Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-22

REPAIRS THAT ARE NECESSARY on soxr OF ruu
sIRucTuREs AND An ESTIMATE or COST.
On February &C last the Senate passed the
following resolution:
Resolved. That the Commissioners Of the
District OF Columbia he instructed TO report TO
the senate the condition Of the various public
bridges in the nisiric; OF Columbia as regards
strength and safety under the loads they are
required 70 bear. and also whether in the judg-
ment OF the Commissioners the regulation that
horses shall not pass over said bridges faster
'han walk is Necessary one in all cases and
especially IN the case Of tie new bridge across
the Eastern branch Of the Potomac"
In pursuance herewith the Commissioners
re'erFed the matter 10 Capt Fieheger for re-
port Today he forwarded 90 the Commis-
slohers NE answer 90 the resolution. He goes
iito detail as 20 the various laws en- the sub
jeet OF bridges and then saws.
lennsslEania avenue bridge. over East
ern branch. length ] $40 feet. rs strong and
sac and will permit Of carriages. LIGHT wagons
an hour"
"Aqneduct bridge. over Potomac river.
length l,3l1 feet. in same condition as Penn
svlvsnia avenue bridge"
s. .benning bridge. over Eastern branch.
limit 10 speed necessary "
3 IhAln bridge. over Potomac river length
i'o1o iset not strong enoagh 70 permit fast
irving Ihe cost OF rebuilding. 90 as 10 put 10
on an equality with the Pennsylvania avenue
bridge Nes;imRted). sS0. 900" | do not believe
II advisable TO rebuild TINS bridge at present.
D. Navy lard bridge. over Eastern branch.
length l.2'6 .eet. safe only under slow travel"
ms bridge Is also deficient in width and
height' al should bo rebuilt as soon as poe
sible. An estimate is being prepared of the
cost of rebuilding and raising for a report 40 a
special bill for tins purpose
Ihis report will TO submitted as soon as On
action oil the United States harbor line board
can be asctrtalncd.
6. ''P street bridge over pocL .r,oA iu.,,.,,
liz feet. only sale under slow travel" mi.
prldSe Is now being temporarily rcpnired m
being considered uIsafe FOR motor cars which
are TO be put on the Metropolitan street rail-
way. Inc pfidse Is only 20 feet vide. aud be-
ing one Of the few bridges connecting C;eorse-
town and Washington II should he rebuilt 10 n
width OF 90 feet. with paved roadway Ike
estimated cost Of reconstruction is s5OO0O
4 IN street bridge. over Rock creek, length
l26 feet, not considered safe.
On. January - I wrote TO the Commission
ers TO the effect that this bridge had been ex-
ahmed by tie bridge engineer and INSPECTOR
and reported unsafe. l recommended that an
appropriation be requested for its immediate
repair. In reply to communication from the
COMMISSIONER on February 10 / submitted
an estimate tor new bridge. the total cost II
which was 100000. As tins is the prlncipsI
bridge connecting Georgetown with Washing
ton, earnestly recommend that this matter
MAJ receive early consideration.
Unless the appropriation becomes available
so that bridge construction can he begun by
May /. beg leave 20 increase Tia. estimate To
si1,Oo0 as At viii be more expensive to provide
Tor The cable cars during bridge construction
than Tor the horse cars. The cable cars are to
be put on on or before Augusta
{. IN street bridge over Rock creek, length
ITO ieet not considered safe" Sould be raised
and rebuilt at an estimated cost of 10000.
y NJ street bridge over James Greek canal,
span 40 feet, sale and satisfactory"
40. N street bridge over James Creek canal
length ~ feet. wooden bridge. safe"
III. IN street briJse over James Creek canal
length siNiy-iye feet. Tins bridge was closed
IN January as unsafe. stee plate girder
bridge wIll be constructed 10 replnce il before
July 1, 1882. Proposals Tor this work are 20 be
| opened on March 30. No limit of speed will De
| necessary on new bridge"
IL. Nv cooley lane bridge over Rock creek.
length .oi ieet, no limit Of speed necessary for
The other bridges will be reported upon q
! soon as they can be examined
III VIII be seen from the above report that
some OF the bridges will permit OF fast driving
anu others VIII not. Special regulations should
therefore De made TO cover each caue. 4
would recommend that Congress be requested
| 10 repeal 10 much Of the acts of
April %, loJ6, June 5. 1853. January
70, 1894, aud September %. 1854. as re-
iers to the bridges within the District Of Co
| lumbla and the Commissioners of the District
| OF Columbia be given the power TO make such
| regulations as they may deem necessary for the
preservation of the bridges within the District
lwouid further recommend that Congress lie
| requested TO make appropriations for the re-
construction Of the following bridges:
1. NJ street bridge over Rock creek. 600
/ =. II street bridge lsn.k al M
3. b street bridge over Rock creek 10000
IotaA.- ...-..------.- .--..-.-.- llO,Vb
He says that he places them in order OF I'M
| portance and includes IN the estimate the
necessary alteration OF approaches