The Washington times., 1895-05-26

In view of the near approach of Memorial
Day. the great need of a new bridge to
A rlington and to Fort Myer engages
the attention not only of the Washing
tonian, but also that OF every visitor TO
the Capital City.
The present road, by way of George
town and the Aqueduct bridge, is very
similar to that celebrated character whose
perceptive faculties impelled him to jour
ney from his feet TO his head seeking the
location OF his nose, or, in other words, the
trip TO Arlington now necessitates the
negotiating OF several miles over pic
turesque but tedious and firing road
Then, too, the Aqueduct bridge is
structure wholly antiquated and unsuited
to modern progress. Not more than thirty
feet wide from side to side, its approaches,
especially on the Georgetown side, are at
right angles, making it useless for pleasure.
With these disadvantages II is now under
going repairs on ene of its many central
piers, which has been rendered weak by
disintegration For distance of 200
feet one side of the bridge is closed TO
travel This requires long waiting for
vehicles passing. to and fro, as there is not
sufficient width, sor two to pass. The
whole strain is, consequently, on one side
The thousands who viii attend the me-
mortal services Will find that not only
viii delay attend the journey, but real
danger may supervene.
1t viii be remembered that at the last
session of the Eifty-third Congress, ex-
Senator JohrER Henderson, Mr. James
Clements, JIefn. George ID. Wise, the
Washington EDafd OF Trade, and many
enterprising gerNIemen, living on each
side of the Potomac river. streuuousiy
urged that soffies action be taken by that
Congress, looking 70 the building of a me-
mortal bridge. Indeed, Mr.. Henderson
was so much interested as To offer TO pur-
chase Outright, the unimproved portion
of Arlington, paying 10 the Secretary OF
War therefor one million dollars. This
offer to the SefreaTy was occasioned by
the fact that IN the deed OF conveyance
from tile Lee Efelrs To the government
the title TO tie lard rested not IN the
United States, but IL the then Secretary
OF War, aud lis, SUCCESSORS IN trust
EXTEHThoF THE ESTATE.
The entire Arlington estate consists of
eleven hundred acres. OF this, two hun
dred and sixteen acres are inclosed within
a stone wall, and set aside for cemetery
purposes. The Fort Myer reservation
CONTAINS thirty y-four acres, 10 which IL is
propused TO add two hundred aud fifty
hCIeS dS d diiii 6iON"A S f - !,
only five hundred acres are contemplated
by the government To be actually used
The remaining six hundred acres could be
subdtvided aud plated into lots aud blocks.
BY the computation OF experienced real
estate dealers, it is estimated that 1t would
sell readily at forty cents per square foot.
After deducting the usual one-fourth for
streets, alleys and small parks, the gov
ernment would receive net profit, ap-
proximating seven millions of dollars With
this amount bridge could be erected, Whlch
would be the grandest monument to a
nations dead that the Imagination of man
could conceive. 1t would not only be
thing of beauty, it would be also thing of
greatest utility. 1t would be fitting
honor to the heroes in blue, who sleep then
last sleep in an unnamed grave meath the
forest trees on Arlington Heights.
The proposed memorial bridge, as de-