Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-14
It is Not in a Good Condition fo1
Ordinary Travel.
TEE PENNSYLVANIA RR. CO.'S PROMISES
Major Davis Has Difficulty in Get.
ting Their FuIfiIIment.
w H AT is N EE D E D

MAJ. Davis, the engineer OHlcer IN charge
of the Potomac river improvements, which
includes a supervision over the Long
bridge. is having considerable difficulty in
keeping the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany up to its obligation to maintain the
Long bridge in good condition for rail-
way and ordinery travel He has repeat
eddy called the attention of the officers of
the road to the fact that the roadway of
the bridge was in bad condition, and that
unless promptly repaired it would become
impossible.
On the 10th ultimo he wrote Mr.. Brown,
chief engineer of the read, at Philadelphia,
that he had received letter from Mr..
Walker, a brick manufacturer, complain
ing of the impossible condition of the road
leading to the bridge. Mr.. Walker said
that it was impossible for teams to pass
without danger, and that on the evening
of the 18th ultimo, in passing a team, his
buggy was upset and he narrowly escaped
injury. Maj. Davis requested the railroad
company TO attend to this matter at its
earliest convenience The following day
he received a brief letter from Mr.. Brown,
saying that the subject of the repair of the
road had been referred to Mr.. Kenney, the
general superintendent at Washington, with
the request that he have the matter looked
into as soon as possible.
Nothing apparently was done up to the
9th ultimo, and on that day Maj. Davis
felt impelled 10 telegraph Chief Engineer
Brown that he had received numerous
complaints of the bad condition Of the
bridge and would like him to give the mat
ter Immediate attention. On the list in
slant Mr.. Brown replied by telegraph that
the local superintendent at Washington
had promised to put men at work TO repair
the bridge on that day.
A Petition From Business Men.
Subsequently Maj. Davis received the fol-
lowing petition: I'VE, the undersigned, re-
spectfully call your attention to the cause
way between the north end of Long bridge
and the south end of the 14th street bridge
During the latter part of February and
early March of this year and at various
times in previous years the causeway
was and has been in such condition as to
be dangerous and almost impossible In
asmuch as these conditions of the present
causeway are bound to exist at times, We
suggest and earnestly ask for the estab-
| the north end of Long bridge to the south
end of the 14th street bridge, and that to
| this established grade a substantial, first
| class road highway be constructed and
| natures of the following named firms: w.
| H. West & Bro w. r. Walker & Co.;
William l.. Read; William c. Morrison; The
| Virginia Brick Co., by c. B. Pearson, pres
ident; The New National Brick Co., by Jno.
| Miller. owner; Washington Hydraulic Press
| Brick Co., by H. Wells, general manager;
| c. F. Wilkins & Son; Mcdowell Sons; E. E.
| Jackson & Co.; w. E. Galliher & Bro, and
| Thomss Somerville & Sons.
Maj. Davis forwarded this petition to
| Chief Engineer Brown of the Pennsylvania
| road at Philadelphia, under date of the 9th
| instant, with an accompanying letter, in
which he said: Il inclose herewith a copy
| of petition signed by well-known business
men, representing brick-making, lumber,
produce, etc, who do a great deal of heavy
| teaming across the Long bridge causeway.
The roadway, owing to the raising of the
| flats to the northward, is now too low and
should he raised and graded in the manner
asked for by the petitioners, the present
method of dumping on layer or two of
| gravel being but temporary at best and of
| doubtful utility, as the road is not properly
drained. 1 have to request that you give
this subject your careful consideration"
What is Needed.
No response to this commune alton has
yet been received, but one is looked for in
a short time, as the company is usually
very prompt in its replies. According to a
gentleman interested in this matter, the
| matter of promises, its dereliction being
chiefly in the important matter of perform
ance. The roadway is now undergoing re-
pairs, such as they are; but, as Mai. Davis
says, they are merely temporary and will
have to be constantly renewed. According
to Maj. Davis. the causeway ought to be
raised. rolled and graded in order to secure
| a better system of drainage. He thinks
| that steam roller could be used to ex-
way, which in the end would be an econom-
ical undertaking on the part of the rail-
| road company inasmuch as it would greatly
| reduce the expense of repairing the bridge