Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18
railroad on the grade of he park would be
decidedly Objectionable. II
Becomes Serious Obstruction,

L
Becomes Sermons Obstruction,
Again, that part Of the Long bridge that
spans the main channel of the river is. as
now built, a serious obstruction to the free
flow of the river in times iof freshets. The
board of engineers that recommended the
plan of improving the river front, now be-
ing carried out, called attention to the
necessity of rebuilding that structure with
wider spans at an early stage of the work.
The frcshet of June last emphasized it. Re-
ports have frequently been made to Con-
gress calling attention to the matter Had
the freshet of last June occurred when the
river was full of ice a gorge would most
probably have formed at the bridge and de-
stroyed it. At the same time much larger
area of the city would have been inundated.
There is no possible way of preventing
freshets Moreover, they are most apt to
occur when the ice in the upper Potomac
breaks up after heavy rains
Long bridge has been at least partially
destroyed several times already. When
there is a freshet in the river ample room
should be given to allow the water to flow
off freely If it be partially damned up.
as it now is by the Long bridge as con-
structed. the level will be raised and the
chances of the water being thrown in on
the city increased.
The reconstruction of Long bridge over
the main channel of the river forms
essential part of any project that looks to
the permanent Improvement of the river
question of separating the wagon road from
the railroad on the north side of that chan
mel.
Suggests n Project.
'In reply, therefore, to the inquiry of
the Senate of the United States 1 would say
that the separation of the wagon road from
the railroad on the north side of the main
channel of the Potomac would be desirable
as a part of a project that looks to the
of no grade of the railroad
across the fats high enough to give pas
sage-Way for vehicles under them, and to
the reconstruction of the bridge over the
main channel Of the river on wider spans
that will cause less obstruction to the flow
of the water.
THE project. stated in few words, would
be somewhat as follows: At near the
intersection of Maryland avenue and 1872
street where the grade of the street is
twenty-four feet above mean low tide in
the Potomac, carry the railroad tracks with
a rising grade southwark, over viaduct
of brick masonry, with arched openings, or
on iron trestles $50 to allow communica-
ton under the tracks, TO point marked A
on the accompanying tracing. From TINS
point to B, a distance of about $50 rect. the
head of the Washington channel to be
SPAWNED by two arched trusses or plate
Orders, which should rest on new abut-
ments ~and one new pier, that would not
materially obstruct the flow of water from
the tidal reservoir into the Washington
channel. From B the railroad to be carried
on brick arched viaduct, or on iron tres
ties, at such grade about twenty-eight feet
above the plane of mean low ude) as Would
allow free communication under 1t to Z.
From c the grade of the railroad to be one
foot in 100 feet till it reaches at II, the
north abutment of a new bridge across lne
main channel of the river, or, better sun,
the grade could be carried at twenty-eight
feet to said abutment The wagon road
starting from the foot of 1lth street, 10
cross the upper end of the washington
,liGti inc
from that which will carry the rallroad,
run nearly parallel to the latter, but some
distance from it, till it reaches the new
bridge across the main channel
Double Track Railway.
This new bridge, should be constructed
on the west side of the existing bridge, ar
ranged for a double track railway and
wagon road to nave eight spans OF about
go feet each, with; pivot draw IN the
deep water of the,schannel, the depth OF
water between the piers 70 be deepened to
about ten feet on the shoal part of the
river. to give ample sectional area for
freshet discharge. As soon as the new
bridge is tonstruct9d the old one with its
PIERS and about 40a, feet of the causeway
al the south end. to4be removed.
Such project, if carried out. would en-
able uninterrupted communication to be
maintained over he lands of the govern
n.ent whatever they may be used for ana
would enable a railroad and wagon cross
ing of the Potomac TO be maintained at
this locality, with The least practicable OBJ
struction to the flow Of the. water of the
river The cost of the entire project. is
roughly estimated at about 81 2o0,o 900.
IF therefore, the wagon road he sep
arated from the railroad on the north slde
of the main channel as a part OF and in
conformity to such project, or one OF
similar nature there can be no question
but that it is desirable.
ITO build a new wagon road from the
foot of 18th street across the government
lands to the north end of the existing
bridge across the main channel OF the
river, inclusive of new bridge across me
head of the Washington channel, would
cost about JnUo.'