Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-25
RAILROAD ANDBRIDG
(Continued from Fin Paqe.)

CONTINUED from Fin Pase.)
Laid out with this in view and the dred cling Of
the new channel has been carried as close to
the bridge - could be done without endanger-
ing the structure. The bridge as it stands pre-
vents the completion OF the work.
). The existing Long bridge endangers the
work already done on the river Improvement
and teopardizes the property Of the citizens of
masses OF r1prap stone piled about the pier
foundations. acts as . submerged dam which.
together with the oblique piers and
low wooden trusses, dams back the water
during freshets and causes the deposit Of
sediment in the dredged channel, while the
Hood water spreads over the reclaimed land Of
the improvement and then over the low-grade
streets In the business part Of the city OF WASH
ington, causing interruption Of business and
great loss OF and injury to property. It
not necessary to adduce any theoreti-
cal considerations to prove that this
viii be the case, as it has actually
occurred. The business part Of the city has
been hooded three times. causing great loss and
from the backing Of sewage into the streets en-
aan8ering the sanitary condition OF the city.
was that of 1881. when an ice
gorge formed at the Long bridge. flooding
Pennsylvania avenue az far as the Capitol.
(The results Of this food are graphically shown
upon the map Of Washington which herewith
inciose Enclosure No. a., showing the sub
merged area Of the city at that time.)
L. The existing Long bridge is an unsafe
structure and should therefore be removed. II
Is liable to be swept away during any high
freshet, and during the freshet of 1889 tho
on the bridge to keep it from being swept
away. Not only are the foundations insecure.
owing to recent dredging, but the wooden
trusses are not adapted to modern railway
loads, while they are liable to be destroyed by
fire at any time.
TWO BRIDGES OBJECTIONABLE.
Section 10 Of this bill contemplates the build
ing of new bridge for highway travel only.
The provision for such bridge as expressed is
a most vague and indefinite one. The bill
reads: sit being hereby understood and agreed
that a proper highway bridge shall be pro-
vided, &C." l take it that such q provision
OF law this would not 60 far
toward providing the new highway bridge
proposed. The existence of two bridges across
the Potomac river at this point is Objectionable
from every point Of view. 1t would be ex-
ceedIngly detrimental to navigation. This
general line of highway travel should be pre-
served and this would bring the two bridges
close together. There would, therefore, be
much trouble, delay and danger to
vessels in passing through the two
draws. Both draws would need to be open at
the same time. and this of itself would delay
the railroad and highway travel. Aside from
this, with the present bridge still in exist
ence, the obstruction of the channel during
freshets would only be increased. with
all its resultant dangers. Two bridges at this
point would in every way be detrimental to the
interests of navigation OF the United States and
the citizens Of Washington, and l recommend
| that such proposition be not entertained.
Nor do l see any reason why Congress should
donate the present bridge to the railway COM
mn md INN fha onr,Ia no Of
new bridge The existing bridge wa.
built by and belonged to the United
States. 1t was then put into the possession Of
the railway company on the condition that it
should be maintained a bridge for highway
travel Now the railway company proposes
by this bill to appropriate the entire bridge to
its own use as a corporation and let the United
States or the District of Columbia build one for
highway travel.
The only remedy for the existing conditions
| is the construction of new bridge designed to
| accommodate both railroad and highway travel,
located at right angles to the new channel,
built with wide spans on substantial masonry
piers whose foundations are at the bed OF the
new channel with a superstructure of stool,
placed well above the freshet line and an ample
draw properly located.
The plans for such a bridge have already
been submitted to Congress in the report of
Lieut.. Col Hams Of April 2, 1890.
AN AMENDMENT PoPosED.
I therefore respectfully recommend the
amendment of the bill by striking out section
10 entirely, and substituting the following Sec
ton therefor:
Sec. 10. That the Secretary of War be and
he ia hereby authorized and directed to cause
to be constructed across the Virginia channel of
the Potomac river near the site of the present
Long bridge a new and substantial bridge of
iron steel, resting masonry piers and
provided with suitable approaches and
with a draw sufficient for the accom-
of the navigation of said river. The
said new bridge shall be go located
that its longitudinal center line shall be normal
to the general direction which the Virginia
channel will have when the Potomac river i'm
provement is completed, the length of said
bridge shall not be less than $500 feet,
and no span shall be less than $50 feet. The
piers Of the said new bridge shall rest upon
sufficient foundations, at or near the present
or proposed bed of the river. The superstruc-
ture of said bridge shall have clear head
room of not less than twenty feet above
mean low tide Of the Potomac river and the
said bridge shall provide for a double track
railway, for q roadway for highway travel not
less than 20 feet wide and a sidewalk not less
than feet wide, side by side, the railway and
the roadway to be separated by tight fence
not less than 16 feet high.
Upon the completion OF the new bridge herein
authorized the present Long bridge, together
them, shall be entirely removed.
Provided, That one-haf of the cost Of the said
new bridge and one-haf the cost of the re-
moval of the present bridge shall be paid by
the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company,
and that the said work shall be done by con-
tract after public advertisement, the said con-
tract to be conditioned upon payments as
herein provided.
And there is hereby appropriated out Of any
money in the treasury not otherwise apprO-
priated q sum of money equal to one-half the
cost Of the work provided for in this section as
the same may be certified to by the Secretary
of War.
Provided further, That the said Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad Company shall maintain
the said bridge in good condition for railway
and ordinary travel and shall maintain the
draw in efficient working condition at all
times and shall operate the same SO
| as not to impede the free navigation Of the
Potomac river at all hours of the day or
| night, and the bridge shall at all times be
| and remain free bridge for public use for Or
binary travel, and the said Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company shall give other
| railroad companies the right to pass over said
bridge upon such reasonable terms as may be
agreed upon or as Congress may prescribe.
And If the said Baltimore and Potomac Rail-
road Company shall at any time neglect to keep
| said bridge in good repair and free for public
| use for ordinary travel the Secretary Of War
may enter into the possession Of the whole Of
said bridge. for and on behalf of the United
States. And Congress reserves the right to
alter or amend this law.
Very respectfully, DC,