Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-12
OPINION OF AN EXPERT
Experienced Ensinedk Reports Upon Strength
Of May Yard Bridge.
Declared to Be Perfectly Safe and
Capable ~ Hearing Six Cars
or Any Span.

In view Of the reports which have been
published from time to time relative to the
alleged unsafe condition Of the bridge
across the Anaeostia river, some New York
capitalists who are Interested in the cleo
trio railroad between Congress Heights
and the navy yard gate, recently employed
Mr.. Walker, an English bridge engineer.
VINO Is regarded as an expert in that line,
to make thorough investigation of the
structure. Mr.. Walker completed his ex-
animation week or two ago. and yester-
day copy Of his report was received in
this city
In part 1t Is as follows:
My calculations, as will be demonstrated
below. show that the bridge is perfectly
safe, even when fully loaded with six cars
on any span. This is condition of load
that could not possibly be exceeded and
would In practice be hardly likely to occur.
The bridge consists Of twelve identical
spans. each consisting of through trusses
ter OF trusses and IS feet in depth between
width
THE roadway is supported by travers-
plate Orders slung in stirrupS below each
vertical member. The dead load, as cal
culated from the dimensions TAKEN is about
eo,oOO pounds per span. or say $4,000
pounds, which would equal 1000 pounds
per lineal foot. 1 will assume the live load
to be fully six fully loaded cars, three on
each track. AS these cars are about 80
feet In length they would occupy the whole
Of the span, and would therefore be the
greatest load of cars that could possibly
De put on any one span. Each truss has
been proportionately designed.
Strength Per Square Inch.
The strain is equal to $4,000 pounds, or
OF 9,513 pounds per square inch, sectional
area, which gives a factor of safety of g.
assuming the ultimate breaking strain to
be $4,000 pounds per square inch of ma
terial used in the bridge.
Il therefore, state that there need be
no hes1tancy whatever in operating cleo
trio cars on the Anacostia river BRIDGE
A prominent citizen of Anacostia stated
to Star reporter that the Commissioners
report on the Navy Yard bridge, declaring
IL TO be unsafe, was made before the bridge
was repaired.
Has Been Thoroughly Repaired.
''Since the Commissioners investigation
OF the structure" he continued, ut has
been thoroughly repaired. New timbers of
huge proportions have been placed upon
the large granite PIERS which are twelve in
number, placed every 100 feet. On these
granite piers the Capital Railway Company
has placed large eighty pound girder
rails, upon stills of extraordinary size, which
are securely fastened together by fish
plates and huge bolts, so that it is consid-
cred by those qualified to Judge that it is
now the strongest bridge in the District
1t is also learned that the Capital Railway
Company placed four of its heaviest cleo
trio cars on each span, successfully, loaded
to their full capacity, which tested to four
times the strength necessary to use it. as
the company never expects to have more
than one car on the bridge at a time"
ViOlets, Sweetest of All Valentines.
An abundance of fresh, fragrant bios