit OF Washington
The Long bridge, they say, was authorized by
Congress- although IT was a material obstruction
OF the navigation OF the town represented by
them. and was also an injury to the property Of
Gen. Mason, who is named as the opponent OF the
proposed free bridge These objections they add,
though strenuously urged were not suffered 10
outweigh la Congress the claims OF Washington
and Alexandria.
The memorial mentions two objections urged
against this measure. The frst. that IS is an in
jury TO the private property OF Gen. Mason and the
bridge company at Little Falls; and second that
into with GEN Mason by the CORPORATION of George.
town. In the year lS05. They dispose Of the nrst
objection on the ground or the general good, and
that the monopoly OF the river cannot be vested In
any Individual or company.
NAsoN's FERRY
In regard TO the contract with Gen. Mason in
1906, the memorial states that up to that time
there was rival ferry from the shores OF George
town, landing its Passengers on the Virginia side
Gen Mason consented to the erection OF the cause
way the road was changed. and passing over the
causeway terminated on the island. In consider
tion granted TO Gen. Mason landing place on It's
side OF the river, ana agreed TO suppress the yai
ferry and and TO-, 70 prevent the establishment OF
The granting Of their petition, the me-
they urge, what they ask for now is a bridge, and
what they agreed with Gen. Mason not 70 allow
was Q ferry; also, they add, this contract applied
only TO limits OF the Town, and they now ask Tor
bridge without the corporate limits ana having
its terminus on the Virginia side neither at the
island or the causeway.
rl.n aarfa al frrrH Nos A1a
bridge was not new even In the year 1905 IL had
been talked OF and projected beTore that time and
so they argue that II bridge was contrary 10 the
plicit reference TO a bridge would have been made
Attached 10 the memorial is letter from Gen
dressed 70 Messra Henry Fo1hsii. Waiter smith,
and Joseph R0wles, representing the corporation
OF Georgetown, Ia which he gives the terms which
furnish the material for the corporation 20 con-
Struct q cauSeway 30 feet wide from the western
shore OF the Potomac River TO what was then
known as AasOn's Island, where his residence was
located II is now called Analostan Island. The
corporation agreed 10 keep tnis causeway In re-
pair. and Gen. Mason agreed 70 establish a ferry
stipulation that he should have exclusive right TO
run ferry.
THE FATE OF THE MEMORIAL
The bill, although backed up by the memorial
as above stated, failed TO become q law and met
the fate that had befallen its predecessors and
also overlook the long line Of its successors. The
condition OF communication between Georgetown
and Virginia is Indicated In the memorial as
quoted. The bridge at the Little Falls occupied
the site oil what Is now known The Chain bridge.
Ii was constructed by the Georgetown Bridge Co,
which was Incorporated by the Maryland legisla-
ture in l78l IL was not free bridge and tolls re
exacted from those who were obliged TO use IT,
The bridge continued under tn same manage
ment until 1879, when Congress made an apprO.
priati ION OF money and authorized the corporation
or Georgetown 10 purchase the bridge and make tt
forever free.
WHERE GEN. WASHINGTON CROSSED.
The ferry from Mas0n's Island was, perhaps, the
earliest mode OF communication between George
town and Virginia II was by ferry that WASH
ington, when he rode on horseback from his estate
at Mount We non, crossed the river 10 Georgetown.
There, In suffers tavern, which WIS located on
Congress street, near tue rivers bank, he met the
proprietOrs OF the land selected the site OF the
new capital city, and made the agreement With
them by which they assenJed 70 division OF thelr
property with the Government Al that time
there was bridge where the causeway Was after
ward built.
While the Georgetown people were struggling to
get br1dge, the project TO erect what Is known
the Long bridge was brought before Congress-
TIE advocates VI this measure embraced the resi-
dents OF Washington and Alexandria which was
then In the District They argued that the dis.
lance from the city post-office In
WASHINGTON TO ALEXANDRIA
by way OF Georgetown and the proposed bridge at
The Three sisters was 10Y miles while the dis
tsnce between the same points crossing by the
Long bridge was only 81 miles youngstown pro-
would tnJure her commerce, as IL undoubt-
edly did, and maintained that the proper
location for bridge was at The Three
bridge project hung are, the Potomac Bridge Co,
winch was incorporated In l8O6. WAS given author.
ity 60 build a bridge, which lacy proceeded 90 DO