Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-21

department, upon this subject:
Repairs Necessary.
In reference to proposed legislation look
ing to the use of the Aqueduct bridge over
the Potomac river for street railway pur-
poses, 1 have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing remarks, at your suggestion:
The substructure of the bridge is known
TO be In need of repair. The fourth pier
from the Virginia end is in such condition
that no statement of its stability would be
Justified. 1t has been undermined by the
current Of the river at its upper end q such
an extent that the masonry has settled at
that point, and the pier has cracked from
the top to the waters edge and presuma nly
below that point to the river bottom Such
condition should not be permitted 70 ex-
ISL without attempts at a remedy. Unless
this is done cannot say that the pier NAV
not fall at any time. AS II is II may last
for years and 1t may collapse tomorrow
It's condition is almost certain to become
progressively worse. Under your direction
the masonry has been bound together With
iron rods surrounding the pier in an effort
to hold the cracked portions together: and a
further precautionary step is in progress
looking to the possible saving of the super
structure should this pier fail
After this is done the precautions this
Office can take in the matter will be ex-
hausted The expenditures necessary 10
remedy the submarine defects are many
times In excess of the entire appropriation
for bridge repairs. and hence II is that
the first requisite to the use OF the bridge
for railroad purposes In that provision he
made for the repairing Of the substructure.
Other piers besides the one Just referred
to have shown incipient signs OF the same
defects. Their condition has been reported
with great particularly to Congress and
estimates submitted for their repair.
Changes Recommended.
in respect to the superstrlcture II can
be stated that the trusses are structurally
- 1.t<
ing Of either sidewalk Cpreferably the west
one) from its present width Of six feet six
inches to nine feet six inches-the neces-
sary width for single track railway. The
estimate for this work is marked A The
present foot travel over the bridge would
undoubtedly be largely diminished by the
operation Of the railroad and the remain
ing sidewalk would probably afford suffi-
cient accommodation for the lessened foot
travel. An addition to the construction
Just described. which would more surely
provide for foot passengers and would also
add much to the appearance of the recon
structed bridge, would be to widen the op-
posite sidewalk to the one given for rail-
road occupation to a symmetrical width
Of nine feet six inches. The estimate for
this work is marked b. The following
estimates refer to these two constructions
and are based on average prices Of mate
rails. 1t is proper to state that present
prices are such that the figures given are
liberal for present conditions:
Estimates.
To widen the west sidewalk to feet
inches. 81. 900
To lay thereon single-track railway,
supported by steel stringers. $500
Total for this construction (A)........Sl5.o ZOO
To widen east sidewalk to feet
ihches .-....-----..--...---.----- $S.JO
Total for this construction OBJ. Sol $40
There remains another form of recon
struction, which would be necessary IL IL is
thought advisable to provide for a double
instead of a sngle-track railway. As in the
previous plans no encroachment upon the
roadway portion Of the bridge is to be rec
commended, since the present width of twenty
four feet Is narrow as is proper For
such additional width of bridge as a double
track would require. I'm addition to the neces-
eary foot walks. the present superstructure Is
not sufficient and would have to be strengt tn
ened. II is proposed to do this by the
addition OF third truss placed midway be-
tween the existing ones. which are to. be
moved about eight feet further apart to
properly distribute the new loading. This
applies to the river portion of the structure
which the canal span and trestle are to pro-
vide for by special treatment-the canal
span by two new lattice trusses on the line
OF the new position of the hand railing and
the trestle portion by extra posts of light
capacity under each floor beam at the edge
OF the masonry Of the old north abutment
The result of this reconstruction would be a
roadway width Of twenty-four feet-adioin-
ing this on each side a reservation of nine
feet six inches for double-track railway and
OUTSIDE these spaces two four-foot side
matchmaking total width between rail-
ings or ffty-one feet. The estimate for such
a reconstruction is in quite a different ella IS
OF figures from those heretofore given and
are given herewith, marked &C."
To reconstruct bridge superstructure
n ~ fea
vide for 2i-foot roadway, two rail-
way tracks and two 4-foot side
To lay double-track railway thereon. 1000
Total for this construction (O s15nOD
Fnvors Electricity.
There is provision made in pending hills
on this subject that horses only shall be
used as a motive power. 1t is proper to
state that structurally electrical power.
unless in the form of heavy storage battery
cars. would be preferable. The estima les
above given do not contemplate heavy
motor cars, but only such weights as a
loaded horse or trolley car would have The
attachment of trolley posts would be simnla
ana the life OF the door and it's clea My Com
cltlon would be favored BIZ the use of cleo
flcal power No reasonable limit Iced be
set TO the speed Of crossIlg-nine iailes an
hour under electrical propulsion would an
horse traction.
Much Needed.
I'm conclusion, 1 would state that the
travel over this bridge indicates that a
street railway thereon would be a public
convenience 1t is believed that the pro
vision for the collection of about one cent
per passenger on The proposed railway
would be a fair return for the franchise
granted 1t Is also believed that a single
track would afford sufficient accomncda
uon Tor the present-the addition Of the
second track to be made only when cir
cumstances, such rs Ereat Increase of
travel shall Justify the larger expenditure.
or the three estimates herein, that marked
'B is The one l would recommend No
consideration has been given TO the south
embankment approach To the bridge as
that territory is beyond the limits OF the
District and under other jurisdiction.
10 provide for engineering and con-
an addition Of IL Der cent Is in
cluded In the above estimates
THE STREET RAILROADS