Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-09
RAILROAD AND BRIDGE.
Plans of the Arlington Company-The Ques-
ton Of the Bridges safety.


ton of the Bridges safety.
The iniimation in Saturdays SrAE that the
petition introduced on that day to allow the
use of the Aqu.duct bridge for street car pur-
poses was in the interest OF the Washington
and Arlington railroad Was borne out by the
presentation to the Senate District committee
this morning Of amendment to the charter
OF that road which changes their proposed
route so that it will cross the Aqueduct bridge
There is now pending before the Senate a
bill which is an amendment to the present
charter of the Washington and Arlington road.
This bill changes the route 10 allow the
company to run from Virginia avenue along q
street to the river and cross by means
of ferry to Analostan Island and
thence by trestle to the Virginia shore.
The route now proposed is to begin
at the corner of " and 32d streets in George
town; along VI street to the Aqueduct bridge
and over that structure by single track to be
laid where the west footwalk is now located so
as the bill states) not to interfere with the
present roadway.
The track is to be laid under the supervision
of the commissioners and where needed the
bridge is to be strengthened at the expense OF
the company. The amendment will go before
the committee for their action.
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY
Mr.. Gallinger has prepared for introduction
in the Senate joint resolution that bears on
the proposed use of the bridge. The resolu-
ton requires the Secretary OF War to cause Mn
examination TO be made OF the piers OF the
Aqueduct bridge, and the District Commits
sioners to furnish a statement of expend-
itures on account of said bridge since
it became the joint property of the
United States and District of Columbia.
The preamble sets forth that by the annual
report of the Commissioners OF the District of
Columbia for the year ending June 80, 1889 it
is made to appear that the masonry composing
the piers of the Aqueduct bridge was largely in
need of repair. and at least one of
the piers thereof lad settled four inches to the
north and large cavities caused by erosion ex-
listed in more than one Of said piers. and that
large sum of money was expended in the repair
of the same.
The Secretary of War is directed to cause to
be made n thorough examination OF the piers
of the bridge by some competent officer Of the
engineer corps and report to Congress at an
early day:
First. If any one of said piers of said bridge
have So settled as to be out of plumb and if SO.
which way it leans.
Second. What cavities, il any, exist in any of
the piers Of said bridge requiring repairs III
any way impairinS the supporting capacity Of
said piers, or either of them, making specific
report of defects. if any, i'll each pier.
Third. lie is required also to transmit copy
charged with the duty of constructing the piers
of the said bridge. showing as infinitely may
be the plans and processes used in the construc-
ton thereof.
The Commissioners Of the Distric. of Column
bia are required to transmit to Congress de-
tailed report of expenses incurred in the re-
pair of the piers, by whom the repairs we're
made. and under whose direction. and
detailed account of the work of making
the same. and copy of the report
of any officer of the District. or employe
thereof, engaged in the said work or upon any
part thereof They are to report also if they have
ever caused any of the piers to be tested with
plumb and level. or any ether suitable instru-
ment. to see if any are ont of plumb, and, if SO,
the result of such examination.
The REPAIRS TO THE BRIDGE
Engineer C.. b. Hunt. who had charge Of the
repairs to the piers of the bridge which were in
jured by the freshet three years ago, said to u
STAR reporter: The safety of the bridge under
existing circumstances seems beyond reason
able question. Ii Is believed to be q more sub
stantial structure now than 1t prior to the
disturbance of its foundation by the freshet."
He stated that the general method employed
in repairing the damage was to ill the cavity
then discovered under the masonry of one of
the piers completely as possible with bags of
concrete and to construct bulkhead of bags at
the mouth of the cavity to form the outside
face of the concrete. its base being well
bonded and tied into the irregular rock ut the
bottom of the river. After this had been done
loose concrete was lowered into tubs, which
were tripped and the material pushed with
hoes and special tools into all the re-
naming portions of the cavity until it
was completely filled with substantially
solid mass Of concrete The loose material was
also placed over and the outer slope Of the
breastwork of bags. so as to form a compare
lively even finish. The remains of the
sand pockls which had existed under the
masonry from its construction and which
by its erosion had disturbed the equilibrium Of
the structure were allowed to remain undis-
turbsd. as the risk of their removal was con-
sidercd entirely too great. The whole was ac-
cordingly inciosed bodily within the mass of
concrete, the limit of the bag work extending
beyond it and combining it OH all sides.