Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-04
THE ANACOSTlA BRIDGE
Subject of Animated Discussion by Congress
Heights Citizens Association.
The Structure Regarded as Safe for
Travel-.AssOciatiOn Chooses Of
ficers for Ensuing Year.

The annual meeting of the Congress
| Heights Citizens Association was held last
evening, and the attendance was the larg
est in the history OF the organization.
1t was anticipated that something would
| be said at the meeting in regard to Capt.
| Beachs report to Engineer Commissioner
| Black on the Navy Yard bridge which was
published exclusively in The Star of last
| evening, and there was no disappointment
on that score.
| 1t will be recalled as heretofore stated
in The Star, that by direction of the Com
| missioners the bridge has just been thor
| oughly repaired, and by their permission
tracks OF pattern selected by the Engi-
| neer Commissioner were laid upon the
| structure for the running of the electric
| cars.
Previous to the hour for the meeting to
| open the members of the association gath
cred in little groups in the vicinity and lis
cussed the engineers report.
| Immediately after the association was
called to order and the necessary routine
business was transacted, President A. T.,
| Randle made a brief address. in which he
| referred to the work accomplished by the
association since it was formed.
/ If. said he, 1.-The members will consult
| my feelings in the matter they will elect a
| new president for the ensuing year
| The President Reelected.
rms proposition was opposed by several
| gentleman at cnce, one of whom nomi-
mated Mr.. Randle for reelection. and the
! nomination was Endorsed by reclamation
| The announcement by the temporary chair
man that President Randle had been chosen
to he mis- own successor for another year
| was received with many manifestations of
| approval, and amidst much applause Mr..
| Randle again took the chair.
| AFTER short speech of acceptance the
| president asked for nominations for the
| other offices, and the following were chosen
| without opposition Vice president James
Boyer; secretary, o. A. Emmons; treasurer
! Henry SchuIthes.
When the result of the election was de-
| ciared, a member jumped to his feet and
| proceeded to criticise the District Commits
| s1oners for the course alleged 10 have been
| taken by them in the bridge matter Presi-
cent Randie, upon discovering the trend of
| the remarks, promptly declared the member
| out OF order, and for the remainder of the
| session the speeches were of a more mod
| crate tone.
! number of instances were related
which went to show that there has been
| scarcely day for Years, and even when
| almost every one who used the bridge re-
garded the structure as unsafe. that heav-
| Ter loads than Will be carried upon an
| electric car have not been taken across it.
| and one member said that he knew of an
| instance when walnut log said to weigh
| fifteen tons, the weight of the wagon and
| horses not being included. was hauled
| across the bridge without the least damage
being inflicted upon the structure.
| President Randle made a few remarks.
| with view to having the members under
stand that rapid transit between Congress
| Heights and the city would soon be an &C
accomplished fact, and in conclusion said
Il feel very much like man who once
| bet another he could throw him across a
! river. After depositing his wager, he took
| a firm hold and threw the fellow in the
water over his head. When the poor fe!-
| low came out of the water and claimed
the wager he vas informed the other fell
| low was not through trying to get him
across, and would continue throwing him
| until he got him across.
| Il readily understand that the enor-
| nous loads the cars of the Capital Railway
Company ha re been hauling for some
| time past have caused the Commissioners
| some apprehension, but when l today eX
piained to them that l would run only one
car over the bridge at time they said
such a course would be entirely satisfac-
tory to them.
An Engineers Views.
skilled engineer from Boston, who yes
| terday made a critical examination of the
| bridge, said:
II have read the report of Capt. Beach
on the condition of the Navy Yard bridge,
| ard 1 am at loss to understand how he
arrived at some of his conclusions,
| I'm the first place, the structure is built
upon thirteen large granite piers. upon
each of which is an immense iron sill, and
| this is surmounted by iron Orders running
| from pier to pier, while on top of this is
| large eighty-six- POUND per-yard grooved
| girder rail. This makes the track SO strong
| that if the balance of the bridge were to
| fall to pieces the tracks would remain.
| Il do not doubt that the language used in
! July, 1892, in reference to the bridge,
quoted in Capt. Beach's report, was ap-
! plicable to the structure in its condition as
| 1t then existed.
The quotation referred to is:
" Its condition is satisfactory as its
nature will permit, but ii is safe only TN
der slow travel, and the substructure is
| this has been changed, and l am confident
| that an examination by any competent, I'M
prejudiced person will convince him that
| the bridge is as able to bear the weight of
a heavily loaded motor car, or even several
| cars, is any bridge used for similar pur-
poses in the District of Columbia or else
where
Present Advantages.
prominent citizen of Anacostia who
| has driven across the bridge at least once
daily for the past twenty years said: III
Mr.. Rlndle had not done anything else for
the citizens of Anacostia. they are indebted
to him for furnishing them comfortable
| and pleasurable travel between the south
and north sides of the AnacoStia river. For
the first time in the twenty years riding
| over the structure has become a positive
pleasure, ard drivers of carriages no longer
dread to approach the bridge in either
direction
Mr.. Henry Johnson secretary of the Ana
costa Citizens Association, was unable 10
| attend the meeting, but said to Star
reporter:
81 regard the bridge since 1t has been
repaired as a marked and decided improve
ment In the matter of railway traffic AS
| to the security of the structure, the vibra-
ton is SO insignificant since the new and