Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-19
THE AQUEDUCT PIERS.
Hearing on the Bill to Allow. Their
Use.
The Railroad Company's Proposition
ers-MOtive Power to he Used.

The Commissioners this morning gave a
hearing to those persons interested in House
bill No. 1852. to provide for the repair of
the piers of the Aqueduct bridge and for
Its use by a street railway. The street
railway referred to is the Washington and
Arlington and Falls Church Railroad Com
pany of Virginia, and representatives of
the road were present at the hearing. Col
A.. d.. Anderson presented the case. He
read the bill In full, which provides that
the company shall extend its road across
the Aqueduct bridge and thence to the
proposed union passenger station in George
town. and to operate its railway on the
same, provided the company shall first re-
pair the piers of the bridge and put them
in safe order and condition. 1t also pro-
vides that the company shall pay the col
lector Of taxes a toll Of 1 cent for each
passenger passing over the bridge and that
the company shall be reimbursed out Of
these tolls for the amount Of money ex-
pended for the repair of the piers, with
legal interest.
The repairs and the road are to be COM
pleted within six months. Col. Anderson
called attention to the necessity Of this
legislation, and said the company are will
Ing to undertake the repair Of the bridge.
He read letter from the president Of the
would execute a bond In such reasonable
penalty as the committees Of Congress may
designate payaSe to the Commissioners OF
the District, guaranteeing the repair of the
piers OF the bridge when the bill Is passed !;
also that the work should be constructed
wholly under the control of the Commits
sioners Of the District of Columbia, and
third, that the tolls collected would suffice
TO Keep the bridge in repair hereafter. there
by saving the United States and the Dis
trict further expense in regard to the
bridge. In reply to q question from Capt.
Flebeger. who represented the engineer de-
partment at the hearing. Col. Anderson
stated that there were three propositions to
lay the tracks, one to lay them in the CEN
ter OF the bridge. another, to widen the
bridge and place the tracks on the side, and
q third, to have a single track on the west
piers.
Capt. Fiebeger said he thought the most
feasible plan would be to widen the side
walks and place a single track on one side
and widen the other sidewalk in proportion
He pointed out many defects in the bill
ana asked what motive power the COM
pany proposed to use. as there was nothing
designated In the bill Col. Anderson
thought the trolley would be accepta ble
although horses could be used. Capt. Fie-
beger also called attention to the fact that
no provision was made for Other railroad
companies to use the tracks, and 1t could
hardly be expected that the Commissioners
would recommend the turning over of such
NaludDlS STRUCTURE 10 q COrpOr0tlOn Tor
Its exclusive use because. forsooth. it had
agreed to repair its piers.
Mr.. c. G. Lee remarked that the company
seeking to obtain this charter had no
existence in fact. 1t had purchased some
of the property Of the defunct Washington
and Arlington railway, and claimed that
under the laws Of Virginia the purchasers
of corporate rights succeeded to the charter
But this was not so. The Washington and
Great Falls Railway Company had also
purchased the property of the Washington
and Arlington railroad, and as the company
was chartered by Congress, and not under
the laws Of Virginia, the Washington and
Great Falls Company had the better right
to the use of the bridge 1t was agreed by
the Commissioners to have the gentlemen
submit their remarks in writing.
The following gentlemen were present:
DR.. l.. w. Richie. Col. A. D. Anderson
Nj. David Shoemaker. Mr.. w. w. DUNCAN
Mr. r. A. Phillips. James E. Clements, Mr..
c. g. Lee, Mr.. John w. Clark.