The evening times., 1896-02-20

Mr.. Sherman. from the House Commit tee
| on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, has
made a favorable report on the Sena tc bill
| To provide for the construction of "A me.
mortal bridge across the Potomac River,
with an amendment, limiting its cost to
| $500 900.
The report is, In part as follows:
''The purpose of the bill is 20 construct
hridge across the Potomac River, be-
| tween the Naval Observatory grounds, in
| this city, and the Arlington reservation
ard Fort Myer. in Virginia.
I'm tie Fifty-sccond Congress a private
corporation sought to build bridge at
this point, and n bill granting the franchise
for that purpose was introduced in the
| second session thereof. This bill was
| referred for report TO the War Depart
mcGt by this committee, and the War De.
partn.ent so strcnCously and urgently op-
posed the granting of this site TO a private
corporation, upon The ground that the
site was needed by The government, that
this committee declined to report the bin.
We are not aware that at any other time
private parties sought TO Luild the bridge.
I'VE are satisfied, however, that, con-
sidcring the necessity of rendering speedily
and safely accessible to the capital its
chief military post at Fort Myer, the
propricty OF fitting approach to the
great national cemetery at A rlington, where
are gathered so many OF the nations hon
ored dead, and the desirabllity for these
reasons of subjecting the use of this bridge
to the control of the War Department, none
other than the government should be al
lowed to build il. For the same reas son, aad
because tramways of every kind are ex-
cluded by this bill from the use of this
bridge, il is proper that the cost OF building
it should be borne exclusively by the gov
ernment, and that the committees amend
mcnt, striking out the clause imposing ore
half of the cost of the bridge upon the Dis
trict of Columbia, shall be adopted.
URGED REPEATEDLY.
since 1886 up to the present time the
building of this bridge has been urged re-
pcatcdiy upon the attention of Congress by
successive Secretaries Of War, chiefs Of en-
Gincers, and quartermasters general of the
army. Within brief period the present
quartermaster general Of the army, repre-
senting not only his own views. but stating
that he came by direction Of the Secretary
OF War, has been before your committee and
strcnuously set forth the entire inadequacy |
of the present means Of communication |
with the large military post OF Fort Myer, |
the iusccuH character of the Aqueduct |
Bridge, auRthe fact that it would Ia Ike twice |
the time to rea ch the capital thereover iuan |
emergency than would be required for that |
purpose under the conditions presented by |
this bill.
The Secretary of War in his annual re- |
port for 1895 says:
"'improvcd means of communication be-
tween Washington and the Virginia shore |
must very soon be provided. Another |
bridge is not only a conceded necessity to
the population OF both sides Of the Poto-
mae and as an approach to the national
cemetery at A rlington. but also as a mill
Iary convenience to bring the principal
garrison of the National Capital within
rasy reach of its streets and public build
ings.
Twice have submitted the suggestion
hat such n structure can easily he made