Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-21
MEMORIAL BRIDGE AND MOUNT
VERNON AVENUE.

Brig. Gen. John NJ. Wilson, Chief OF
Engineers of the Army, has submitted
his annual report TO the War Depart
ment, in which he revives the paus for
building a memorial bridge across the
Potomac aud boulevard from Wash
iogton to Mount Vernon. He recom-
mends that Congress take action 10.
ward the early commencement of the
work, which 1t is estimated will coat
between 81 600, 900 and $2,000,000 The
report in part follows:
Congress has given much favorable
consideration of the construction Of e
memorial bridge across the Potomac
river to the National cemetery at Ar
lington, and consideration has also been
given to national boulevard connect-
ing Arlington with Mt. Vernon. Sew
eral reports with plans and approx.
male estimates have been su united by
officers of the Corps Of Engineers in
response to calls by Congress- since
1886 The act of June 4. 1898, appro-
prlated $500 for making soundings
and behring's and securing designs and
est mates for a memorial bridge. This
amount was applied to the purpose for
which appropriated to as full an extent
as the amount permitted, and the re-
port of the survey, ETC., Was submitted
March 10, 1898.
1.-The act OF Congress approved Feb
ruary %, 1889, appropriated $4,000 for
survey for a national road from a
point near the end of the Aqueduct
Bridge to Mount Vernon. The report
upon this survey is printed. From
such report the following quotation is
given:
What. then, is the object? 1t is to com.
memorate the virtues of the grandest charsc.
Ter in American history. 1t is to safety the
cravings of d patriotic sentiment that fills the
name of Washington. Whatever tends to
keep alive the memory OF his character and
virtues will tend to make us all better cti.
IONS of the republic. A road, therefore, built
from the capital of the nation to the tomb OF
its four der would not be such as is built for
ordinary traffic. 1t should have the charac.
ter of monumental structure, such as would
comport the dignity of this great nation and
in such an undertaking and the grandeur of
character of the man to whom it is dedicated.
Inviting attention to the report CT
Col Peter G. Hams, Corps of Engineers,
upon the proposed boulevard, | ear
nestly recommend Congressional action
looking toward the early commence
ment of this great national enterprise.
The estimated cost varies from 81 ,000,-
600 to 50 100000, depending upon the
route selected, the width of road pro-
posed, and the character of the road
covering. Several lines have been sug-
gested for the road, varying in length
from about ii to 16 miles.
The sundry civil act of March 8,
1899, contained an item as follows:
Memorial bridge across Potomac
river: To enable the Chief of Engineers
OF the Army to continue the exami1a-
ton of the subject and to make or secure
designs, ca 'cuiatons and estimates for me-
morisl bridge from the most convenient point
of the Naval Observatory grounds, or AHA
cent thereto, across the Potomac river to The
most convenient point of the Arlington es.
tate property, the sum of five thousand dol.
lars
In accordance with the provisions of this
act and by authority Of the President of the
United States and the secretary of War, four
eminent bridge engineers have been invited
to submit competitive designs for bridge
combining the elements of strepgth and durs.
bility, and such architectural establishment
and ornamentaton as will fifty apply to the
dedication. "A memorial TO American pa
triotism.'
ut is anticipated that the distinguished en-
gineers now preparing designs for the bridge
will submit them by January 16. 1900, aud
that :he matter will be brought to the atten-
ton of Congress by a special report during
the month of February. 1900.
ut is earnestly hoped that before tie close
of the present century operations will have
been inaugurated upon these important
WOrksn