Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-07
THE long BRIDGE TRACKS.
Col. Hams Says They Should be Raised
The Bridge Should be Rebuilt,

On March last the Secretary Of War. by
Senate resolution, was requested to investigate
in connection with the Potomac flats improve
ment, the desirability Of separating the wagon
road from the railroad on the Long Bridge
north of the main channel of the Potomac and
to furnish an estimate of the cost of the same.
In response to this Col L. c. Haius has
submitted a lengthy report After reciting the
history of the Long bridge the report goes on
to say: ''At one place On the bridge there is
barely width enough for single wagon
and single train of cars to
pass. In its present condition it
is far from being a convenient structure, and
the separation OF the wagon road from the
railroad, that one would be entirely indie
pendent of the other, would be an Improvement
over the existing arrangement. Indeed, a
wagon road and a railroad on one aud the
same bridge is always Objectionable and is only
tolerated from necessity. The portion of the
bridge that spans the Washington channel is
now in such a condition that the question OF
rebuilding it entirely, rather than repairing it.
is one for serious consideration from motives of
economy"
WHY THE TRACKS SHOULD BE RAISED.
On the questi, n of the project aimed at Col.
Hains says: ''The government has already ex-
pended over million Of dollars in improving
or fats and digging ont channels
for the accommodation Of commerce.
1t has created an area OF $50 acres of land
above overflow by ordinary tides where for
merly there existed acres of pestilental
marshes. The land thus made though not vet
raised to the full height intended. already as
sumes a value estimated as in excess Of Its
cost. and is susceptible of being made into one
of the finest parks in the District This land
is cut in two by the causeway portion of the
bridge and, should the government decide to
utilize it as parr. il Is of supreme importance
that the railroad tracks be carried over it on a
grade that will allow free communication
beneath them. To keep the railroad on the
grade of the park would be decidedly objec-
tionable.
THE BRIDGE SHOULD BE REBUILT.
again, that part of Long Bridge that spans
the main channel Of the river is. as now built a
serious obstruction to the free flow of the river
in times of freshets. The board of engineers that
recommended the plan of improving the river
front, now being carried out, called attention
to the necessity OF rebuilding that structure
with wider spans at an early stage of
the work. The freshet Of June last empha-
sized it. Reports have frequently been made
to Congress calling attention to the mat
ter. Had the freshet Of last June occurred
when the river was full of ice gorge would
most probably have formed at the bridge and
destroyed il. At the same time a very much
larger area Of the city would have been mum
dated
COL HAMS SUBMITS PROJECT
which raises the grade Of the railroad tracks
and carries them over a viaduct of brick
masonry, with arched openings or on iron
trestles. In the Washington channel he would
have but one pier. That portion of the bridge
across the main channel ought to have eight
spans of about 270 feet each, With q
pivot draw in the deep water of
the channel The depth of water between the
piers should be deepened to about l6 feet on
the shoal part of the river to give
ample sectional area for freshet dis
charge. The wagon road and bridge
could parallel the railroad bringe ON the north,
but at some distance from it. The cost of the
entire project is roughly estimated ct about
&l, CSC, 900.