The evening times., 1899-11-29
THE MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Congress May Make the Necessary
Appropriation.
Engineers VIII submit Designs In
Accordance With the Provisions of
Span the Potomac between the Old
Naval Observatory and Arlington.

of money for the erection of a memorial
bridge between the District of Cclumb bia
and Virginia. and the building OF boule-
ward from the south end of tnat b:idge 10
Msunt Vernon. Much of the PIE imiI ary
work en- the memorial bridge has besn
completed. The survey has been made.
and four eminent bridge engineers have
been invited to submit competitive de-
signs for a structure combining the els-
ments of strength and durability, and such
architectural establishment and orna-
mentation as will ftiy apply to the dedica-
tion "A Memorial to American Patriot
ISM 1t is thought by Brigadier General
John NJ Wilson, Chief Of Engineers OF the
Army, that the designs for tie bridge VIII
be submitted about the middle OF January.
and that the matter will be brought TO the
attention of Congress by special report
during the month OF February, 1860. The
bridge as contemplated by the War De-
partment, will cost approximately 5000
600. and the estimated cost Of the boule-
ward varies from 81, 600 ,060 to s., 00O.O 600;
denen6ing upon the route selected. the
width of road proposed and the charac-
ter Of the road-coveIing. Several lines
have been suggested for this boulevard.
varying from IA to 16 miles.
Survey of the Route.
The survey for the memorial bridge con-
templates that the structure shall stretch
across the Potomac River from the grounds
of the old Naval Observatory to the Ar
Iington estate in Virginia. preliminary
estimate prepared by Colonel Allen. oil
the Corps of Engineers, provided Tor
bridge with solid masonry piers, and steel
superstructure of three fixed spans oil 5Vo
feet each and one draw-span OF 80 feet,
with a roadway of 10 feet and two side
walks. each 10 feet in width. and with ap-
proaches affording the same widths OF
travel each way. The roadway was 10 be
paved with sheet asphalt, and the siee
walks were to be granoiithic and guarded
by a steel curb. The cost of such bridge
Colonel Allen estimated. would be about
81 400 COO Ii is likely that in the plans
TO be submitted provision will be made Tor
street railway cars TO run underneath ire
roadway of the bridge. Colonel Allen es-
innate did net include any striking orra-
mcntation Of the piers and superstructure.
Money Voted for Designs
The Sundry Civil act of March 3, 1899.
contained the following item:
Memorial Bridge Across Potomac RiveT-To en-
able the Chief OF Engineers OF the Army I" CON
tinue the examination of the subject and To make
or secure designs. calculations ard estimatoN for
4 memorial bridge from the most convenient point
cf the Naval Observatory grounds, or adjacent
theioto. across the Potomac River, TO the most
convenient point of the Arlington estate, the sum
ui $4,000
II was in accordance with the provisions
OF This act that General Wilson, by author
ity Of the President of the United States
and the Secretary of War. invited bridge
engineers TO submit designs.
The question of a memorial bridge across
the Potomac River has been discussed for
about fifteen years, but it is believed at
the War Department that the discussion
will be closed At this session of Congress
by the passage of liberal appropriation.
for the purpose of putting the plans into
execution.
The Senate on May u, 1886, adopted the
following resolution:
Resolved That the Secretary of War be d-
reCtcd TO examine and report upon the eNped-
ienCy Of constructing Government bridge. with
suitable d:sw and approaches. from point at
the foot Of New York or New iiamDshirc
Avenue. tn pIblic erou lds, aclos- the Pot m c
River and AEaIostan Island to point on the
nitcd States National Cemetery grounds at Ar
lirgtun. To connect in the best manner. the
pub ir GROUNDS on the two sides of the Potomac.
wi,h estimates of the cost of the kind of bridge
deemed by the department most expedient, well
aS the cost of alternative plans considered prac-
ticlfe. and which Will not materially affect the
navigation uf the river.
Colonel Hains' Plans.
The resolution was referred to General
Newton. then Chief of Engineers of the
Army anu by him to Colonel Hams,
of the Corps of Engineers. fer
report. Coor@l Hams IL his re-
port proposed bridge Of four spans Of
about 800 feet each. the second span from
the Washington side 10 be a pivot draw. the
main bridge structure TO be about 200
feet long; the approach On the Washing
ton side 10 be by n wide roadway on an
with a grade OF about three
feet in 100 feet; Analostan Island and the
he'd OF Little River to BE- crossed rarity
by embankment and partly by open trestle
supporting the roadway; the lower chord
of the bridge TO be placed at about twenty
eight feet above the level of low tide; the
piers and abutments to be built of solid
masonry. The cost of such a structure fin
ished in the best manner and with some
degree of ornanIentation was estimated at
5000. .543.
At about the same time Major Symons.
Corps of Engineers. submitted plan for a
bridge from Observatory Hill TO Arlington.
across the Potomac River, the bridge de-
signed 10 be a link in a wide travelway
from the Capitol TO the National Cemetery
and Government estate at Arlington, to
pass at a sufficient height above the river
10 incommode commerce in the least posi-
BILE manner and TO be monumental in its
character The main spans were to be 306
feet in the clear with a clear height above
high tide of ninety feet under two of them
This proposed bridge was memorial in its
conception and the cost was estimated at
from 81 GOO. 600 TO 81 SOC, ,000
General Newton in his report on the
bridge said:
The proposed structure, whether viewed from
a local national standpoint. would involve
interests Of SIch magnitude and importance as
10 demand. in my Judgment, the careful con-
sideraiion a mixed board OF engineers. whose
duty it should be TO give the plans to be
adopted for the construction the fullest and
most careful consideration, and it is recon-
mcDdcd. should Congress provide for its con-
struetion, that such board be authorized.
On February 30 1890, the Senate adopted
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Secretary of War be, and
he is hereby, directed TO examine and to re-
port to the Senate, the most suitable
Kind of bridge, with approaches from a point
at near the foot Of New York Avenue across
the Potomac River, 10 a point on the United
State National Cemetery grounds at Arling-
ton. and which will rot interfere with the
navigation of said river.
This was referred to Colonel Hains for
report. He wrote:
With view TO meeting the objections to a
dFawbrIdEc. and at the same time to bring
the cost of one without draw wshin reason
able limits, ! have designed a bridge on the
suspension principle. the clear height above the
water at midchanne 10 be los feet, the river
span TO he lilo feet, and two shore spaps
o at