Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-10

owners thought that the bridge was worth, and
at , nrst they refused to sell Finally, however, t
was concluded TO accept the terms offered. At
torney-General Brewster, however, decided that
owing to the uncertainty about the rights OF the
chesapeake and OHIO Canal Co TO the land on this
SIDE OF the river, the owners OF the bridge could
not give clear title The next movement OF i'm
poance resulted in the final act In this prolonged
contest. This was the passage by the Senate In
December, 1885, OF
THE RIDDLEBERGER BILL
In the following June this bill became law, and
six months later the title In the bridge trans
Ierred TO the Government The bill appropriated
event OF the failure to complete the purchase
bridge was authorized to be constructed at the
ried matters considerably by CONCERNING the old
Aqueduct bridge as unsafe. The bridge was closed
TO travel and the revenues OF the bridge company
cut on. soon afterward the company made bar
gain with the Government. The Three sisters pro-
Ject was warmly advocated and its supporters
favored it mainly because they despaired OF ever
bridge.
The bridge bill became law In June 81, and It
required that the purchase OF the AQueduct should
be accomplished within six Llonths of that date.
The agreement with the trustees was made
Decemoer Fl 1855 one day before the time ex.
plreu Inc bridge trustees were paid SS1. 500, the
remainder OF the 81, 800 being retained TO meet
various other claims
HOW THE AQUEDUcr WAS BUILT.
The origin OF the Aqueduct bridge was due to
the enterprise of the citizens OF Alexandria. In
u
gress authorizing a company TO construct an
aqueduct across the Potomac and eXcavate
canal to Alexandria. Ten years elapsed from the
beginning OF this work, In the year 1883 until the
water was turned into the aqueduct. The con-
struction OF the piers was work OF great engi-
neering skill. As originally planned the aqueduct
was to be built entirely OF stone but owing to the
great cost wood was substituted for the trunk OF
the aqueduct Congress appropriated 100000 to
aid In the construction. The entire cost
OF the work was s1,150,0OO, the aqueduct
costing $4,000 the canal $500 600 and the locks
at Alexandria $4,000. While the bridge was In
possession Of the Government the water was
drawn of. and when an attempt was made after
the war TO use the aqueduct 1t was found TO be
unfit for service. When the lease was executed
the aqueduct was entirely rebuilt and was IN use
with constant patching until about the time OF Its
final sale.
Mr.. TENNEY's RECoILyCTIoNs.
One Of the veterans in the free-bridge agitation
is Mr.. VIM. ii. Tenney. He was foremost iu this
as in all other public enterprises, and during the
long years that have elapsed since the movement
started MI. Tenney, like other citizens OF old
Georgetown, was ready TO do what was to be done
and say the needed word to advance the interests
OF this undertaking. The unwearied persistency
OF the citizens, who year after year appeared be-
BODY the 1ree-bridge matter, Is one OF the
notable incidents in the history OF the free
bridge. In conversation with STAR reporter Mr..
Tenney deprecated the credting him with any
special honor In this matter.
"We all worked toget her, he observed modeStly.
"The free bridge was OF advantage to the trade or
this town, ana was recognized as public good.
All the citizens joined together In advocating this
measure"
slow many years since the movement begalD
asked the reporter.
There has always been a great and pressing
need for a bridge connecting our town directly
with the Virginia SIDE was the reply; SHUT at the
beginning or the war the Government took pos
session or the aquedUct and built bridge upon IL.
After the war The canal company, having regained
possession OF the BRIDGE leased IT, and the lesSeeS
proceeded to make IL toll bridge. This was
stoutly resisted by the citizens OF Georgetown and
for nearly twenty years they have protested
against IL and endeavored to secure free bridge"
"What was the general course adopted by the
citizens in agitating the natter" asked the lis
tener.
st was a public NATTER" replied Mr.. Tenney.
"and so, OF course there were public meetings
held. Speeches were made, resolutions were
adopted and the usual outcome was TO appoint
committee to present the matter to Congress"
"How often were such meetings held?" inquired
the reporter.
the quiet response. ave had to begin all over
again you know. Some times we raised the mat
OF our appeal and asked Congress to reduce the
tolls. OF course the main thing was TO make the
Aqueduct bridge free, but we thought that II a
bridge was built at or near the Three Sisters then
the Aqueduct bridge would no longer be profitable
and the owners would be obliged to give 1t up.
You see they were making pretty good thing on
heavy. i suppose that the owners netted 1000
year. OF course, they were opposed 10 every
thing likely to affect lnJuriOuSly the bridge busi
ness, and, as the record shows, they had more In
fiuence than the citizens OF Georgetown. At any
rate we had no free bridge and IL was only fve or
six years ago that bill was introduced making an
appropriation for that purpose. Now that the
struggle Is over the citizens OF Georgetown feel
gratifed over the happy outcome. But II is evil
dent that it would have been better II this action
had not been so long delayed"
THE BRIDGE AND ITS BUILDER.
nG IN. Va &C.