The Washington times., 1895-05-26
Bridge 10 fhe 6ilenf Cifu
Of a Nafi0n'S H0r0 Dead
America Should Honor the Thousands Who Gave
Their Lives for Her Safety by Erecting Me-
mortal Structure Across the River

signed by Capt. T. w. Symons, United
States engineers, and Messrs. Smltnmeyer
and PelZ, architects, would be puht OF
granite and stone Its bridgew would
be forty feet, with walks on each slde ten
feet wide. Its total length would be 4 ,ooo
feet The central basule span l6o Ieet,
main arch spans 240 feet, and small arcn
spans 120 feet, all clear width. The cost
would approximate, Including ornamental
ton, about 81 100000.
The Washington approach is proposed to
be at the foot of New York avenue. and the
Arlington, facing the Custis mansion. The
boulevard leading to Fort Myer would de-
fleet to the right, and that to the Mcclellan
gate to the left. On either side of these
boulevards, there are slightly building sites.
BY using q portion OF the money for which
this portion of Arlington could be sold, the
slough between Analostan Island and the
main land, could be filled and fifty or
more acres of land reclaimed.
Mr. Henderson, in making his proposition
TO purchase the unused six hundred acres
OF Arlington, avowed his intention or
making it q second Brooklyn. Well might
he SO proclaim his desire, for nature mas
here anticipated art. She has fashioned
preserve which begs, with uplifted hands,
for some share of that care which makes
the desert blossom as the rose. Gently un-
dulating hills and valleys invite man TO
behests. The permitting of somuch possible
good 10 lie idle and unused year after
wear is indeed a sad commentary on the
yaunted economy aud business methods
of the government.
CEDED TO THE DISTRICT.
When Arlington was, by special act Of
the Virginia legislature, ceded TO the United
States, the laws OF the Old Dominion ceased
to be operative. To all intents and pur-
poses it became part OF the District OF
Columbia. The courts of Washington, aud
not those of Virginia, have jurisdiction
Were the government indisposed to sell
any portion of itsholdings, ftcould establish
on this six hundred acres its experimental
farm, and thus do away with the necessity
of paving rent for land at or near Bennings.
The soil is adapted to the production of all
kinds OF crops. 1t is a clay sub-soil capa-
BILE of being fertiliZed so as TO become the
richest of producers.
The thousands who throng to the silent
city of the dead on May so, to drop a
tear over the graves of departed heroes,
must needs regret that It generous govern
ment has not Seen fit to provide way more
suited to the demands OF that sad, sweet
spot They Will gaze at the stone telling
OF nearly five thousand unknown but never
to be forgotten heroes, and wonder why It
| is necessary to travel long and tedious
way, when every inducement points TO
the commou-sense way of easy access
That the Memorial Bridge will be built
is sure, but when time is the essence OF
a thing, there should be no delay. Out
side OF few minor considerations, both
the Senate and the House In the Fifty
| third Congress agreed that there was a
necessity for such structure. Unfortu-
uately, the snarls and disagreements which
marked the latter end of that Congress,
precluded any united action. 1t is the
wish OF all that the next Congress, which
may not be influenced by purely personal
considerations will carry to fruition a
work so badly needed, and which will
( honor not only the dead and please the
! living, but will also bring joy to the hearts
of all future generations of all patriotic
| Americans.