Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-20

"A sair compromise would seem 10 be bridge
without a draw, yet high enough 20 allow al
most any vessel 20 pass under by lowering her
topmssts. Tho lowering OF the topma.ts Of
the largest vessels would not be an unreason-
able concession 10 the public for 10 u only az
rare intervals that such vessels make their sp-
pearanoe in this harbor. The vast majority of
vessels could pass under IL freely without eysa
that inconvenience.
SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
with view 10 meeting the objections 70 .
drawbridge, and at thu same time 10 bring the
cost Of one without q draw within reasonable
limits. / have designed bridge on the suspen-
SION principle. the clear height above the wates
at kid channel TO be los feet; the river span TO
be /. 100 feet aud two shore spans 652 feet eachI
the approaches at each end 10 be on masonry
srched viaducts and embankments Of earth,
the suspension cables 20 be Of steel, passing
over two granite towers, each about 2l0 fees
high. pierced with arcbed openings for road
ways and anchored into the mass Of masonry
at the outer end OF each approach. The grades
TO be feet per hundred on the central span,
S.5 on the shore spans and feet per hundred
on the approaches. The extreme width OF The
bridge TO be about - feet, the roadway for ve-
! hlcles 81 feet WIDE in the clear, and two side
walks for pedestrians 8 feet each. Lateral We
extending out from the sides Of the towers aud
vertical vibration by means Of the four trus-ss.
The clear height It los above water lesel
viii allow the largest four -mastcd schooners 70
| reach Georgetown by lowering their topmasts,
while the span OF l.lUo feet practically leaves
the full width OF the river unobstructed, both
10 navigation and 10 tie free flow OF the waters
OF the Potomac.
1T is not TO be understood that the plan and
| elevations submitted designed as finished
working drawings. There are many details OF
| construction and architectural features that
would require TO be elaborated, and no attempt
has been made In the accompanying drawings
10 do this in any othe4 than general way.
| The drawings are designed Go show the gem
eral character of such n structure, It's outlines
general effects, and TO enable an spproximate
| estimate 60 be made OF the cost
such a bridge as have indicated Ia, in my
! opinion. the most suitable kind of q structure
TO connect the public lands on both sides %
| the Potomac river.
Then followed table OF estimates and in
conclusion Col Hams says: "By reducing the
width 10 40 feet. making the roadway "a feet
Wide, Instead OF %, reduction OF eJOOOJO
| can be made in the estimated cost. A still fur
| ther reduction OF about Si0o,000 could be made
/ by building the approaches ON iron tusses
| resting on masonry piers IL is proper TO add
that these notifications would detract from
the dignity of the structure aud would noe
| harmonlze with the architectural features of
other parts Of the work"
| WHICH SHALL IT BE2
This completes the history of this great pro-
ject and affords a sort OF Srd's-eye view Of the
arguments that have been advanced, both rs 10
the needs of such bridge and its character.
Ii would seem a. though the three plans pre-
scented by the engineers had included every
possible variety Of bridge, except one on the
cantlleyer principle, aud there should be no
lack OF information upon the subject when the
! topic is discussed in Congress, whether In COM
| mittee in the House. OF the three plans
/ that for q suspension probably is most pleas
ing TO the average Washlngtonisn. for il il fslt
that the grace Of such . structure would add
infinitely 10 the beauty Of the city and would
be an excellent compromise between the two
| interests. 1t should be noted that there were
reasons for the radical change in the
views Of Col Hams as 70 the height Of
a bridge across the river as exemplihed by his
remarks in HE two reports, four years apart
IL seems that after writing bis first report. in
which he strongly urges against bridge with
other than draw for the accommodation u
vessels trading with Georgetown. he placed
himself in communication with the owners and
masters Of vessels that were in the habit OF
passing frequently under the great East River
bridge in New York, and il mainly upon
their testimony that he induced TO alter
his views. and hence his firm recommendations
in the latter report which. without this ex-
PLANTATION would seem TO be unreasonAbly ct Q
variance with his original thoughts upon the
subject