Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-26
M E M ORAL Bird G E
Reasons Why It Should Be Built and at
Once
As q Business Transaction 1t Would
De Profitable to the Government
Cost OF Construction.

i
| Since the reclamation of the Potomac
| fats was undertaken no measure of public
| Improvement has been suggested or con-
| templated by our citizens which approach
| es in merit or supreme Importance the
proposed memorial bridge crossing the
| Potomac to Arlington. There are abundant
| reasons to be urged in favor Of its con-
struction. Considerably more than half a
| century ago the general government built
a bridge across the Potomac in front Of
| Washington. From its location 1t was ad-
mirably adapted to the use Of the people
Of the District and the neighboring popu-
lation Of Virginia, for whom 1t was in
tended. 1t was, in fact, the only bridge
crossing the river from point within the
| city limits which was built for public use
| Within comparatively recent years this
| bridge, Long bridge, about one mile In
| length, was practically surrendered to q
| railway corporation. 1t is true that the
| railroad company was required to main
tain a public roadway over the bridge, but
| this roadway is inevitably close to the rail-
road tracks. barely rod distant. And
| the ordinary dangers OF meeting railway
trains are here greatly increased by the
| incessant use of the steam whistle, some
| thing absolutely unavoidable on single
| track draw bridge like this 1t is there
| fore easy to understand that such road
| way can be used for public travel only at
| the peril of life and limb. Hence the traf-
| fic which passes over 1t consists chiefly OF
| brick teams and other heavily loaded
| wagons. while the general public, protest
| ingly,use the Aqueduct bridge, which crosses
| the river three miles above, at the western
| limits OF Washington, and nearly three
| miles distant from its business centers
| This enforced detour of several miles is
| still greatly preferred to the alternative Of
| facing the hazards Of the Long bridge
| highway.
Long Bridge Bill.
The history of the methods by whic h
the Long bridge was taken from the peo-
pie and graciously handed over to a
| wealthy corporation-lthe swiftness and
| dexterity with which the necessary legisla-
| ton was obtained-is curious and inter-
esting, but need not here be detailed. 1t is
| enough to say that the bill giving this
| bridge away was rushed through both
| houses of Congress and became a law with
| in seventy-two hours; before the people
| whose interests were thus trampled under
| foot knew that such a measure was pend
| ing.
Though the bridge was donation on the
part of Congress, 1t is pretty we'll under
| stood that the railroad company was COM
| PEELED to disburse freely to it's attorneys
go-betweens and members of the third
| house.
Repair the Wrong.
Now, in the inexcusable surrender of
this great highway across the Potomac to
private corporation-thus wrestling from
the people the main artery or gateway of
| travel and traffic which united the north
and south banks of the river-in the mani
| fest and many damaging consequences Of
that act, may be found the amplest
and soundest reasons for measurably I'M
doing the wrong by building a new bridge
which will restore to the people facilities
| equal, as near as may be, to those of which
they were deprived through the easy good
nature, the thoughtlessness, the indiffer-
ence and the ignorance of our rulers and
masters.
Arlington md Fort Myer.
But there are other cogent reasons for
building this bridge.
| The national cemetery at Arlington, 1t
has been said a million times already. is
the Meo ca to which the footsteps of every
patriotic American instinctively turn when
he comes to Washington. 1t is estimated
that little less than half a million people
go annually to this historic spot. BY the
AQueduct bridge the journey to the GEM
etery fl ON Washington Is two and one-half
miles longer than it need be; the distance
via Georgetown, as compared with direct
route, is precisely doubled. The route by
way of Long bridge, if it were safe for
travel, is hardly less circuitous. The site
| of the proposed bridge--either of the two
| suggested sites-gives a direct road to the
cemetery. Adjoining the cemetery on the
Arlington reservation is the important
4
would therefore be not less valuable in
| giving the most direct access to Fort Myer.
These considerations have strongly i'm
| pressed high officials of the government;
and in their reports are reiterated recon-
| mendations urging the early constructor
| Of this bridge. Gen. Batchelder, the quar-
| termaster general, has more than once,
and notably in his last report to the Secre-
| tary of War, set forth in forcibe words
| the great Importance of the new bridge.
| and the Secretary of War is not less en-
4 10 tn N Il H.
| then, and the necessary legislation in its
| behalf, have abundant official approval,
sanction, recommendation and support; not
| routine, perfunctory utterances, but the
phrases of men who are in earnest and mean
what they say. So 1T is made plain that
| the people of the District and our neigh
| bors of Virginia want the new bridge, and
have an equitable right to insist upon its
| construction by Congress-; and the govern
| ment, through its officials, declares it al
| most indispensable.
| Plan Feasible.
The structure itself has been deliberately
| planned, estimated and reported upon by
| government engineers, and It's cost is not
a matter Of doubt. 1t is known at what
| depth below the bed of the river secure
| foundations can be obtained and there are
| no elusive or difficult engineering problems
| involved in the undertaking. An ample
| bridge fifty feet in width, with sidewalks
| of eight feet each, spanning the river. will
| COST WITH necessary approaches, not
| ceeding $7JOOOO.
The estimate contemplates the bridge
| spans-the fixed spans-to be, at least 300
| feet, having a clearance of thirty feet
| above tide, thus permitting the passage of
| tugs and small craft under the bridge,
| with draw span of 100 feet. The bridge
| to be of Steel resting on substantial stone
| piers and abutments, or steel columns,
| Tiled with concrete.
| Such a structure ready for travel, can
| be built for the sum stated, and, such a
! structure, provided with draw of ample
| width operated by steam. it would be
| simply absurd to claim could seriously in
| terfere with the interests Of navigation.
| Long Bridge Evils.
| Long bridge is justly considered an OBJ
| struction, and in some seEse, a nuisance.
! It's piers are barely 100 feet apart, and
| their foundations are protected from scour
| by large deposits Of broken stone which
| greatly diminish the sectional area of the
| river channel. Hence, Long bridge, 1t
| exists may truly be described as a dam.
| A suspension bridge, elevated 1l5 feet above
| the river, has been gravely suggested.
| Such a conception Is simply vision, born
| of Indigestion bearing close kinship to
| the fancies Of disturbed, unbalanced
| thought, rather than of sober. robust seL<e.
| The bridge would cost several millions,
| and assuredly there are no requirements of