Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-25
and remain free bridge for public use for -
dinary travel

and remain a free bridge for public use for -
binary trave.
That IL the said Baltimore ana Potomac RAN
road Company shall at any time neglect 90 ke.p
SAID bridge IN good repair and n 90 for public
use Tor ordinary travel the government a the
United States may enter into Possession 90 the
sSio bridge. and Congress reserves the right 10
alter or amend this Law.
The baltimore and Potomac Railroad COM
pany has rebuilt that part q the bridge which
crosses the Washington channel upo~ plan. sr-
proved by the Secretary OF War and sub-tsn-
italy IN accordance with those recommended
oy Lieut. Col hAines In his special report %
April 1890. above referred 90 and herewith in
closed Enclosure No AZ
Upon the csusevay Of the Long hridee the
company have laid double track n plscs %
the former single track ard have moved tbs
roadway 10 the northwestw.rd out upon the
reclaimed area Of the Potomac river i'm prove
ment TO make room for the new track
RECOMMENDATION
referring IN detail 90 the provisions Of SEQ
tion 10 Of the bill ss asOve quoted submit, IN.
Following considerations and Recommendation
In relation thereto:
The section that the baltimore ana Potomac
Railroad Company be empowered 60 construct
| double track across the island" IN the pc,o-
mac river. evidently referring 20 the reclaimed
area OF the improvement between the wsshine-
ton and Virginia channels As stated above.
however, the company have slrcsdv laid
tins track and IL is in daily use. Owing %
the increased traffic with the south which
passes over the bridge. this additional tr.ek 4. .
source OF safety 90 the travelling public and 4
| see no objection 10 its affirmative AUTHORIZATION
BY law, provided the right ~ wsy acro.. the re-
| Claimed area is limited 20 thirty feet IN width
| and the number Of tracks Is limited 90 two with
| the further proviso that the tracks shall ~ uav.
| be used as running tracks and that no cars
| shall be stored on them
Section 10 next provides for the retention Of
the existing bridge. extending q two spans in
| length on the Virginia end, LAYING q double
track upon II. disseminating the highway and
renewing the railway company from their ohli-
CATION 20 maintain the bridge for ordinary
| highway travel, AMI proposing that a highway
bridge shall be provided at the expense OF the
| United States or the District Of Columbia
The extension Of the bridge bv building two
spans OF l4O feet each at the southwest OF vir-
| glnia end Is evidently intended 20 provide an
| increased area for the discharge Of f-eshet.
The railway company have adopted a rart Of
the suggestion of Mr.. Albert in his re-
port on the survey of 1881, which was that
the bridge be extended 900 feet TIL.
I plan was not. however. approved by the
board of engineers. The two spans additional
proposed in the bin would be quite Insufficient
for the purpose and would afford oulv the
slightest relief TO existing conditions particn-
larly as the bill docs not provide for deepening
the river at this locality
From the considerations which have already
adduced am OF the opinion that the existing
Long bridge should be entirely removed, ana
for the following specific reasons:
1. The existing Long bridge is an obstruc-
| ton to navigation
In compliance with the provisions OF Law IL
has ALREADY been reported as such. The draw
Is improperly located and the defective locs-
ton and construction Of the bridge prevent. ths
completion and free use Of the dredged cham
mel BY vessels navigating the river.
The existing Long bridge interferes with
the progress of the Potomac river improve
ment. That improvement has proceeded upon
certain plans approved by specific action of
Congress providing that the work should be
executed in accordance with the report Of the
board Of engineers OF 1882. As already stated.
the board recommended that the Long
bridge shall be rebuilt az an early
period during the progress Of the improvements
with vide spans upon piers Offering the least
possible resistance to the flow of water" This
being a part Of the plan approved by
Congress, the work has proceeded upon
the assumption that The bridge would be
rebuilt. The new lines of channel have been