Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-07
ADDITIONAL MENACE
Long Bridge Has Been Narrowed to
the Danger Line.
GRA2ED BY PASSING TRAINS
The Braces Six Inches From the
Railroad Tracks.
NO ONE IN CHI A r G E
NO ONE IN CHI A r G E

The poor old Long bridge. for years an
eyesore, a detriment to the navigation OF
the river and menace to life and limb. as
well as a standing threat as cause of
floods, is once more in trouble. To speak
more accurately, it Is Offering more cause
of complaint to long suffering public. and
making trouble to other people. To COM
plicate matters, this time an interesting
question has arisen as to who Is RESPONSE
BILE for the existing state of affairs.
According to an expert civil engineer and
bridge builder who recently made cur
sorry examination of the bridge. the recent
extensive repairs which have been made
to the Virginia draw narrow the passage
way of the bridge by at least twelve
inches. This makes the braces which have
been put in but six inches from either side
of passing cars, thus greatly increasing the
danger. Any sudden lurch which might be
caused by a slight obstruction on the
tracks, according to this authority would
likely bring the engine or cars into con-
tact with the braces. and if the force We're
DONE even if the train did not go through
the bridge.
Danger to Passengers.
Moreover, if a person were 50 thoughtless
and reckless as to put his head out of the
window as the train was crossing the draw
his chances of escaping injury would he
of the slenderest sort. Heretofore the en-
gines crossing the bridge have carried Ian
terms on the sides. but now the space has
been so narrowed down that they would
be knocked off nearly every time, and it
has been necessary to remove them.
This authority is strongly of the opinion
that the Long bridge is now more danger
Gus than ever and that it should be con-
demned without further delay, and a new
structure put up in it's place. so as to pre-
to occur one of these days If the bridge Is
allowed to remain as it is.
An Example.
While returning to Washington from
Alexandria on the Oils train some days ago
colored woman was seriously injured
while the train was crossing the bridge
One of these pieces of timber broke the
window beside which she was sitting, COW
ering her with the pieces of broken glass
Some of these pieces penetrated the wo-
mans eye and did 50 much damage that
the physicians who attended her found it
necessary to remove the eye.
And yet. notwithstanding all this. 1T
would seem as though no one is responsible
or in position to bring about an improve
ment in the existing condition of affairs.
When a Star reporter called the matter
to the attention of Major Powell the En-
gineer Commissioner said he had no au-
thority in the premises. and that the whole
War Department.
War Department..
Gen. Casey. chief of engineers, and Major
Davis, the engineer officer, in special charge
of the Potomac river Improvement ex-
planned briefly that their jurisdiction over
the Long bridge is limited to its mainte-
nance in good condition for ordinary travel,
and to preventing it's becoming an obstruc-
tn SajA hat
had no power of supervision or control over
engineering work on the railroad bridge,
except i'll so far as il tended to interfere
with the navigation of the river or the free
passage of the highway. The character of
repairs made to the railroad bridge. or its
safety and security. were matters entirely
beyond their control Gen. Casey said that
so far as he knew the bridge was no more
dangerous now than it mad been for some
time past.
River Open.
Major Davis said that the railroad COM
pany had recently received permission from
the War Department to sink some piles in
the Virginia channel, in order to repair
and strength 4 the draw. They were given
limited time to do the work, and the
time was subsequently extended. 1t had
now been finished His duty in the matter
ended when the piles were removed from
the channel He had no supervision what
ever over the work on the bridge beyond
what has been Indicated. He knew that
the channel was clear and open. His over
seers however had not thought it neceS-
Sary to cali mis- attention to changes in the
general construction of the bridge, and, If
1T had been narrowed, as reported, he did
not know of it. Although it was not in his
line at all, he said, he had natural in
terest in the bridge, and in order to see ex-
actly what had been DONE he proposed to
make a personal inspection.
Railroad Freedom.
1t therefore appears that the railroad
company are free to make any sort of re-
pairs to the bridge no matter whether or
not they ieopardize the lives of their pa
irons, provided only they do not Interfere
with the navigation of the river and do
not obstruct ordinary travel on the high
way.
Long bridge was first built In 1909 by the
Washington Bridge Company, and the act
of Congress. February 5, 1903. which au-
thorized it's construction authorized the
collection of tolls. At that time there was
no causeway between the Washington
channel and the main or Virginia channel.
az there is now. In 1881 the bridge was
DESTROYED by a freshet. In 1884 an appro-
priation was made to rebuild 1T, and 1t
was rebuilt In 1910 it was again partially
destroyed by a freshet and the sudden
breaking up or Ice. IN lSf0 IL was FcpilTeu
and again opened for travel. In 1870 the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company
was authorized to take possession of and
extend it's tracks across the bridge, under
the following conditions:
provided, That the said Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company will maintain
in good condition the said bridge for rail-
way and ordinary travel, and the bridge
shall at all times be and remain free
bridge for public use for ordinary travel.
THAT if the said Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company shall at any time neg
Iect to keep said bridge in good repair and
free for public use for ordinary travel tie
government of the United States may enter
into possession of the said bridge, and
Congress reserves the right to alter or
amend this law.
The bridge remains today the property
of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company by virtue Of that act of Con-
gress BY the term bridge is meant the
entire structure from the Washington shore
to the Virginia shore. including the cause
way across the flats. The total length Of
the bridge, inclusive of the causeway, is
4677 feet.
The bridge was badly damaged by the
freshet of June. 1889, and it has been recess
bot hot ha