Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-12
A MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Clearing Before the House Com
mittee on Commerce Today.
Mr. PERRY PRESENTS THE CASE
Georgetown Doesn't Object and
Alexandria is Anxious.
A BILL TO BE DRAFTED

hearing was held this morning by the
House committee on commerce on the bill
for the construction of a memorial bridge
across the Potomac from the naval OBJ
servatory to Arlington cemetery.
Among the citizens present were Mr. X
Ross Perry Mr.. w. r. Deeble and Mr..
c. c. Glover, from the board of trade;
Mr.. Frank Hume, Maj. A. ID. Anderson,
Mr.. II. r. Dulany, Rev. DIR. Addison. Mr..
c. G. Lee and Mr.. c. ]. Bell. Representa-
tive Meredith came in to lend his voice to
the general appeal
MIR. Perry's Presentation of the Case.
Mr.. Perry was called upon to make the
first presentation of the case. Mr.. Perry
said the Aqueduct bridge vas originally
constructed for an entirely different pur-
pose from that for which ii is now used
A bridge that is notoriously insecure and
bridge that. while it is good for George
town, is not serviceable to Washington
for citizens have to make a long oetour 10
cross IL. -
Mr. Perry insisted that this condition Is
not creditable to the capital OF the natlon.
If Congress ever desires to, utilize any
pert of the 100 acres of Arlington cem-
etery for commercial purposes the cost OF
the bridge would be met in the increased
value of that property. which, after the
construction of the bridge, would Vrtuahy
become city property. -
Mr.. Mallory of the committee asked II
the people of Georgetown object TO this
bridge. o
town people objected to another bridge
and raised no question to this bridge.
No Railroads to Use 1t.
In answer to a question Mr.. Perry said 1t
Is the wish of the citizens to have this
bridge devoted exclusively to foot and We
hicle traffic, and that no railroads shall
use it, 1t Is dangerous for this class OF
travel to cross the Long bridge, he said.
The railroad occupies portion of that
structure and the driveway is always
crowded with wagons hauling bricks from
the kilns on the other side of the river.
Mai. A. d. Anderson said the present
transportation facilities by way of the
Long bridge at Georgetown are entirely
to Washington, or the people on this side
who want to get to Arlington or MI.
Vernon.
Mr.. Hume said the people of Alexandria
county are now making, at their own ex-
pense a boulevard to furnish easy travel
after the Virginia side is reached.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Caruth,
Maj. Anderson said the proposed bridge
would save a detour of from IL to j
miles in getting to the national cemetery
at Arlington and to Mt. Vernon. The gov
ernment has appropriated literally FOR the
Improvement of roads to nauonal ceme-
GEORGETOWN People Do Not Object.
Mr.. W. Riley Deeble said the Georgetown
people do not object to a memorial bridge.
They did object to a corporation bridge
ecross the Potomac, but that matter has
been settled.
Major Anderson added that report
had been made to the board of trade in
which the Georgetown people indorsed the
memorial bridge.
Mr.. C. c. Glover said he had partici-
pated with the Georgetown people in the
fight they made against that railroad
bridge, and he wants every precaution
taken to prevent steam railroad from
using the memorial bridge.
Mr.. Perry said this Is also the position or
the board of trade.
Alexandria Anxious for the Bridge.
Representative Meredith said the people
of the Alexandria district are very anxious
to have this memorial bridge. 1t is abso-
lutely necessary for them and for Wash
ton. 1t would also be of benefit to the
government, as furnishing easy access to
the reservation.
Dr. Addison said the enhanced value of
the governments land at Arlington would
pay for the bridge.
Mr.. Mallory of the committe doubted
whether the bill can get through the
House with an appropriation to be borne
by the government.
At the conclusion of the hearing the
committee went into executive session and
resolved to refer the bill to subcommit-
tee consisting of Mr.. Bartlett Of New
York. Mr.. Fletcher of New York and Mr..
Durborow of Illinois, with instructions
to report bill limiting the cost of the pro-
posed bridge and containing strict pro-
visions excluding steam railways from the
use of the bridge. This bill will be con-
sidered by the full committee at later
meeting.