Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-01

THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF THE wAsurNaro,
AND MARLBORO ELECTRIC RoAp-RrPoRrs o.
II Br GIN. CASEY AND MAI. DAvIs-THl
PLANS CONSIDERABLY CHANGED.
Several days ago the Commissioners receive.
from Congress for an expression Of their view
thereon the bill to authorize the washineto,
and Marlboro Electric Railway Company {,
extend its line within the District of Columbia
The bill proposes to authorize the road e
enter the District at and on the southeastern,
boundary line Of the District where the line Of
the road within Maryland shall reach the same
running thence by Bowen road or other mos
practicable route to the easterly end of Penn
sylvania avenue extended. thence along such
avenue to the essterly end Of q trestle or other
bridge to be built by the company across the
Anacostia and over the Baltimore and Potomac
tracks to the most southerly point Of the Con-
gressional cemetery.
As the bridge feature belonged to the War
| Department the bill was sent to the Secretary
OF War for his views. He in turn sent il to
Gen. Casey, chief of engineers, and today the
Commissioners received through the Secretary
OF War reports on the bill made by Major c. E.
L. b. Davis and Gen. Casey
| MAJ DAVIS REPORT.
Maj. Davis in his report says: This location
would bring the bridge on the northeasterly or
upstream side Of the existing Pennsylvania
Avenue bridge and within about $50 feet of the
same, measured at right angles to the line of
the bridge or $50 feet measured on the line of
the emanuel OF the river. While the present con-
oirons OF navigation on the Anacostia river are
not such would render the proposed
Dtiase, II built at this location. an
obstruction to navigation a. this time.
coioiNohs VIII probably arise in the
future which would render it So The
| eastern section of the city is rapidly building
up. and it is likely that In The near future there
VIII be demand for facilities for navigation
on the Anacostis river above the PENNSYLVANIA
Avenue bridge This bridge not built with
draw, partly because the navigation of the
river did not require it and partly because the
funds were insufficient The fact that a
draw might be required in the future
was, however recognized ard mentioned in the
report upon the plan of construction submitted
TO The Secretary OF War. Assuming the bridge
proposed by the pending bill to bs built and
that swing draws will be needed in both bridges
In the future, the distance between them would
be insufficient for the safe handling o. any bat
the smallest vessels while passing the two
draws. This distance should, in my Judgment.
be at least 500 feet and I recommend that this
be the minimum distance at which the coz
struction of parallel or adjacent bridge be
permitted As the line of a bridge located
500 feet northeast of the PENNSYLVANIA avenue
bridge would cross part OF the Congressional
cemetery 1t is suggested that the location be
hxed at some point soUthwes: of ths Penn
syivanla avenue bridge, between it and the
Navy Yard bridge and at the foot Of 18th street
east. or at such other convenient street as in
the Judgment of the District Commissioners
may be used by he electric railway
The provisions o. the bill as to the character
OF the proposed bridge are as follows:
Thence across the Anacostia by trestIe or
other bridge to be built by said company over
and above said river and the tracks OF the B.lti-
more and Potomac railroad"
These provisions are indefinite and SO loosely
drawn as TO permit the company to build
almost any Kind OF structure that thev NAV
choose to erect. the construction OF a trestle
across this part of the Eastern branch and
within the harbor lines which have been or
may be established would by reason of
the numerous supports which il wolld re-
qCire seriously obstruct tae Cow O. water
and should not be permitted under anv cir.
cumstances. The only kind OF structure
which should be permitted here is steel
or iron truss bridge with spans not less ;nan
those of the Pennsylvania avenue bridge llo
feetl resting on masonry piers built parallel TO
the direction of the current with nile o. other
secure ana approved foundations. The bill
falls also to specify the clear head room either
over the river or over tho tracks OF tho Balti-
more and Potomac railroad The clear Eend
room over the river should not be less than IL
feet above low tide and that owe. the Raltimore
and Potomac railroad should be ut least % feet
above the rails. The entire plan OF the bridge
should be subject to the approval OF the Secre-
AA'E"DNENf SUGGESTED
,n1ieiote' recommended that sechon
'- . &c 'tiehueu oy striking out all words
u III ire 10 DOWN to and In
'iu ..~Is me ~ ana inserting the following:
.t .! ana Win SAID avenue 20 point
u"i W e"s'etE emu OF the fenEsyivanla ave-
nuo priuse. tnehce oy faiiroaG street or Other
ms PrIcuc"oie r"ute WHICH may De approved
os 'he Dis'rict Commissioners to the easteriy
emu en-, Vi ne" prldge which shall be built across
ne H"acosta river py the said company at a
!oca'ioh anu upon plans approved by the Sec
Rotary OF War: and the said bridge shall be of
steei CT IRON trusses, with spans not less than rs
iee' an length, resting upon masonry piers built
pom approved pie foundations. the said piers
is.,he tneir direction parallel 10 the direction !
OF the channel, and the clear head room of the !
spans OF SAID bridge across the Anacostia river I
snsh De nos less than twelve feet above low /
tlde; and the said bridge shall cross the Balti-
more ana Potomac railroad at or near the foot |
OF ION street eass above grade and with a clear |
heao room over the tracks OF said Baltimore |
ana fotomac railroad OF not less than twenty |
,eet; ana tne lines Of said Washington and |
Iia t. electric railway shall continue across
III 90