Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-21
THEY WANT A BRIDGE
Efforts to Secure a Structure Across the
Eastern Branch.
a Lively Discussion rs to the Proper
Potnt-Senator GaIlfnrer
Takes a Hand.

large delegation of citizens residing nm
the south shore of the Eastern branch filed
into the District committee room Of the
senate this morning at 1920 for the pur-
pose Of convincing Senator Gauinger of the
necessity for an additional bridge across
That noble stream at the foot of South Cant
toi street. Senator Gallinger was half Of a
subcommittee having this bill in charge
Senator Hunton was the other half, and he
DID not show up at the hearing and con-
sequently Senator Gallinger had to do the
listening for both halves. There were two
Interests represented, both of them anxious
for bridge. but not for exactly the same
sort of a bridge. The result was a some
what confused discussion and a compro-
mise.
One Plan.
Alexander d. Anderson, Mr.. George ].
Seuferle, s. A. Waller, Dr. Godding. III. S.
Haley S.H. Wright and A. Boyer represent
ed the South Capito! Street Bridge Asso-
clauon, which was anxious to have a bridge
built straight across the river from the
ICot or South Capitol street. Mai Ander-
son mace a brief speech, stating that he
was the attorney for the association. and
that the bill had been favorably reported
upon by the War and Navy Departments
AUG mad received favorable consideration
OF tne House District committee last ses-
sion A similar bill had passed the Senate
at a previous session. The Maryland legis-
iature had passed resolutions favoring The
pIiuse' ne rererred to report from the
House District committee setting forth the
advantages to the government property
south or the Anacostia, which would ac-
crue from such bridge. Senator GaIunger
asked II tnere was any land company in
terested in the project and he was assured
tnat there was no company or syndicate
that the association was composed of Gift
zens owning land who were anxious to
llraf< IT,,
property and the city.
DIR. GOddinS's Argument.
Or. Godding, in comprehensive talk.
pointed out the advantages 20 the COVE in
ment interests and showed The decrease in
the distance between the asylum for the in
sane and the city which the new bridge
would cause. The strongest plea, he said.
would be for the poor market gardeners.
who now have to traverse a circuu,ous ana
billy route to get their produce to market
In response to question from Senator Gal
nnger he said that the value or adyantece
to the government would be mainly I'm case
or war, when the forests and the mag azine
on the Maryland shore of the river would
be placed in the way of direct communlca-
ton over a level road with the capital
Mr.. Seuferle at this point invited ;he sub
committee to take drive over this re,;ion
to see the necessity for the bridhe. The
Senator smiled and thanked his would lie
host, saying that IL there should be NV
doubt as to the need OF the fridge raised in
the minds Of the subcommittee IL might be
well to consider such an invitation.
Poplar Point Plan.
The Senator then asked IL any were pres
ent in opposition to the BILL and Mr. ]. Ii.
Adrians introduced himself NJ Putnam
and Mr.. A. L.. Richardson. He said that
they were not opposed to a bridge and that
they Endorsed everything said 10y the other
gentlemen.
We know they are speaking for the i2ocd
or the District" he said 'and speaking as
patriots. looking to the future Il; well az
10 the present But We have a suggestion
TO make. II is prerequisite to this project
that the flats on the south shore Of the
branch should be filled in. A suit is now
'nding in the District courts, know. as
the kidwell bottoms case. and / 9pprehend
that the government will run INTO =. similar
snag II this project should be carried out
We have a plan that will obviate The need
or such contingency"
Mr.. Adriaans then pointed out the ad-
var tGges OF bridge built from South Cap
itol street to Poplar Point, which is just
west of Anacostia. bridge thus built he
said. would be cheaper and would open
up the community known as Hiilsdale
Senator Gallinger asked II this would not
make longer route to reach the interests
spoken Of by Major Anderson and DIR.
Godding.
Mr.. Adriaans responded that II might
be longer if the old road were used but
that new road could be cut along the
river bank by the side of the B. and o.
tracks Hillsdale. he said, has three
thousand people and there is considera bic
capital invested there. He contended that
the bridge to be built should give the
greatest good to the greatest number.
Left to the Secretary.
Senator Gallinger then called attention
to the fact that the bill as drawn COW
cred the point raised by the Hilsdale folks.
in, Lee.
to the discretion of the Secretary of War.
He thought it was sufficiently elastic and
that the argument to the best bridge
location should be made before the Secre-
tary in case the bill became a law.
Il see the nose Of the camel entering
the tent remarked DR.. Godding The
B. and .. railroad tracks are now built on
piles. and II this project of the river road
were carried out along the b. and o.
tracks Ii would necessitate the placing
of the drive along the little strip of gar
den soil that We still have left in our
asylum property. l do not think that this
would be wise or fair"
There was considerable discussion about
the proper way of amending the bill,
which drawn places the bridge at or
below South Capitol street.
Senator Gallnger thought that by leav-
ing out lat or below and leaving il In
the discretion of the Secretary of War 10
locate the bridge at the most available
point the difficulty would be obviated and
Somewhat Excited.
At this point Justice Armstrong, repre-
senting the judicial talent Of Anacostia,
entered the committee room and almost i'm
mediately got into a dispute with Mr.. Wal
Ter, across the table. to the distance
from Hillsdale to Anacostia bridge. Jus
tice Armstrong thought ii Was over a mile.
while MIR. Waller, who is of a pugnacious
turn of mind and set in his opinions,
thought that it could not be more than a
quarter of mile. This wide difference of
opinion was irrecon cilable and the
hearing promised to become so personal In
its nature that Senator Gallinger raped
for order and called time. Major Anderson
at this point said that he had consulted
with his clients, and they were willing TO
leave the matter to the discretion of the
Secretary OF War. He had reckoned some
what without his host, however for Mr.
Beyers said that he was not willing that
the bridge should be placed above the pro-
posed line under any circumstances. Mr..
Boyer and MIR. Waller then Joined ia a duet
On the subject of their efforts for six years
to secure a bridge, and their certain knowl-
edge that IL the bridge were ever built
above the proposed line, there would never
be another bridge built TO open I'D the
Gieseboro' region. They were singing a lit
tie out Of tune. and the words were not al
together ineligible. although their mean
ing was sufficiently plain, to the effect that
they looked askance upon an amended bill
when Senator Gallinger once more called
time, and said he would have no Discussion
n "a he DIR cfara. A,,s