Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
OBSTRUCTIVE PILES AT THE OUTLET.


obviate the difficulty in two ways: First, by
being higher. and, second. by being per-
pendlcular. Incidentally ii would be benefit
by causing the old piers to be torn out and
new ones built in their places. These new
piers would be given sufficient foundations TO
enable them to stand alone. rising from clean
bottom instead OF having to be protected as
now. from the force of the current by means
OF mountains CT stone poured upon them as
emergencies require.
This fact has already been alluded to. 1t is a
matter of record that the capacity OF the Poto-
mac at the Long bridge draw is less than half
what 1t would be II the present piers of the
bridge were strong enough to stand alone. A
profile of the bottom of the river at this point.
now on file in Col Hams old Office, indicates
the presence OF what may be likened to a ridge
OF mountains extending across the river at this
crossing, the peaks rising to within few feet
OF the surface at each pier and spreading down
on either direction and meeting beneath until
the original bottom is nowhere to be touched.
1t has been estimated BY Col. Hams that if
these distractions were removed the Potomac
could carry off nearly twice as much water and
Ice without any considerable rise In its level.
THE EXISTING CONDITIONS.
Upon the subject of the existing conditions
in the river and across the flats Col. Hams
said in his report of April. 1880:
Long bridge was first built in 1909 by the
Washington Bridge Company, and the act of
Congress of February ). 1908. which authorized
the construction, authorized the collection of
tolls At that time there was no causeway be-
tween the Washington channel and the main
or Nlrgini: channel as there is now. In 1881
the bridge was destroyed by a freshet In
1884 an appropriation made to rebuild it,
and II was rebuilt In 1910 il was again par
italy destroyed by a freshet and the sudden
breaking up OF ice. In 1913 it was repaired
and again opened for travel In 1870 the BAL
authorized to take Possession of and extend its
trachs across the bridge, under the act ap-
proved June II, 1870 The bridge remains to-
day the property of the Baltimore and Poto-
mac Company by virtue of that act Of Con-
gress.
The bridge was badly damaged by the
freshet OF last June, and IL has been necessary
to support that part of 1t between the lith
street abutment and the north end of the
causeway by trestles. At one place on the
bridge there Is barely width enough for a sin
gle wagon and a single train of cars to pass.
In its present condition il is far from being a
conN enlent structure. and the separation of the
wagon road from the railroad so that one
would be entirely independent of the other
would be an improvement over the existing
arrangement Indeed, wagon road and a
railroad on one and the same bridge is always
Objectionable ana IS only tolerated from neces-
slty. 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 1t, is one for serious con-
i ~'4on' iioni nioti'IS vi eecnohy 80
may DC assu..leu 'hat IAere VIII always
eAls' q necessity Ior Dridse at or III close
PioAinlE tne eAis'lhS pIiuSe, that IL wlii
De neeUed 10, raL[olo ana ordinary urainc; that
the traihe OF po'h Ainus over IL VIII increase
from year 70 year.
I huer the circumstances and IN view OF Its
Pleseh' cohuit!oh anu Vi tne improvements
no" DeIIl6 n"ue oy 'he government on the
river 'front.' IL would seem tnat Al Is desirable 70
seP"IaIe .he wagon ROAD from the ram DAD, pro-
VICE. 'heir separation De maze IN accordance
WIN some comprehensive plan OF improve
nenl tnat Is ultimately aimed az LOT TINS par
ueuiar ioeaii'y, anu IN "hlcn the raiiroad com
Pant anu VIC governments are DOM 30 SitaAy In
"lesteo-
ING nrss tniig, tnen, 10 oetermne ., whA'
shouia De the project aimed at! The govern.
nient mas already expended over q million OF
dollars IN improving the river front by filling
up the marshes or hats and digging out chan
neis Tor the accommodation Of commerce. II
mas created an area OF 60 acres Of land above
oVernow oy ordinary tides where formerly there
existed acres OF pestiiential marshes. The land
thus made. though not yet raised to the full
height intended, already assumes value esti-
mated as In excess OF Its cost, and is susceptible
OF being made into one OF the finest parks in
.he DISTRICT lhis iand Is cut IN two by the