Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-12
THE EASTERN ma ANCH BRIDGE,
Why the Work has been Delayed.
REPORT or COZ. HAMS IN ANSWER TO TaB I'm
LUTON OF INQUIRY OF TIE S1EATE.

REPORT or cor. HAMS IN ANSWER TO TIE Rnoo-
LUTON OF INQUIRY OF THE SHKATE.
In response to the resolution OF Mr.. Mcpherson,
recently adopted by the senate, calling for state
ment OF the causes OF delay In the construction OF
the Eastern Branch bridge, the secretary Of War
to-day transmitted report from Col. Hains, in
which brief history OF the work is given. He
states that the appropriation was made February
%, 1887, and on March % Col. Hams was
assigned to take charge OF 1t. The sur
vey was made during April and May.
and conferences were held to determine
The most desirable route. On May 81 report
was submitted OF the survey, with project for
at slU 800 the bridge TO be sc feet wide ali;
the roadway - feet wide, with two sidewalks
each feet wa the grade to De about IS feet
foilndation. This report was ref FRED TO board
81 engineer some tine was
by the district attorney In acquiring title TO
the site OF the eastern approach, which was on
cations were prepared and proposals invited. Bids
were opened August l6 and on september IL the
contract was awarded to the GrOton Bridge and
Manufacturing co. The construction OF the cause
way at the eastern end was begun In october, ana
the driving OF piles for the OF the piers
IN the early part OF December. Up TO November
there was no unnecessary delay, but subsequent
to that some delay was caused by bad weather,
and during January and February OF the present
year, SeNSTt WcdtutI Cdu5tQ u tOJal SuSpensl0u Vi
operations.
THE INTERFERENCE OF THE BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC
RAILROAD COMPANY.
in November the interference of the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad Co. with the construction
Of the western abutment caused delay, and the
unsettled status OF the legal questions involved In
the construction Of that abtlnent has caused fur
ther delay. Col Hams then proceeds to give an
account or the obstructions CAUSED by the Balti-
more and Potomac Co.; or their nlling up excava.
tons made by the contractors during the absence
Of the latter. The report goes on to give facts In
regard 10 that controversy that have been made
public through TIE STAR II shows that Col.
Hams ordered the contractor to 60 on with the
work and that the Baltimore and Potomac
Co. resisted and threatened to bring 1000
men there TO maintain that resistance. 1t
then gives all the correspondence between the
Department and the railroad officials, and Col
Hains' uivice that the profIers OF the railroad
company be rejected, because to adopt them would
be 10 detract from the character ana durability or
the bridge. In conclusion Col Hams says: at
will be seen from the correspondence that the con-
troversy with the railroad company, which Is the
chief cause OF delay, began with reference to the
manner OF measuring right OF way OF
66 feet for the railroad tracks. This has
now changed. Tho Officers Of the company
admit that the tracks are but where they ought to
be, and the question U.s. how can the railroad CON-
pany get on The proper nDef The contractors have
been repeatedly notified that the work must 60 on
according to the plans that the contract provides
bridge. Nothing can be done on the west abut-
ment, however, until the court determines that
the railroad company shall be restrained from
interfering with the work"