Evening star., 1899-02-11
Long Bridge Invites n Disaster.

The Commissioners urgent plea for an
appropriation of 5000 to cut a channel
through the ice which has formed in the
Potomac river brings pointedly to mind
once again the serious menace to the city 5
safety which the Long bridge has consti-
tuted for many years. The alarm felt by
the Commissioners is by no means unfOund-
ed. The SHOWS which have fallen during
the closing week are exceptionally heavy.
The watershed of the Potomac must be un-
usually Well covered The temperature fell
so soon after the snow came that there has
been no appreciabIe melting. while the river
has been frozen tight. thus choking the
channels 1t is to be feared that even were
the river unobstrueted by any bridge-dam
or other obstacle to the free flow of the
water a sudden thawng of the SHOWS and
ice would bring down such volume as
would require the utmost capacity of the
channels to carry 1t off safely.
But unfortunately the Potomac at Wash
ington is spauned by a low-lying, anti
quated structure, a causeway rather than
bridge, which involves the gravest danger
OF being transformed into a solid dam
whenever the ice begins to flow down
stream. The piers of this bridge are pro-
tected from the current by enormous piles
of stone which have been dumped into the
river from time to time. until the river bed
at the bridge point. it has been scientifically
estimated, is reduced by one-third from it's
normal flowing capacity Thus there is a
dam beneath the surface of the water in
these piles of stones and a dam above the
water in the low-hanging bridge structure
Not only is the volume of the flow material
ly lessened. but the surface of the river is
not free to carry large masses of ice or
debris which may be brought down in a
freshet.
This is no mere theory. Sad experience
has taught the dangers of the Long bridge
In recent years at least three demonstra-
tiOns Of the true force of this menace have
been had. In 1877. in 1881 and in 1889 the
river became choked by this dam and back
ed up into the city. causing untold damage
and even involving a risk of life. To illus
trate the extent of the danger it need only
he noted that one of these foods that of
1889. occurred in summer time. when the
river was, of course, entirely free from ice
and the disaster was the result of the dam
ming of the stream by the driftwood which
accumulated at the bridge. In winter the
evil is increased many fold as the ice is
readily thrown into an obstructive position
as soon as 1t begins to break and 10 flow
down stream.
The Commissioners now ask for 5000 to
break the ice so that the channel may be
cleared in anticipation of q thaw and
consequent freshet. This action may help
to relieve the immediate danger But the
only true remedy Is to remove the Long
bridge and to erect in it's stead high.
substantial struC ture, suited to the needs
of the railroad which will undoubtedly use
il and of the public as well, but above ali
50 planned as to present a minimum of
obstruction to the flow of the stream in the
NEST serious emergencies. Anything less
than this is a makeshift, uncertain of re-
suits and without bearing upon the most
serious problem involved.
The situation demands the speedy passage
Of a bill requiring the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company to come to terms as to the
reconstruction of the bridge. This could
not. of course. be accomplished in season
for the impending emergency. but advan-
tage might at least be taken of the emer-
gency itself to enforce the lesson which has
been so repeatedly taught by bitter expert
ence. and as regularly ignored by Congress.