Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-02
GENTS Su1rs ScouKEp
AND PRESSED FOR n,
OPPOSED TO ANOTHER BRIDGE.
The War Department Against q Railroad
Bridge to Arlington.

Bridge to Arlington.
The Secretary of War today sent to the Dis
trict Commissioners reports by Gen. Casey,
chief of engineers, and Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis
upon House bill 1O21O to authorize the Wash
inston, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric
Railway Company to construct bridge across
the Potomac river and to construct railroad
over the same and through certain streets and
reservations of Washington.
The reports of Brig. Gen Casey, chief of
engineers, and Maj. Davis follow:
Gen. Casey, in his report, briefly recapitu-
lates the views expressed by Maj. Davis and in
dorses them.
Major Davis report says:
THE provisions of the bill relating to the ioca-
ton of the proposed bridge are found in Sec
ton l. lines II to 16 inclusive and are as fol-
lows:
Across that portion of the Arlington reser-
walton, in the state of Virginia, which adioins
the Potomac river, to q point on said river
between Analostan Island and Long bridge
where the said company is hereby authorized
to construct and maintain a bridge across said
river on such plans as the Secretary Of War
may approve and from thence across the re-
claimed flats north Of the tidal reservoirs to the
junction of and 18th streets northwest
These provisions fix the location of the pro-
posed bridge and crossing of the fats just north
VI anu parallel TO tue line OF the
sewer canal. or about one mile above the Long
bridge. The Long bridge is now the only
bridge across the Potomac below Georgetown.
The United States however, proposes to build
bridge on or near the line Of New York ave-
nue. extended to afford direct and con-
venlent communication with the National
cemetery at Arlington. A resolution of
the Senate of May "a, 1886. called for
report upon a government bridge, with q
suitable draw. at this locality, and report
was submitted by Lieut.. Col P. c. Hains corps
of engineers, U. S. A., proposing an iron truss
bridge with fours spans of about 800 feet each,
one OF which was to be draw span. February
20, 1890. the Senate called for O report upon
the most suitable kind Of a bridge at the foot
OF New York avenue. so to connect the
public grounds on both sides OF the Potomac
river, and not interfere with the
navigation Of said river and in compliance
Herewith the same officer submitted a report
with plans of a suspension bridge with a clear
height above the river at midchannel of 105
feet.
I'm compliance with a resolution Of the
Senate committee Oh public buildings and
grounds of April 10, 1899. submitted a report
upon the subject of constructing a bridge at
this same point with an estimate of the cost OF
the same. 1t may be, therefore. fairly assumed
that Congress intends, at no distant day. to
build suitable bridge to Arlington on the
line OF New York avenue which will make
ample provision for communication between
the two shores, and as the expense of a high
bridge would be very great the presumption is
the bridge will be provided with draw.
The navigation of the Potomac river is
assuming great proportions and the unneces-
sary multiplication of bridges is an obstruction
TO commerce and not advisable, and it would
be short-siShted policy to permit every rail-
road which wishes to enter the city to build a
bridge across the Potomac. Several roads may
and should be required to unite in the use of
one bridge.
THE OCCUPATION OF THE RECLAIMED FLATS.
1.-The bill also provides for crossing the re-
claimed area of the Potomac river No limit
is assigned to the width of the right of way,
nor is any provision made for compensation to
the United States for the ground proposed to
be occupied. Indeed there seems to DO a very
general desire on the part Of corporations and
individuals to occupy the Potomac fats, which
have been reclaimed at great cost. without even
the suggestion of compensation In my opinion
the surrender OF this public ground for any use
by railroads. corporations or individuals is in
advisable and will interfere with the plans for
Its future Improvement.
Congress by act approved February %,
1891. incorporated the Washington and Airing
ton Railway Company of the District Of Co.
lumbia, with permission to build a bridge across
the Potomac at the Three Sisters, and section
10 of the act provides that the tracks and ap-
proaches to the bridge may be freely used for
the passage Of cars with motive power Of the
kind described in the act, belonging to any in
dividual or corporation legally authorized, upon
just compensation for such use. The bridge
when built will accommodate all the travel of
both the Washington and Arlington Railway Com
pany and the Washington and Mount Vernon
Electric Railway Company, and do SO without
unnecessarily interfering with navigation.
SIN view Of the above considerations am of
the opinion that the bridge proposed in the
pending bill would be preiudicial 10 the nuhl,c
interests, is unnecessary for the accommoda-
ton Of traffic, which can be better accommo-
dated farther up the river, and / therefore
recommend that the bill, SO far as it relates to
the crossing Of the Potomac river at the To-
cality named, do not pass"