The Washington critic., 1890-02-21
BRTDGING TINE RIVER.

A'COlNluS W tllN Ntlg NOlHpClCul lt9-
timouy of Colonel lIains 5000 900, prop.
erly expended, will secure to Washing
ton deep water communication with the
ocean. If few obstacles to the free
navigation of the river were removed,
so that not only could the Navy of the
nation rendezvous in the waters of the
Capital, but ocean steamers and other
vessels of large draught could reach
this harbor, the trade and commerce of
the city would have opportunity to de-
velop, and would doubtless increase
largely both in variety and volume.
In fortunately it is only on special
occasions that the fact is noted that
Washington has harbor. Yet nothing
connected with the future of this cityi is
Of more importance than the river i'm.
provement of which Colonel lIains is
in charge. This Improvement will, in
great measure, determine what our har-
Dor may he, and whether we shall be
naturally and directly in touch with
the scaboard and the great world be
yond
Any one who has ever cursorily eX-
amintd the state of things in that quar-
ter knows that the river front of Wash
ington is its weakest feature. Every
thing there is formess and almost void.
The grand mountain stream which
here stays its headlong course and
fingers at the base of the Washington
Monument to keep on its placid way to
the sea, separates the city from the
near by Mother of States and from the
entire South. The chasm that divides
is not very wide and the stream is not
insurpassably broad but, to get com.
fortably across it, it must be bridged.
Now, though this is large city, hav-
ing intimate relations with Virginia, it
has practically but two bridges across the
stream-the Aqueduct at Georgetown
and the Long Bridge at Washington.
Accordingly, as likely TO give another
connecting link, THE CRITIC notes with
approval the unanimity with which
Senator Buffers resolution for another
bridge was agreed to- Senator Butler
proposes the construction Of a bridge
from the foot of New York avenue to
the Virginia shore, 50 us to secure the
shortest and quickest route to Airing.
ton, and asks for plans and estimates.
The resolution calls for bridge which
will not interfere with navigation, and
( that is very proper requirement, since
the harbor of Georgetown lies beyond
No reference to the bridging of the
/ Potomac can he made without calling
/ up the mcmery of the old and ragged
/ Long Bridge, which has been the cause
of more damage to the city than would
suffice 10 reconstruct it many times
over. A few days ago a member of one
of the House committees said he would
object to putting a Government build
/ ing south of the Avenue "because the
district south was subject TO overflow" 4"
The overflow to which South Wash
( ington is subject is wholly due to the
Long Bridge. That structure lies
shamefully like dam athwart the
stream While there is only water in
the river no harm comes. 1t is only
when the ice descends in ponderous
masses that it forms against the bridge
an impervious obstruction aud turns
the current of the river into the homes
and business houses Of the southern
district.
The bridging Of the Potomac at a
convenient point is necessity to the
city, but the Long Bridge is a perpetual
menace, Another kind of bridge might
be allowed there, but the Long Bridge
must 90.